William F. Buckley Jr.

William F. Buckley Jr. (1925–2008) was an American author, political commentator, and founder of National Review. A leading figure in the modern conservative movement, he was also known for hosting the long-running television program Firing Line and for his distinctive wit, vocabulary, and debating style. Buckley hosted 1,429 episodes of Firing Line over more than three decades, earning a Television Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in 1969. He wrote more than 40 books, ranging from political commentary to a popular series of Cold War spy novels, and in 1991 received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.