A Man and His Presidents, Alvin S. Felzenberg
A Man and His Presidents, Alvin S. Felzenberg
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A Man and His Presidents
The Political Odyssey of William F. Buckley Jr.

Author: Alvin S. Felzenberg

Narrator: Jim Meskimen

Unabridged: 17 hr 28 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/02/2017

Synopsis

William F. Buckley Jr. is widely regarded as the most influential American conservative writer, activist, and organizer in the postwar era. In this nuanced biography, Alvin Felzenberg sheds light on little-known aspects of Buckley’s career, including his role as back-channel adviser to policy makers, his intimate friendship with both Ronald and Nancy Reagan, his changing views on civil rights, and his break with George W. Bush over the Iraq War.Felzenberg demonstrates how Buckley conveyed his message across multiple platforms and drew upon his vast network of contacts, his personal charm, his extraordinary wit, and his celebrity status to move the center of political gravity in the United States closer to his point of view. Including many rarely seen photographs, this account of one of the most compelling personalities of American politics will appeal to conservatives, liberals, and even the apolitical.

About Alvin S. Felzenberg

Alvin S. Felzenberg served in two presidential administrations and was principal spokesman for the 9/11 Commission. He teaches at the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School for Communication and is the author of The Leaders We Deserved (and a Few We Didn’t). He lives in Washington, DC.

About Jim Meskimen

Jim Meskimen is a stage, film, and television actor who has appeared in many well-known movies and television shows. He acted in Apollo 13 and Frost/Nixon for director Ron Howard, both of which were nominated for Best Picture Oscars. His television appearances include The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Friends, Lie to Me, Criminal Minds, and Parks and Recreation. He is also a painter, award-winning audiobook narrator, and audiobook director for Galaxy Audio.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Karen

Very interesting read. Buckley was a fascinating & influential character. I think the author didn't relay the time of the Reagan Presidency in the most accurate & best light but overall was an interesting look at the political landscape & the reality of the subversive groups & individuals that were......more

Goodreads review by Mmetevelis

Felzenberg is able to write a biography that shows love for its subject without passing over flaws. Discusses in detail Buckley's relationships with politicians, evolving political social views, and early life. Very interesting anecdotes. A good introduction to Buckley's life with a hint at his work......more

Goodreads review by Fraser

Prior to this book, my knowledge of Buckley was limited to seeing him as a debating opponent who got his butt handed to him by James Baldwin and Noam Chomsky, giving Hitchens his first appearance on US TV, and being the co-subject of a fun documentary about his public fight with Gore Vidal. This is a......more

Goodreads review by Reza

William F. Buckley Jr., better known as Bill, was one of the most important persons in the history of modern conservatism of the USA, if not the world. A thinker, writer, master debater armed with a enormous amount of vocabularies at his disposal, he served as a flame keeper of conservatism, by way......more

Quotes

“Felzenberg’s fascinating tour de force of research comes at the perfect time in American history, providing a sharp understanding of the continuing attraction of a key figure shaping our politics today.” Cokie Roberts, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“A brisk, groundbreaking examination of Buckley’s history-shaping role as a…political operative.” George F. Will, Pulitzer Prize–winning political commentator

“Gracefully written and informative…The passages that provide the most illumination are those in which Felzenberg highlights what Buckley himself described as his greatest achievement: purging the conservative movement of ‘extremists, bigots, kooks, anti-Semites and racists’…[Felzenberg]has produced an accomplished and admiring biography that paints a portrait of a man toiling joyfully to define and elevate a political movement.” New York Times Book Review

“A well-delineated portrait of an impassioned conservative.” Kirkus Reviews

“History comes alive as this lively and important book takes us on a trip covering Bill Buckley’s views of twentieth-century presidents.” George P. Shultz, former US Secretary of State

“Here is the political Buckley, a revelation of range and influence, wit, friendship, inexhaustible letter writing, and a subtle evolution of views. As always with Buckley, love of the language came first.” James K. Galbraith, author of Welcome to the Poisoned Chalice

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