Alvin Felzenberg’s A Man and His Presidents: The Political Odyssey of William F. Buckley Jr. tells the story of the life of the man who made modern-day conservatism mainstream. From his humble beginnings, to his rise in political circles, and through several decades of presidents, the book captures the man behind the movement.
The author takes us to the earliest days of the Buckley family, and we follow the famous conservative author and commentator to college. Felzenberg gives an account of Buckley’s opposition to America’s entrance into the Second World War, which shifted following the attack on Pearl Harbor. He would later join the Army and serve stateside as a second lieutenant.
Felzenberg recounts his marriage to Patricia Aldyen Austin “Pat” Taylor, his time at Yale, his rise to prominence as a conservative thought leader, the founding of the conservative magazine National Review, the hosting of “Firing Line,” his opposition to the Iraq War, and beyond.
A Man and His Presidents offers the reader several unique insights into the life of Buckley. While most books written about the conservative writer cover specific aspects about him, such as his connection with President Ronald Reagan, this biography gives us the first broad look at Buckley’s life from beginning to end. Felzenberg examines Buckley’s life from a mostly objective historical lens and contextualizes the author’s life within the history of American conservatism.
Felzenberg has previously written about another unique figure in American conservatism in his nonfiction biography Governor Tom Kean: From the New Jersey Statehouse to the 911 Commission.
For more information, check out Michael Knowles interview with Felzenberg: