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Let Us Talk of Many Things: The Collected Speeches
Let Us Talk of Many Things , first published in 2000, brings together Buckley's finest speeches from throughout his career. Always deliciously provocative, they cover a vast range of the end of the Cold War, manners in politics, the failure of the War on Drugs, the importance of winning the America's Cup, and much else. Reissued with additional speeches, Let Us Talk of Many Things is the ideal gift for any serious conservative.
553 pages, Paperback
First published April 20, 2000
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339 people want to read
About the author
William F. Buckley Jr.
183 books336 followersWilliam Frank Buckley, Jr. was an American author and conservative commentator. He founded the political magazine National Review in 1955, hosted 1,429 episodes of the television show Firing Line from 1966 until 1999, and was a nationally syndicated newspaper columnist. His writing style was famed for its erudition, wit, and use of uncommon words.
Buckley was "arguably the most important public intellectual in the United States in the past half century," according to George H. Nash, a historian of the modern American conservative movement. "For an entire generation he was the preeminent voice of American conservatism and its first great ecumenical figure." Buckley's primary intellectual achievement was to fuse traditional American political conservatism with economic libertarianism and anti-communism, laying the groundwork for the modern American conservatism of US Presidential candidate Barry Goldwater and US President Ronald Reagan.
Buckley came on the public scene with his critical book God and Man at Yale (1951); among over fifty further books on writing, speaking, history, politics and sailing, were a series of novels featuring CIA agent Blackford Oakes. Buckley referred to himself "on and off" as either libertarian or conservative. He resided in New York City and Stamford, Connecticut, and often signed his name as "WFB." He was a practicing Catholic, regularly attending the traditional Latin Mass in Connecticut.
Buckley was "arguably the most important public intellectual in the United States in the past half century," according to George H. Nash, a historian of the modern American conservative movement. "For an entire generation he was the preeminent voice of American conservatism and its first great ecumenical figure." Buckley's primary intellectual achievement was to fuse traditional American political conservatism with economic libertarianism and anti-communism, laying the groundwork for the modern American conservatism of US Presidential candidate Barry Goldwater and US President Ronald Reagan.
Buckley came on the public scene with his critical book God and Man at Yale (1951); among over fifty further books on writing, speaking, history, politics and sailing, were a series of novels featuring CIA agent Blackford Oakes. Buckley referred to himself "on and off" as either libertarian or conservative. He resided in New York City and Stamford, Connecticut, and often signed his name as "WFB." He was a practicing Catholic, regularly attending the traditional Latin Mass in Connecticut.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 10, 2015
I was a little too young to remember more than a few vague things of Mr. Buckley, but I have heard his name many times over the years. This book, a collection of his speeches from half a century, is a fascinating look into his politics and the world he lived in. While it necessarily lacks the charming accent he spoke with, his wit and humor are everywhere.
The speeches cover a broad spread of political topics. There is much on the Cold War, which lasted most of his adult life, but there are personal moments of celebration and sorrow as well. For me, it was fascinating to see the words of a driving force behind the Conservative movement over such a long time.
I'm not in full agreement on all of Mr. Buckley's views. He was Roman Catholic, whereas I'm Protestant. Later in life he was for the decriminalization of drugs, and while I follow his reasoning I can't agree. Still, I found myself in agreement with him through most of the book, and grinning at least once in every speech.
Having finished the book, I find myself somewhat sad that I was too young to watch him on 'Firing Line' or read his columns. I have found very little video of the man, and so I have only his writings to know him. Thankfully, he was a prolific writer, and this particular book is a solid collection of his thoughts.
The speeches cover a broad spread of political topics. There is much on the Cold War, which lasted most of his adult life, but there are personal moments of celebration and sorrow as well. For me, it was fascinating to see the words of a driving force behind the Conservative movement over such a long time.
I'm not in full agreement on all of Mr. Buckley's views. He was Roman Catholic, whereas I'm Protestant. Later in life he was for the decriminalization of drugs, and while I follow his reasoning I can't agree. Still, I found myself in agreement with him through most of the book, and grinning at least once in every speech.
