Central to the mission of the Hoover Institution Library & Archives is the commitment to preserving the ideas that have advanced freedom and shaped public discourse. One of the most important examples of this legacy is the televised program 'Firing Line,' hosted by William F. Buckley Jr. which was broadcast from 1966 to 1999. The Library & Archives preserves the 1505 episodes of Firing Line and makes them available on YouTube.
William F. Buckley Jr. (1925–2008) would have turned 100 this year, and to commemorate his centennial, the Library & Archives, National Review, and even the United States Postal Service will look back on his life and legacy to pay homage to the figure who offered a stage for influential voices across the political spectrum.
Just in time, Christopher Buckley, son of William F. Buckley Jr., has graciously donated his father’s typewriter– which “launched the modern conservative movement”-- along with other material, to the Hoover Institution Library & Archives. In a recent interview with Murdoch Distinguished Policy Fellow Peter Robinson on Uncommon Knowledge, Christopher shared that he thought his father “would be pleased that [the typewriter] is going somewhere it will be loved and taken good care of”. It is currently on display in the Library & Archives reading room at Stanford University, where researchers can plan their visit and explore related materials.
The digitization and public availability of the Firing Line archive—highlighted on YouTube and in a digital collections portal —underscores the Library & Archives' role as a steward of intellectual history. Through ongoing efforts to preserve and make more materials available, Hoover ensures that this treasure trove of 20th-century discourse remains accessible to all interested in the role of history and the value of curiosity in a democratic society.
What’s more, the United States Postal Service deemed William F. Buckley Jr. “one of the most influential public intellectuals in modern U.S. history” and announced a new stamp to be released later this year in his honor.
By protecting, expanding, providing access to this collection, the Library & Archives remains a leading resource on war, revolution, and peace. More than a historical artifact, the Firing Line archive is a testament to the enduring power of ideas and the essential role of freedom in shaping a more informed and open society.
