William F. Buckley Jr.'s legacy is explored in Sam Tanenhaus's biography, detailing his pivotal role in shaping the conservative movement. Hosting PBS's Firing Line and editing National Review, Buckley's energy and intellect brought together various factions of conservatism, contributing to the Reagan revolution. Yet, the conservative landscape has evolved; the Republican Party's demographics have shifted from educated elites to a more working-class base. Despite these changes, Tanenhaus suggests that remnants of Buckley’s influence, particularly the disdain for intellectualism, continue to shape the political right today.
"Buckley is often remembered as the architect of the modern conservative movement... Yet today, almost two decades since Buckley's death in 2008, the conservative landscape looks different."
"As far as I'm concerned, he invented politics as cultural warfare, and that's what we're seeing now," the writer Sam Tanenhaus said.
"One of the biggest is Trumpism's suspicion of intellectual elites... Buckley was a blue blood and loved the company of artists and literary people, he famously..."
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