On the centennial of William F. Buckley Jr.’s birth, Dan McCarthy revisits the towering legacy of the man who shaped postwar American conservatism. From founding National Review and leading ISI, to defining the modern Right’s anti-communist and anti-statist battles, Buckley was instrumental in reshaping American political discourse. But what did he truly conserve—and how should today’s conservatives evaluate his legacy? In this episode of Modern Age, Dan explores: -Buckley's early America First views and Cold War transformation -The founding of ISI and National Review -His battles against the New Deal and welfare state -The culture wars in higher education -Buckley's complex role in defining conservative orthodoxy -His later reflections on Reagan, foreign policy, and conservatism's direction Was Buckley a gatekeeper—or a unifier? And what can we learn from his successes and shortcomings in today’s very different political landscape? 📌 Subscribe to Modern Age for more thoughtful takes on culture, politics, and tradition. https://firstthings.com/the-rights-thirty-year-war/ https://modernagejournal.com/the-last-word-on-william-f-buckley-jr-sam-tanenhaus-review/253620/
