Buckley’s Elvis
William F. Buckley Jr. discusses his latest, Elvis in the Morning.

By Kathryn Jean Lopez, NR associate editor
July 7-8, 2001

Elvis in the Morning, by William F. Buckley Jr. (Harcourt Brace, 344 pp., $25.00)

Kathryn Jean Lopez: What made you want to write about Elvis Presley in the first place?

William F. Buckley Jr.: I didn't set out to write about Elvis but I bumped into him almost immediately in a narrative that explores a 15-year-old American boy veering to the political Left.

Lopez: Why a novel and not some sort of non-fiction account of his life?

WFB: As noted, my interest was in a novel about leftbound young Americans who went through schools, Woodstock, nomadism. But Elvis comes in early and stays to the end, and — that kind of thing tends to happen — becomes the dominant figure. You may remember Dorothy Parker remarking that an evening with Gershwin was a Gershwin evening.

Lopez: Did you know much about Presley before you decided to write the book?

WFB: Not really. I had heard a few of his songs (without really appreciating the sheer beauty of some of it), and passed my eyes over newspaper accounts. I didn't know how fascinating a figure he was.

Lopez: Where did the idea for the Orson character come from?

WFB: Sheer invention. Orson arrives in the novel age 7, moves quickly to l4 (when he sees Elvis on television), goes at age 15 to Paris with Elvis, and does the kind of thing young men did in Paris. On to socialist revolt at the University of Michigan... He is, you're right, a very interesting figure.

Lopez: Did you ever meet Elvis Presley?

WFB: No. I'm rather glad of that. I don't know what he'd say. It's a pretty good general rule not to meet people you find fascinating.

Lopez: You said in a recent column that "Elvis Presley had the most beautiful singing voice of any human being on Earth." Do you have a favorite Elvis song?

WFB: No, not a favorite song. One has to search around. A lot of his stuff is junky, but some of it, sublime. The best record, in my experience, is Disc 3 from the Complete 50's collection. I wish someone would tell me what the title is of the song that has the words in it, One Night. Beautiful. (The records don't give titles).

Lopez: Do you think Elvis Presley has an important legacy beyond his songs?

WFB: No. His thoughts were half-formed. He didn't even speak cogently when he was berating his girlfriends on stage. But he was a patriot, a conservative, and a believer.

Lopez: How long did Elvis in the Morning take you to write? Has your schedule for writing books become routine for you?

WFB: I did the first draft in Switzerland, as is my habit, in 6-7 weeks. Then I spent a lot of time rewriting under the guidance of the great Sam Vaughan (he is my editor; I hope he lives forever, but at the very least, longer than me).

Lopez: Do you have plans for a next book?

WFB: Yes, the next book is completed, but I don't want to talk about it. Elvis is on stage.