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Thursday, February 28, 2008

Obituary First Lines: William F. Buckley

William F. Buckley died on Monday at age 82. Here's how obituary writers are summing up his life:

"William F. Buckley Jr., the erudite Ivy Leaguer and conservative herald who showered huge and scornful words on liberalism as he observed, abetted and cheered on the right's post-World War II rise from the fringes to the White House..." -The Associated Press

"William F. Buckley Jr., who marshaled polysyllabic exuberance, famously arched eyebrows and a refined, perspicacious mind to elevate conservatism to the center of American political discourse..." -The New York Times

"If being a conservative always led to a life like William F. Buckley Jr.'s, there would be no more liberals left." -Time

"William F. Buckley Jr., whose impish smile and rich diction defined American conservatism for half a century..." -The Hartford Courant

"William Buckley Jr., the intellectual founder of the modern conservative movement in the US, who helped define its doctrines of anti-communism, military strength, social order and a capitalist economy..." -The Washington Post

"Any one of William F. Buckley Jr.'s many achievements -- in politics, publishing, television, even world-class sailing -- might have been enough to merit the attention he received during the past half-century." -News Tribune News Services

Posted by Mr. Holznagel at 5:21 AM Share on Facebook  

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