Dartblog

As someone wrote on National Review’s website just now, the angels and saints have just phoned in their order for a full set of the Oxford English Dictionary. William F. Buckley died this morning in his home, at his desk, hands no doubt poised upon a keyboard and one final column, in Stamford, Connecticut. It is, if not unexpected, a supremely lamentable passing; the world of American letters, not to mention America, is far poorer for his parting.

Mr. Buckley was the founder of modern conservatism; but more than that he was the man who reintroduced, at a time when the way seemed one and the headwinds were overpowering, multistrain political thinking to the United States of America. He infiltrated a philosophical monopoly, introducing competition. And his idea was competition. And his advocacy, famously unapologetic, was invested with unequaled humor, grace, and generosity.

It was a slight or a nod, depending I suppose upon the speaker, to describe Bill Buckley as patrician; but in point of fact there was nothing haughty or narrow about the man. In conversation he was generous and in bearing catholic. He judged utterances, not utterers. On the few happy occasions when I shared a table with him, I was each time the person most junior and of least consequence—but I was somehow made not to feel it.

In a late interview with the Wall Street Journal, Bill Buckley said that he always endeavored to work within “the genial tradition.” Precisely so. He was a Yaleman and a yachtsman, but before either he was a gentleman.

…et lux perpetua luceat ei. My condolences to Christopher and to Mr. Buckley’s brothers and sisters.

You may want to see Senator Lieberman’s speech of this afternoon. Myron Magnet eloquently remembers WFB here, and The Dartmouth Review, founded out of Buckley’s expansive beneficence, pays its respects here. Marc Thiessen, recently named President Bush’s chief speechwriter, has a lovely college remembrance here.

The credo of National Review, still a stirring document, may be read here.

And the Wall Street Journal Editorial Page says hail to a brother.