[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1016 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                        April 23, 2008.
Whereas William F. Buckley, Jr., was born on November 24, 1925, in New York 
        City, the sixth of 10 children in a devoutly Catholic family;
Whereas William Buckley studied at the University of Mexico before serving his 
        country in the Army and then later graduating with a Bachelor of Arts 
        (in political science, economics, and history) with honors from Yale 
        University in 1950;
Whereas William Buckley worked briefly for the Central Intelligence Agency;
Whereas at the young age of 25, William Buckley published his first popular 
        book, entitled ``God and Man at Yale'';
Whereas William Buckley went on to write more than 55 books and edit 5 more, 
        including ``Let Us Talk of Many Things: the Collected Speeches''; the 
        novel, ``Elvis in the Morning''; and his literary autobiography, ``Miles 
        Gone By'';
Whereas William Buckley wrote more than 4,500,000 words in his more than 5,600 
        biweekly newspaper columns, entitled ``On the Right'';
Whereas William Buckley founded the popular and influential National Review 
        magazine in 1955, a respected journal of conservative thought and 
        opinion;
Whereas William Buckley wrote in the first issue of National Review that, in 
        founding the magazine, it ``stands athwart history, yelling Stop, at a 
        time when no one is inclined to do so, or to have much patience with 
        those who so urge it'';
Whereas William Buckley served as editor of National Review for 35 years, from 
        its founding in 1955 until his announced retirement in 1990, and as 
        editor-at-large until his death;
Whereas in 1965, William Buckley ran for mayor of New York City and received 
        13.4 percent of the votes on the Conservative Party ticket;
Whereas William Buckley was host of the Emmy Award-winning and long-running 
        ``Firing Line'', a weekly television debate program with such notable 
        guests as Barry Goldwater, Margaret Thatcher, Jimmy Carter, Ronald 
        Reagan, and George H.W. Bush;
Whereas the New York Times noted that ``Mr. Buckley's greatest achievement was 
        making conservatism--not just electoral Republicanism, but conservatism 
        as a system of ideas--respectable in liberal post-World War II America. 
        He mobilized the young enthusiasts who helped nominate Barry Goldwater 
        in 1964, and saw his dreams fulfilled when Reagan and the Bushes 
        captured the Oval Office'';
Whereas as well-known columnist George Will once said, ``before there was Ronald 
        Reagan there was Barry Goldwater, before there was Goldwater there was 
        National Review, and before there was National Review there was William 
        F. Buckley'';
Whereas William Buckley's consistent efforts facilitated the rise of Senator 
        Barry Goldwater and, ultimately, the presidency of Ronald Reagan;
Whereas William Buckley received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1991;
Whereas William Buckley received numerous other awards, including Best Columnist 
        of the Year, 1967; Television Emmy for Outstanding Achievement, 1969; 
        the American Book Award for Best Mystery (paperback) for ``Stained 
        Glass'', 1980; the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Award, 1989; the Adam 
        Smith Award, Hillsdale College, 1996; and the Heritage Foundation's 
        Clare Booth Luce Award, 1999;
Whereas William Buckley spent over 56 years married to the former Patricia Alden 
        Austin Taylor, a devoted homemaker, mother, wife, and philanthropist, 
        before her passing in April 2007;
Whereas William Buckley passed away on February 27, 2008, and is survived by his 
        son, Christopher, of Washington, DC; his sisters, Priscilla L. Buckley, 
        of Sharon, Connecticut, Patricia Buckley Bozell, of Washington, DC, and 
        Carol Buckley, of Columbia, South Carolina; his brothers, James L. 
        Buckley, of Sharon, Connecticut, and F. Reid Buckley, of Camden, South 
        Carolina; and a granddaughter and a grandson;
Whereas William Buckley, by virtue of his distinct personality, talents, good 
        humor, and goodwill, led in a manner that earned the respect and 
        friendship even of his adversaries; and
Whereas William Buckley was recognized as a towering intellect, a man who, in 
        the words of Ronald Reagan, ``gave the world something different'', and, 
        most of all, a true gentleman who encountered everything he did with 
        grace, dignity, optimism, and good humor: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) honors the life of William F. Buckley, Jr., for his lifetime 
        commitment to journalism, his devotion to the free exchange of ideas, 
        and his gentlemanly and well-respected contributions to political 
        discourse; and
            (2) mourns the loss of William F. Buckley, Jr., and expresses its 
        condolences to his family, his friends, and his colleagues.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.