William F. Buckley Jr. reshaped American conservatism when he founded the National Review in 1955, a magazine that gave coherence and visibility to the modern conservative movement. A prolific author of more than 50 books, he also hosted the public affairs program Firing Line from 1966 to 1999, making it the longest-running show of its kind with a single host. Buckley’s career blended politics, commentary, and literature, making him an influential intellectual voice of the Cold War era.