Having finished the book, I find myself somewhat sad that I was too young to watch him on 'Firing Line' or read his columns. I have found very little video of the man, and so I have only his writings to know him. Thankfully, he was a prolific writer, and this particular book is a solid collection of his thoughts.
January 12, 2009
I frequently don't agree with what Mr Buckley has to say but you have to admire is eloquence.
October 9, 2025
I feel like a heal giving WF Buckley three stars. I am a huge fan, and mostly agreed with him. I’m not worthy to judge even his vocabulary, which always sends me scurrying to a dictionary—which is no bad thing.
But this book collects old speeches. And most of them are so outdated that they are un enlightening—a word I never imagined tagging to Buckley. Even though I was alive for most of it, and even lived in New York when he ran for mayor, most of these texts relate to internecine warfare between intellectuals dead for 25-50 years.
Skip this one. Start with “God and Man at Yale,” an astonishingly mature work for a 22 year old. Plus there’s a halfway good TV biography of him. I’ve read two of his print bios, and think neither are good.
But this book collects old speeches. And most of them are so outdated that they are un enlightening—a word I never imagined tagging to Buckley. Even though I was alive for most of it, and even lived in New York when he ran for mayor, most of these texts relate to internecine warfare between intellectuals dead for 25-50 years.
Skip this one. Start with “God and Man at Yale,” an astonishingly mature work for a 22 year old. Plus there’s a halfway good TV biography of him. I’ve read two of his print bios, and think neither are good.
May 23, 2012
Who can deny that William F. Buckley was the most eloquent conservative voice of the 20th century? Buckley's primary concern was to win the Cold War. Who did more for that cause than Buckley? No Buckley, no Reagan. Buckley was always at the heart of the conservative movement within the Republican Party, (which Party, by the way, has become less cohesive since the end of the Cold War). While he sometimes identified himself as a Conservative or a Libertarian, he was a Republican for expediency and was a staunch supporter of Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan.
This book is a collection of essays and speeches given over five decades. Buckley has a unique and charming command of the English language that even his political opponents are unable to dislike. I wish his style of debating civilly and with substance existed on television today. Unlike most people with strong opinions, Buckley was often close personal friends with his adversaries which evinces an attractive ability to balance his enjoyment of people with his battle for ideas.
Now that these essays are dated and removed from the political emotions of their day, the logic of his arguments can be studied more objectively. In my opinion, William F. Buckley's logic still holds up surprisingly well.
This book is a collection of essays and speeches given over five decades. Buckley has a unique and charming command of the English language that even his political opponents are unable to dislike. I wish his style of debating civilly and with substance existed on television today. Unlike most people with strong opinions, Buckley was often close personal friends with his adversaries which evinces an attractive ability to balance his enjoyment of people with his battle for ideas.
Now that these essays are dated and removed from the political emotions of their day, the logic of his arguments can be studied more objectively. In my opinion, William F. Buckley's logic still holds up surprisingly well.
July 5, 2025
If William F Buckley Jr. was the premier intellectual of American Conservatism (with a capital 'C') from the 50s to the end of the 20th century, then Wilhoit's law (The Wilhoit to attribute this to was a musician, not a political science professor) is embarrassingly applicable; Buckley continued the long tradition of "...an elaborate backwash of pseudophilosophy, amounting over time to millions of pages. All such is axiomatically dishonest and undeserving of serious scrutiny." (https://crookedtimber.org/2018/03/21/...)
While I won't waste scrutiny on American Conservatism, I will spend it on this collection of speeches.
First, the good: In those speeches where Buckley aims to contrast the history, practices, and/or culture of the United States with that of the USSR or other then Communist states, he can do so deftly and efficiently, as would be expected of a good speechwriter. To paraphrase one of the passages of his speeches "While the USSR has an unending list of laws of what one cannot do, and the Mainland Chinese has a list of laws specifying what is explicitly allowed with everything else forbidden, the US Constitution is a document that restricts what the government is allowed to do." Besides that, the collection also includes some speeches that distinguish or show depth and variance from the conservative orthodoxy that Buckley held, such as praises for the economist J.K. Galbraith or an included speech in support of ending the war on drugs.
This brings us to the bad: Buckley certainly held more heterodox views, those that his supposed successors (excluding his son, Christopher) did not wish to indulge or include. For example, some of his stump speeches when he ran for NYC mayor in the 60s. Buckley wanted Bike Lanes before Conservatives saw them as "obnoxious liberal virtue signaling." Buckley in the Acknowledgements laments that including all the speeches he wanted in the book would require 350,000 words, which he was able to trim down to 230,000, with more cuts needed. However, within what was left and included in this book, we have a whole frivolous "Notes from the lecture circuit" section of 13 pages of travelogue, containing perhaps 1-2 pages of pithy observations between 11 pages of high-society drivel. Another questionable inclusion is his commencement address to the Chapin School's graduating class. The speech itself seems almost tone-deaf, as if Buckley is trolling the school and its student body; moreover, it does not elucidate anything positive about Buckley. Removing these, the opening notes, and perhaps some other speeches (such as his reflections on sailing) would have given Buckley the space to include some other speeches he lamented cutting.
Finally, the ugly: This book was published in 2000, long after some of the facts of particular previous conservative administrations had come to light. Perhaps Buckley's editing team was quietly subversive in some way? Towards the end, the speeches from the 90s are juxtaposed, allowing one familiar with history to identify Conservatism's hypocrisy easily. Buckley included speeches in which he laments the media discussing taxes, trying to illustrate that a lack of public investment wasn't an issue at the time, as the facts suggested taxes were too high. Buckley continues with "Forgiving the Unforgivable" regarding Bill Clinton. Buckley criticizes Clinton's conduct regarding his personal affairs and legal troubles during his presidency. The penultimate speech included in the book, "The Animating Indiscretions of Ronald Reagan," tries to serve as a contrast, a "Look at our guy compared to Clinton."
Forgotten was Reagan's deficit spending, which created a revenue shortfall. This shortfall cost George H.W. Bush reelection when he proposed tax increases, and it remained an issue after Clinton was elected. Furthermore, one can not find "Iran Contra" on page 493 of the index, where a pointer to any speeches or apologetics for Reagan and his administration's conduct should have been included. Especially ironic since it was the capture and torture of a different William Buckley (https://www.encyclopedia.com/politics...) that led to the Iran-Contra affair in the first place (Remember that Wilhoit attribution correction I included in the beginning?)
There's a reason why Buckley is mainly known for his speeches and television appearances, rather than his writing. His speeches served to motivate a conservative (small 'c') audience in support of Conservative (capital 'c') causes. A medium where the audience only passively participates, and cannot pause and look behind to add the context of the speech, or to fact or reference check, to verify that the speaker is true, not rhetorically appealing, but untrue or manipulative of the truth. Despite whatever intellectual veneer William F. Buckley gave to American Conservatism, those last speeches included didn't do a bit to change Wilhoit's law -
"Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit: There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect."
While I won't waste scrutiny on American Conservatism, I will spend it on this collection of speeches.
First, the good: In those speeches where Buckley aims to contrast the history, practices, and/or culture of the United States with that of the USSR or other then Communist states, he can do so deftly and efficiently, as would be expected of a good speechwriter. To paraphrase one of the passages of his speeches "While the USSR has an unending list of laws of what one cannot do, and the Mainland Chinese has a list of laws specifying what is explicitly allowed with everything else forbidden, the US Constitution is a document that restricts what the government is allowed to do." Besides that, the collection also includes some speeches that distinguish or show depth and variance from the conservative orthodoxy that Buckley held, such as praises for the economist J.K. Galbraith or an included speech in support of ending the war on drugs.
This brings us to the bad: Buckley certainly held more heterodox views, those that his supposed successors (excluding his son, Christopher) did not wish to indulge or include. For example, some of his stump speeches when he ran for NYC mayor in the 60s. Buckley wanted Bike Lanes before Conservatives saw them as "obnoxious liberal virtue signaling." Buckley in the Acknowledgements laments that including all the speeches he wanted in the book would require 350,000 words, which he was able to trim down to 230,000, with more cuts needed. However, within what was left and included in this book, we have a whole frivolous "Notes from the lecture circuit" section of 13 pages of travelogue, containing perhaps 1-2 pages of pithy observations between 11 pages of high-society drivel. Another questionable inclusion is his commencement address to the Chapin School's graduating class. The speech itself seems almost tone-deaf, as if Buckley is trolling the school and its student body; moreover, it does not elucidate anything positive about Buckley. Removing these, the opening notes, and perhaps some other speeches (such as his reflections on sailing) would have given Buckley the space to include some other speeches he lamented cutting.
Finally, the ugly: This book was published in 2000, long after some of the facts of particular previous conservative administrations had come to light. Perhaps Buckley's editing team was quietly subversive in some way? Towards the end, the speeches from the 90s are juxtaposed, allowing one familiar with history to identify Conservatism's hypocrisy easily. Buckley included speeches in which he laments the media discussing taxes, trying to illustrate that a lack of public investment wasn't an issue at the time, as the facts suggested taxes were too high. Buckley continues with "Forgiving the Unforgivable" regarding Bill Clinton. Buckley criticizes Clinton's conduct regarding his personal affairs and legal troubles during his presidency. The penultimate speech included in the book, "The Animating Indiscretions of Ronald Reagan," tries to serve as a contrast, a "Look at our guy compared to Clinton."
Forgotten was Reagan's deficit spending, which created a revenue shortfall. This shortfall cost George H.W. Bush reelection when he proposed tax increases, and it remained an issue after Clinton was elected. Furthermore, one can not find "Iran Contra" on page 493 of the index, where a pointer to any speeches or apologetics for Reagan and his administration's conduct should have been included. Especially ironic since it was the capture and torture of a different William Buckley (https://www.encyclopedia.com/politics...) that led to the Iran-Contra affair in the first place (Remember that Wilhoit attribution correction I included in the beginning?)
There's a reason why Buckley is mainly known for his speeches and television appearances, rather than his writing. His speeches served to motivate a conservative (small 'c') audience in support of Conservative (capital 'c') causes. A medium where the audience only passively participates, and cannot pause and look behind to add the context of the speech, or to fact or reference check, to verify that the speaker is true, not rhetorically appealing, but untrue or manipulative of the truth. Despite whatever intellectual veneer William F. Buckley gave to American Conservatism, those last speeches included didn't do a bit to change Wilhoit's law -
"Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit: There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect."
October 17, 2018
I find myself using the word "lapidary" more frequently now.
December 31, 2019
A wonderful book, a tour through history and through the conservative movement from its architect, William F. Buckley. A theme rings out from each speech: uncompromising moral clarity. He draws morals distinctions between countries, during the Cold War, and between ideologies and philosophies he faced his entire life.
However, his views did not stop him from befriending those holding the opposite perspective. A central figure in his life was the liberal commentator and professor John Kenneth Galbraith. Their families vacationed, sailed, and spent hours of time together where they talked about fine music, the beauty of the Catholic Church, and much more.
Finally, near the end of his life, he delivered a very interesting speech for the need for the “de-politicalization” of American life. He emphasized that as part of the goal of National Review, to reflect on new books, movies, and our culture, not from a political agenda, but from a cultural one. While NR has continued to uphold that tradition, I’m afraid our culture has gotten more, not less, political.
Overall, a great book. Highly recommend.
Favorite quote:
“The vision of our thought leaders is not of an America of unchanging basic attributes, the kind of America that we dreamed about one hundred eighty years ago when words like ‘inalienable’ and ‘immutable’ and ‘indefeasible’ were so freely used. Their dream is a shifting dream. Our dream is of an America whose essential characteristics must never change, however violently time and tide pound upon our shores.” - WFB
However, his views did not stop him from befriending those holding the opposite perspective. A central figure in his life was the liberal commentator and professor John Kenneth Galbraith. Their families vacationed, sailed, and spent hours of time together where they talked about fine music, the beauty of the Catholic Church, and much more.
Finally, near the end of his life, he delivered a very interesting speech for the need for the “de-politicalization” of American life. He emphasized that as part of the goal of National Review, to reflect on new books, movies, and our culture, not from a political agenda, but from a cultural one. While NR has continued to uphold that tradition, I’m afraid our culture has gotten more, not less, political.
Overall, a great book. Highly recommend.
Favorite quote:
“The vision of our thought leaders is not of an America of unchanging basic attributes, the kind of America that we dreamed about one hundred eighty years ago when words like ‘inalienable’ and ‘immutable’ and ‘indefeasible’ were so freely used. Their dream is a shifting dream. Our dream is of an America whose essential characteristics must never change, however violently time and tide pound upon our shores.” - WFB
October 20, 2021
There is something incredibly alluring about the writing and speaking style of William Buckley, Jr. It can be hard to follow yet also spellbinding at the same time.
His style reminds me in some parts of the style of C.S. Lewis. Somewhat. But it’s really entirely unique.
Every word is carefully selected. His vocabulary is unlike any I have ever seen.
This is not basic sixth-grade reading. His style is beautiful and not to be taken in too quickly.
You’ll find many references to the Bible and God sprinkled throughout it.
The book is a compilation of speeches from the 50s to the late 90s. Buckley is staunchly conservative, so we see a view of history through this viewpoint.
But it’s not a Fox News/Breitbart conservatism. At least not in tone. Not an angry conservatism, but a cogent, carefully thought out belief system stemming from our Founding Fathers.
This is not something to read for quick soundbites. Although some of the speeches are quick. You will see how Buckley turned conservatism into an intellectual ideology.
It takes work to read in some places, but many speeches are quite beautiful and profound.
There’s really nothing like it.
His style reminds me in some parts of the style of C.S. Lewis. Somewhat. But it’s really entirely unique.
Every word is carefully selected. His vocabulary is unlike any I have ever seen.
This is not basic sixth-grade reading. His style is beautiful and not to be taken in too quickly.
You’ll find many references to the Bible and God sprinkled throughout it.
The book is a compilation of speeches from the 50s to the late 90s. Buckley is staunchly conservative, so we see a view of history through this viewpoint.
But it’s not a Fox News/Breitbart conservatism. At least not in tone. Not an angry conservatism, but a cogent, carefully thought out belief system stemming from our Founding Fathers.
This is not something to read for quick soundbites. Although some of the speeches are quick. You will see how Buckley turned conservatism into an intellectual ideology.
It takes work to read in some places, but many speeches are quite beautiful and profound.
There’s really nothing like it.
March 13, 2021
Bill Buckley was hugely prolific, authoring more than 50 books, a syndicated column, and founding the influential periodical National Review. He was also known for his dexterity with language and razor-sharp wit and speaking ability. This book collects almost 100 speeches given at political gatherings, celebrations, graduations, university events, etc., organized by decade.
Most are just a few pages long, given the rules for speechmaking. All are well-written, persuasive, and usually contain thought-provoking analogies, quotes, or references to history or literature. They illustrate from many angles the philosophy of this great apologist for democracy, liberty, and the United States.
Most are just a few pages long, given the rules for speechmaking. All are well-written, persuasive, and usually contain thought-provoking analogies, quotes, or references to history or literature. They illustrate from many angles the philosophy of this great apologist for democracy, liberty, and the United States.
March 10, 2018
One has to wonder what people found so admirable about Buckley. I don't deny his important hand in creating the Republican party of Reagan, Bush and Trump, but I can't imagine how this con-man, employing a sesquipedalian vocabulary and a ridiculous trans-continental drawl, convinced people that he wasn't anything above a first-rate ignoramus.
July 24, 2022
This is a must read certainly any conservative thinker. WFB2’s prose and rhetoric is impressive and humbling. The collection wanders through America from 1950 to 1999. You will see his perspective on all the important events and personalities of the last 50 years of the 20th century. His foreshadowing of our era is scary. DFR
October 22, 2019
Some real gems here.
March 4, 2021
The real "Great One". Love Mr. Buckley
June 7, 2023
The man could write and speak and be witty and charming and surprisingly honest. Good stuff.
October 17, 2016
It is gobsmacking to think in October of 2016 that the conservative side of politics in the United States once boasted erudition and eloquence--but that is what William F. Buckley Jr. was and it was on full display in this collection of speeches.
(It is also a bit odd to think that the Republican Party once boasted conservatives...)
(It is also a bit odd to think that the Republican Party once boasted conservatives...)
May 15, 2008
This is a spirited thought provoking compendium of some of Buckley’s greatest speeches. Beginning with an address in the early 50’s delivered at Yale University and concluding with an American Heritage Foundation audience in 1999, but definitely not his oeuvre. His indited columns would fill 45 volumes, he wrote over 50 books, founded a magazine, hosted “Firing Line” for 33 years and his papers donated to Yale weigh seventeen tons. Nevertheless, this book revels us with a humbling entrance into his imposing dialectical conservative mind. Too smart to bluster, too cool to blow hot air, he was generous to all; even greatly admired and respected by his foes on the other side of the political spectrum. According to Rich Lowry, Editor of “National Review,” “Buckley did not distinguish between political persuasions in his friendships...he never believed that political views defined the essential person...and he had a deep belief in the preciousness of individuals.”
I regret that I did not read this book sooner and although it took me a long time to finish and was sometimes difficult to assimilate, was thoroughly enjoyable. Rereading is a must or perhaps concentrating on certain issues and topics covered which appeal to me most.
Buckley was one of my college idols, an incalculable inspiration, and while I did not agree with all his stated positions, I maintained a fierce and loyal admiration over the many following years. He was eloquent, intelligent, confident, engaging, dry, cuttingly witty, warm and so much more – everything I aspired to be but wasn’t.
I give it 10 Stars!!!
I regret that I did not read this book sooner and although it took me a long time to finish and was sometimes difficult to assimilate, was thoroughly enjoyable. Rereading is a must or perhaps concentrating on certain issues and topics covered which appeal to me most.
Buckley was one of my college idols, an incalculable inspiration, and while I did not agree with all his stated positions, I maintained a fierce and loyal admiration over the many following years. He was eloquent, intelligent, confident, engaging, dry, cuttingly witty, warm and so much more – everything I aspired to be but wasn’t.
I give it 10 Stars!!!
November 27, 2013
I loved this book!! I really wanted to write an update per speech but realized that I would fall to far behind in my updates. I read each one thoroughly taking notes, laughing, and at other times getting angry. W.F.B. is a great man with a very good insight into what things are all about. I'm looking forward to getting one of his books next week that I haven't read before. When you read his stories/when he talks about sailing you can almost see a smile on his face. I'm not a huge fan of his politics, but if I were living during his time, I might have be persuaded because he never stopped doing, learning, working, speaking his mind.
October 13, 2010
So far this is my favorite book by Buckley. It's a collection of his speeches, so it's concentrated doses of all he is about -- defending what I'll call Conservative values on a really profound level. It was so good I've checked out a lot of other books by him, which so far haven't been that great...
March 27, 2008
An excellent introduction to one of the great men of postwar America.
July 5, 2009
I'd give five starts for content. Some of the speeches are great. Many contain real gems. Others not as much.
Glad I read them, though. Buckley's was a keen mind.
Glad I read them, though. Buckley's was a keen mind.
August 15, 2016
Buckley's use of the English language almost makes one giddy in the reading. A number of excellent examples.
July 1, 2011
Buckley was an artist with words.
March 26, 2013
Great collection of Buckley quips, exchanges, and discourses.
December 2, 2013
Good book.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews