You might not have agreed with a word he said, but William F. Buckley was pretty much personally responsible for the golden era of intellectual debate on television. His Firing Line program was just superb, bringing together influential figures from all across the ideological spectrum for rigorous, sincere competitions of ideas.
Check this footage from a debate he had in 1969 with Noam Chomsky (this is part 1, go here for part 2):
He was always gracious and respectful to even his fiercest opposition. The world is a poorer place without his piercing wit and sense of humor.
Political views aside, Buckley had one of the best voices I’ve ever heard. And he was witty to a deadly degree.
(Of course, I will always probably feel more than a little guilty for forever confusing him with George Plimpton.)
Him, Plimpton and Peter Gammons are all clones.
Possibly Tom Wolfe too.
That must be why Tom Wolfe wears those snazzy seersuckers.
It’s sad that he passed away. I’m glad people have been respectful for the most part (that I’ve seen, anyway). As for my personal thoughts on him, I tend to agree w/ Daisy (which is weird bc we disagree on a lot!).
Thomas,
Wikipedia says he grew up speaking French and Spanish, and he learned English after those two. I love his voice because it’s textbook New England WASP, very sweater-over-the-shoulders, wooden tennis racquet-esque.
Like Rusty said, I didn’t agree with Buckley on many issues, but I would’ve paid to listen to him speak. That’s the big difference between him and the boob-tube pundits of today — I actually respect Buckley.
Plus, he was in the CIA. Badass.
Once again, Slate comes to the aid of curious Georgia bloggers.
http://www.slate.com/id/2185368