The WFB Legacy — National Review Institute

In 1991, William F. Buckley Jr. organized National Review Institute as the nonprofit educational arm of the National Review enterprise with the help of Gay Hart Gaines, Wick Allison, NR publisher Ed Capano, and John O’Sullivan, then NR’s editor in chief. As O’Sullivan put it, “We had asked some generous friends of the magazine to fund a body that would promote outside NR the conservative ideals that Bill had pioneered in the magazine. There was no lack of projects. NRI helped to found the electronic Town Hall.”

The Institute’s first major event was held in the fall of 1991, and the subject was American foreign policy and conservatism in the wake of the collapse of Soviet communism. Major conservative figures in attendance included former British Prime Minister Margeret Thatcher and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. This was the first occurrence of what became known as the “Thatcher Summit,” held annually until 1997.

About the Author

National Review Institute

National Review Institute was founded by William F. Buckley Jr. as a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) charitable organization in 1991.

In 1991, William F. Buckley Jr. organized National Review Institute as the nonprofit educational arm of the National Review enterprise with the help of Gay Hart Gaines, Wick Allison, NR publisher Ed Capano, and John O’Sullivan, then NR’s editor in chief. As O’Sullivan put it, “We had asked some generous friends of the magazine to fund a body that would promote outside NR the conservative ideals that Bill had pioneered in the magazine. There was no lack of projects. NRI helped to found the electronic Town Hall.”

The Institute’s first major event was held in the fall of 1991, and the subject was American foreign policy and conservatism in the wake of the collapse of Soviet communism. Major conservative figures in attendance included former British Prime Minister Margeret Thatcher and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. This was the first occurrence of what became known as the “Thatcher Summit,” held annually until 1997.