From Sean Duffy, a former aide to Colorado Gov. Bill Owens, who was a National Review cover boy a few years ago:

My deepest condolences to all of you at NR over the loss of WFB. I have been recalling, so fondly, our dinner with the two Bills – Owens and Buckley – at the Buckleys’ home in New York. I suppose if there is a mother church of our conservative movement, it is that red salon on Park Avenue. I recall every moment of that evening – the humor, the grace, the deep, lively and challenging conversation. The peanut butter and bacon snacks. I recall looking about the dining room and noticing, there on a table, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and thinking, what a life richly lived. What a gentle, kind and inspiring man. What a life. What a loss. Please let the team know how grateful I am to all of you for the chance to be part of that very special evening, and how much we all see his legacy in the fine work each of you continue to do every day.

From Charlotte Allen:

I’m so sorry to hear this–you must all be in mourning. I still treasure the letter I got from him a few years ago praising a book review I wrote for NR. I can’t remember the review, but I sure remember his letter.