Overview
William F. Buckley Jr. is widely regarded as the most influential American conservative writer, activist, and organizer in the postwar era. In this nuanced biography, Alvin Felzenberg sheds light on little-known aspects of Buckley's career, including his role as back-channel adviser to policy makers, his intimate friendship with both Ronald and Nancy Reagan, his changing views on civil rights, and his break with George W. Bush over the Iraq War. 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 of one of the most compelling personalities of American politics will appeal to conservatives, liberals, and even the apolitical.
Full Product Details
Author: Alvin S Felzenberg ,
MR Jim Meskimen
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Imprint: Blackstone Publishing
Edition: Unabridged edition
ISBN: 9781538415184
ISBN 10: 1538415186
Publication Date: 02 May 2017
Audience:
General/trade
,
General
Format: Audio
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Available To Order
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Reviews
""A brisk, groundbreaking examination of Buckley's history-shaping role as a...political operative."" -- ""George F. Will, Pulitzer Prize-winning political commentator"" ""A well-delineated portrait of an impassioned conservative."" -- ""Kirkus Reviews"" ""Felzenberg's fascinating tour de force of research comes at the perfect time in American history, providing a sharp understanding of the continuing attraction of a key figure shaping our politics today."" -- ""Cokie Roberts, #1 New York Times bestselling author"" ""Gracefully written and informative...The passages that provide the most illumination are those in which Felzenberg highlights what Buckley himself described as his greatest achievement: purging the conservative movement of 'extremists, bigots, kooks, anti-Semites and racists'...[Felzenberg]has produced an accomplished and admiring biography that paints a portrait of a man toiling joyfully to define and elevate a political movement."" -- ""New York Times Book Review"" ""Here is the political Buckley, a revelation of range and influence, wit, friendship, inexhaustible letter writing, and a subtle evolution of views. As always with Buckley, love of the language came first."" -- ""James K. Galbraith, author of Welcome to the Poisoned Chalice"" ""History comes alive as this lively and important book takes us on a trip covering Bill Buckley's views of twentieth-century presidents."" -- ""George P. Shultz, former US Secretary of State""
Author Information
Alvin S. Felzenberg served in two presidential administrations and was principal spokesman for the 9/11 Commission. He teaches at the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School for Communication and is the author of The Leaders We Deserved (and a Few We Didn't). He lives in Washington, DC. Jim Meskimen is a stage, film, and television actor who has appeared in many well-known movies and television shows. He acted in Apollo 13 and Frost/Nixon, both of which were nominated for Best Picture Oscars. He is the winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award and lives in Los Angeles with his wife, actress Tamra Meskimen.
