Former conservative US senator and Reagan-appointed federal judge James Buckley has passed away at the age of 100, according to the Conservative Party of New York State. Buckley gained national attention in 1970 when he won the New York senatorial election as a candidate for the Conservative Party, becoming the state’s first third-party senator. During his term, he advocated for a constitutional amendment to ban abortion with limited exceptions and called for then-President Richard Nixon’s resignation after the Watergate scandal.
The Conservative Party described Buckley as “a man for all seasons” and expressed their “enormous debt and gratitude” in a statement. Gerard Kassar, chairman of the party’s New York chapter, said that Buckley dedicated most of his long life to serving his country and that his legacy will forever be linked with the Conservative Party.
Buckley became the oldest living former senator when he turned 100 in March, according to The Heritage Foundation. He resided in Bethesda, Maryland, until his death. Born in New York City in 1923, Buckley attended Yale University and served in the US Navy during World War II before returning to Yale to obtain his law degree in 1949. He came from a prominent conservative family, with his brother, William F. Buckley, being the founder of the National Review and a well-known conservative commentator.
In 1970, Buckley won the senatorial election by defeating Democratic Rep. Richard Ottinger and incumbent Republican Sen. Charles Goodell. He emphasized the need for a new course in politics and became a voice for change. During his tenure, Buckley pushed for conservative legislation, including an abortion bill that aimed to add a constitutional amendment banning the procedure except in cases of life endangerment. He was also the leading sponsor of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, known as the Buckley Amendment, which established guidelines for accessing student educational records.
Buckley’s reelection bid in 1976 was unsuccessful, and he later became involved in a landmark campaign finance case, Buckley v. Valeo, which reached the Supreme Court. The court ruled partly in his favor, declaring that some of the Federal Election Commission’s limits on campaign spending violated the First Amendment. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan appointed Buckley as the Under Secretary of State for Coordination of Security Assistance Programs, and he was later confirmed as a federal judge in a US Appeals Court in Washington, DC, with bipartisan support.
Buckley retired from the appeals court in 2000. His life and accomplishments will be remembered as integral to the Conservative Party and his dedication to public service.
Original Story at www.cnn.com – 2023-08-18 22:38:00