A Man and His Presidents: The Political Odyssey of William F. Buckley, Jr.

Event Conservatism
Event Conservatism

June 6, 2017 A Man and His Presidents: The Political Odyssey of William F. Buckley, Jr.

In this new biography, Alvin Felzenberg sheds light on overlooked aspects of Buckley’s half century career.

Tuesday, Jun 6, 2017

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

The Heritage Foundation

214 Massachusetts Ave NE
Washington, DC
20002

Author

Alvin Felzenberg

Alvin S. Felzenberg has held senior policy posts at the state and national levels and is a recognized expert on American politics and political movements. He served in two presidential administrations, was an adviser to the Departments of State and Defense, and was the principal spokesman for the 9/11 Commission. Since 2007, he has taught at the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School for Communication. He is also the author of "The Leaders We Deserved (and a Few We Didn’t)."

Description

William F. Buckley Jr. is widely regarded as the most influential American conservative writer, activist, and organizer in the postwar era. In this new biography, Alvin Felzenberg sheds light on overlooked aspects of Buckley’s half century career, including his role as back-channel adviser to policymakers, his intimate friendship with both Ronald and Nancy Reagan, his changing views on civil rights as well as his break with George W. Bush over the Iraq War.
 
Dr. Felzenberg demonstrates how Buckley conveyed his message across multiple platforms and drew upon his vast network of contacts, his personal charm, his extraordinary wit, and his celebrity status to move the center of political gravity in the United States closer to his point of view. Including many rarely seen photographs, this account offers special insights into one of the most compelling personalities of modern American politics.