Tue Jun 03 11:30:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
A new biography, “Buckley: The Life and the Revolution That Changed America” by Sam Tanenhaus, examines the life of William F. Buckley Jr., the founder of National Review and a pivotal figure in the conservative movement. While some view Buckley nostalgically, particularly in light of the Trump era, Tanenhaus argues that Buckley was a precursor to today’s media-driven politics. The biography highlights Buckley’s understanding of the media’s importance and his ability to use it to advance his conservative cause. The book also explores Buckley’s privileged upbringing and how it shaped his worldview and activism.
**News Article:**
**New Biography Reexamines William F. Buckley Jr.’s Enduring Influence on American Politics**
NEW YORK – A sweeping new biography of William F. Buckley Jr., the influential founder of National Review, argues that his impact on American politics extends far beyond his role as a conservative figurehead. “Buckley: The Life and the Revolution That Changed America,” penned by Sam Tanenhaus, a former editor of The New York Times Book Review, portrays Buckley as an “intellectual entertainer” who intuitively grasped the power of media and its centrality to politics.
The biography comes at a time when Buckley’s legacy is often viewed with nostalgia, particularly in contrast to the rise of figures like Steve Bannon and the Trump era. Some have suggested Buckley would have prevented the rise of Trump, but Tanenhaus argues Buckley’s embrace of media as a tool for activism actually paved the way for today’s hyper-mediated political landscape.
The book delves into Buckley’s background, detailing his privileged upbringing in a multilingual, hacienda-like environment. It highlights how his early awareness of the media’s power, as demonstrated by his controversial book “God and Man at Yale,” allowed him to shape the conservative movement and influence political discourse through magazines, television, and even a mayoral campaign.
Tanenhaus’s biography suggests that Buckley’s legacy isn’t just about conservative ideology but also about understanding and utilizing the media to shape public opinion, a strategy that continues to resonate in contemporary politics.
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