William F. Buckley: The Founder of the National Review

By Phineas Upham

William F. Buckley founded the National Review, a conservative publication, in the year 1955. By 1962, he could add “syndicated columnist” to his CV as well. Buckley’s column ran in over 300 separate newspapers across the US, and his political editorials gained fame during TV’s Firing Line segments and a series of magazine and journals. He wrote 40 books over his lifetime, a great majority of which were spy novels.

Buckley attended by didn’t graduate from the University of Mexico, because he was called to serve stateside in the U.S. Army when World War II broke out. During his time with the military, he became a second lieutenant. He was also a member of FDR’s honor guard after the death of the president in April 1945.

Buckley enrolled in Yale after he’d been honorably discharged, and he eventually became chairman of the Yale Daily News. He became interested in debate, joining the Skull & Bones society where he became a highly regarded debater. Skull & Bones, for those unaware, is the same secret society fictionalized heavily in “Skulls” and its sequel. It was natural then that Buckley would pursue studies in political science, history and economics at Yale. In 1950, he graduated with honors.

Aside from founding The National Review, Buckley is known to have been recruited to work for the CIA. He served nine months in Mexico before returning stateside to found the paper he’d become well-known for.

The first statement made by the publisher the day of the National Review’s release was “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.”

Phineas Upham is an investor from NYC and SF. You may contact Phin on his Phineas Upham website or Facebook page.