I’m sorry to hear on the radio that William F. Buckley, Jr. has died. (Confirmed by Marc Ambinder, who cites the National Review’s Corner.)
Kathryn Jean Lopez reports as follows:
I’m devastated to report that our dear friend, mentor, leader, and founder William F. Buckley Jr., died overnight in his study in Stamford, Connecticut.
After year of illness, he died while at work; if he had been given a choice on how to depart this world, I suspect that would have been exactly it. At home, still devoted to the war of ideas.
I didn’t always agree with Buckley, but the guy was a towering intellect, a rugged individualist, and above all, a man with a marvelous sense of humor. I will really miss his trenchant insights.
MORE: Speaking of that marvelous sense of humor, I thought the readers of this blog might appreciate this YouTube video of Buckley sitting though Allen Ginsburg singing Hare Krishna on his Firing Line show:
By his facial expressions alone, I think Buckley clearly won the debate!
MORE: The AP has a good writeup here.
AND MORE: Don’t miss Buckley making the conservative case for drug legalization: