OTL, Buckley in the mid-70s was most famous for hosting a conservative discussion show called Firing Line. That is, until late 1975, when he got caught doing an interview with Ronald Reagan, then gearing up for a primary run, in which Buckley asked Reagan a series of softball questions that had been written by the candidate himself.
Buckley, of course, claimed that he wasn't deliberately asking scripted questions, there had just been a bit of prepping about what sort of interview the candidate wanted, Reagan submitted some notes that got rendered into questions by careless staff members, etc. But post-Watergate conservatives weren't in the mood to tolerate even a whiff of scandal, so that was the end of both Reagan's campaign and Buckley's career in the commentariat.
Which thus began the phase of Buckley's career we all know best: hosting, narrating, and otherwise fronting innumerable b-list cultural endeavours. Everyone has their own favorites, but the ones I remember best are the coffee table book WILLIAM F. BUCKLEY EXPLORES THE OCCULT, with an introduction supposedly by Buckley, followed by lurid articles about human sacrifice at Stonehenge etc. As well as the soft-core exploitation "documentary" SEX CRIMES OF THE THIRD REICH, narrated by Buckley, who apparently tried to convince the producers to include Soviet misdeeds on the menu, only to be told that Communism wasn't sexy.
Plus, a whole shitload of other kitschy offerings, petering out in the late 80s or so, when younger generations could no longer be counted on to respond to even a caricature of Buckley's erstwhile reputation for intellect and erudition, and he retired into sad obscurity.
But what happens if Buckley never gets caught faking questions? How long can his career in conservative media or politics last? And who could take his place as America's favorite Maestro Of Schlock?
Buckley, of course, claimed that he wasn't deliberately asking scripted questions, there had just been a bit of prepping about what sort of interview the candidate wanted, Reagan submitted some notes that got rendered into questions by careless staff members, etc. But post-Watergate conservatives weren't in the mood to tolerate even a whiff of scandal, so that was the end of both Reagan's campaign and Buckley's career in the commentariat.
Which thus began the phase of Buckley's career we all know best: hosting, narrating, and otherwise fronting innumerable b-list cultural endeavours. Everyone has their own favorites, but the ones I remember best are the coffee table book WILLIAM F. BUCKLEY EXPLORES THE OCCULT, with an introduction supposedly by Buckley, followed by lurid articles about human sacrifice at Stonehenge etc. As well as the soft-core exploitation "documentary" SEX CRIMES OF THE THIRD REICH, narrated by Buckley, who apparently tried to convince the producers to include Soviet misdeeds on the menu, only to be told that Communism wasn't sexy.
Plus, a whole shitload of other kitschy offerings, petering out in the late 80s or so, when younger generations could no longer be counted on to respond to even a caricature of Buckley's erstwhile reputation for intellect and erudition, and he retired into sad obscurity.
But what happens if Buckley never gets caught faking questions? How long can his career in conservative media or politics last? And who could take his place as America's favorite Maestro Of Schlock?
Last edited: