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.