Buckley

1. William F. Buckley Jr. transforms American conservatism through National Review

"National Review stands athwart history, yelling Stop, at a time when no one is inclined to do so."

Redefining conservatism. In 1955, William F. Buckley Jr. founded National Review, a magazine that would become the cornerstone of modern American conservatism. At just 29 years old, Buckley sought to reshape conservative thought, which had been largely moribund since the New Deal era. He assembled a diverse group of writers and thinkers, including former communists, libertarians, and traditionalists, to create a new conservative philosophy.

Challenging the status quo. Buckley's vision of conservatism was a radical departure from the prevailing political climate. He rejected both the liberal consensus and the old-guard conservatism of figures like Robert Taft. Instead, National Review advocated for:

• Limited government and free-market economics
• Aggressive anticommunism in foreign policy
• Traditional social and moral values

Building a movement. Through National Review, Buckley not only provided a platform for conservative ideas but also nurtured a community of thinkers and activists. The magazine became a breeding ground for future conservative leaders and helped shape the ideological foundation of the Republican Party for decades to come.

2. Buckley's crusade against communism shapes conservative foreign policy

"Woe unto the man who disagrees with Mr. Welch. He is 1) an idiot, or 2) a Comsymp, or 3) an outright Communist."

Anticommunism as a defining principle. Buckley and National Review made anticommunism a central tenet of conservative foreign policy. They advocated for a more aggressive stance against the Soviet Union, rejecting the containment policy favored by the Eisenhower administration in favor of "rollback" and liberation of communist-controlled countries.

The influence of James Burnham. Buckley recruited James Burnham, a former Trotskyite turned ardent anticommunist, as National Review's foreign policy expert. Burnham's columns, titled "The Third World War," pushed for a more confrontational approach to the Soviet Union and influenced conservative thinking on foreign policy for decades.

Consequences of hardline rhetoric. The magazine's aggressive anticommunist stance had real-world consequences:

• It contributed to unrealistic expectations among Eastern European dissidents
• It pushed conservative politicians to adopt more hawkish positions
• It sometimes led to support for questionable allies and policies in the name of fighting communism

3. The civil rights movement challenges conservative ideology

"The White community is so entitled because, for the time being, it is the advanced race."

Resistance to change. National Review and Buckley initially opposed the civil rights movement, arguing against desegregation and federal intervention in Southern states. This stance was rooted in:

• A belief in states' rights and limited federal power
• Skepticism of rapid social change
• Racial prejudices common among many conservatives of the time

Evolving positions. Over time, Buckley and National Review's stance on civil rights evolved, albeit slowly:

• They came to reject overt racism and support for segregation
• They continued to oppose many civil rights laws on constitutional grounds
• Buckley later expressed regret for some of his early positions on race

Long-term impact. The conservative movement's initial opposition to civil rights:

• Alienated many black voters from the Republican Party
• Contributed to the realignment of Southern states from Democratic to Republican
• Created an enduring perception of conservatism as hostile to minority interests

4. Buckley navigates the John Birch Society controversy

"James Burnham has committed suicide."

The rise of extremism. The John Birch Society, founded by Robert Welch in 1958, became a significant force within the conservative movement. Its conspiratorial views, including claims that President Eisenhower was a communist agent, posed a challenge to mainstream conservatism.

Buckley's dilemma. Buckley recognized the danger the John Birch Society posed to the conservative movement's credibility, but he also knew many of its members were dedicated conservatives. His response was carefully calibrated:

• He initially tried to separate criticism of Welch from the Society itself
• He gradually increased his criticism of the organization
• In 1962, he published a comprehensive critique in National Review

Excommunication and consequences. Buckley's efforts eventually succeeded in marginalizing the John Birch Society within the conservative movement:

• It demonstrated Buckley's ability to set boundaries for acceptable conservative thought
• It helped preserve the movement's credibility with mainstream voters
• It established National Review's role as an arbiter of conservative orthodoxy

5. Ayn Rand's influence and excommunication from the conservative movement

"From almost any page of Atlas Shrugged, a voice can be heard, from painful necessity, commanding: 'To the gas chamber—go!' "

The Rand phenomenon. Ayn Rand's novels, particularly "The Fountainhead" and "Atlas Shrugged," had a significant impact on the conservative movement, especially among young people. Her philosophy of Objectivism, which emphasized individualism and laissez-faire capitalism, resonated with many conservatives.

Buckley's rejection. Despite Rand's popularity, Buckley and National Review ultimately rejected her philosophy:

• They viewed her atheism as incompatible with traditional conservatism
• They were concerned about her cult-like following
• They saw her extreme individualism as potentially harmful to social cohesion

The Whittaker Chambers review. In 1957, National Review published a scathing review of "Atlas Shrugged" by Whittaker Chambers, effectively excommunicating Rand from the conservative movement. The review:

• Accused Rand's philosophy of leading to totalitarianism
• Highlighted the tensions between different strands of conservative thought
• Demonstrated Buckley's willingness to challenge popular figures within the movement

6. James Burnham's impact on National Review's foreign policy stance

"Beyond any question, [James Burnham] has been the dominant intellectual influence in the development" of National Review.

From Trotskyism to conservatism. James Burnham, a former communist intellectual, became one of National Review's most influential voices, particularly on foreign policy. His journey from the far left to the right shaped his worldview and his approach to international relations.

The "rollback" doctrine. Burnham advocated for a more aggressive approach to the Cold War than the containment policy favored by the Eisenhower administration:

• He called for "political warfare" to undermine communist regimes
• He argued for supporting anticommunist movements in Eastern Europe
• He pushed for a strategy of "rollback" to actively liberate communist-controlled countries

Influence and controversy. Burnham's ideas had a significant impact on conservative foreign policy thinking:

• They helped shape the Republican Party's more hawkish stance on the Cold War
• They contributed to unrealistic expectations about America's ability to challenge Soviet control in Eastern Europe
• They sometimes led to support for questionable tactics and allies in the name of fighting communism

7. The conservative movement's response to major Cold War crises

"If those fellows start something, we may have to hit 'em—and, if necessary, with everything in the bucket."

The Hungarian Revolution. The 1956 Hungarian uprising against Soviet control presented a challenge to conservative rhetoric about "rollback" and liberation:

• National Review and other conservative voices called for U.S. intervention
• The Eisenhower administration's refusal to intervene disappointed many conservatives
• The crisis exposed the gap between conservative rhetoric and the realities of Cold War diplomacy

The Suez Crisis. The 1956 Suez Crisis, in which Britain, France, and Israel intervened militarily in Egypt, divided conservatives:

• Many supported the intervention as necessary to combat Soviet influence
• Others saw it as an anachronistic display of colonialism
• The crisis highlighted tensions between anticommunism and anti-imperialism within conservatism

The Cuban Missile Crisis. The 1962 confrontation over Soviet missiles in Cuba tested conservative foreign policy ideas:

• Many conservatives pushed for a more aggressive response, including invasion of Cuba
• Kennedy's handling of the crisis through diplomacy and a naval blockade was criticized by some as too weak
• The resolution of the crisis without war challenged some conservative assumptions about dealing with the Soviet Union

These crises forced conservatives to grapple with the complexities of Cold War diplomacy and the limitations of ideological purity in foreign policy.

Last updated: October 1, 2024