Yesterday, those of us who identify with the "permanent things" conservatism of Russell Kirk and others like him, lost one of our heroes, former U. S. Senator James L. Buckley. According to reports, Buckley died in a Washington D.C. hospital at the age of 100.
A remarkable man, Buckley was the fourth of ten Buckley children, and the older brother of the more famous William F. Buckley who died in 2008. But James Buckley had his own claim to fame and served in all three branches of the federal government. In 1970 he won election to the U. S. Senate as a third party (conservative) candidate. He later served as an undersecretary of state in the Reagan administration, and also spent 15 years as a federal judge.
Buckley was a strong and consistent advocate of less government, especially at the federal level, and frequently warned against government's desire to control all aspects of citizens' lives. He was also a solidly faithful Catholic. As Kathryn Jean Lopez tweeted (or Xed, or whatever it's now called) yesterday (link: Kathryn Lopez):
A most beautiful soul, James Buckley, died this morning. He was a senator and judge, but I will always remember him most fondly at the altar rail, where he said we are all equal and in need of our Savior. May he be in union with Him today and for eternity.
Can we say anything better or more fitting about this man?
If you want to learn more about James Buckley as a senator, read his fascinating 1975 book, If Men Were Angels -- no longer in print, but still available. Buckley took his book's title from George Wahington,
“If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.”
Rest in peace.
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