Democratic Gala

Over the course of this year, the centenary of William F. Buckley’s birth, we will republish an article by him weekly. This week’s piece recounts an event to support the Democratic ticket, which Buckley attended as a member of the press.

It was billed as a “Halloween Gala.” The egregious sponsors were the Americans for Democratic Action, the New Coalition for Humphrey-Muskie, and the Students’ Coalition for Humphrey-Muskie. The auditorium was the vast Manhattan Center, capacity 4,000. The speakers were the authors of approximately one quarter of the Current Books section of the New York Public Library, an easy quorum of the Establishment left: Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., Michael Harrington, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Ted Sorensen, William Fitts Ryan, Joseph Rauh, Jr., James Farmer, Norman Cousins. It was quite an evening.

About the Author

William F. Buckley Jr.

William F. Buckley Jr. founded National Review magazine in 1955.

Over the course of this year, the centenary of William F. Buckley’s birth, we will republish an article by him weekly. This week’s piece recounts an event to support the Democratic ticket, which Buckley attended as a member of the press.

It was billed as a “Halloween Gala.” The egregious sponsors were the Americans for Democratic Action, the New Coalition for Humphrey-Muskie, and the Students’ Coalition for Humphrey-Muskie. The auditorium was the vast Manhattan Center, capacity 4,000. The speakers were the authors of approximately one quarter of the Current Books section of the New York Public Library, an easy quorum of the Establishment left: Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., Michael Harrington, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Ted Sorensen, William Fitts Ryan, Joseph Rauh, Jr., James Farmer, Norman Cousins. It was quite an evening.