Much obliged, senator. His remarks from the Congressional Record:
Mr. President, I wish to honor and congratulate National Review for 60 years of valuable contributions to American political discourse.
When a 29-year-old William F. Buckley, Jr., published National Review’s first edition on November 19, 1955, it marked not just the birth of a magazine, but also the birth of the modern conservative movement. Under 45 years of Mr. Buckley’s leadership, National Review served as the standard bearer of conservative thought in America, where readers could expect to find leading thinkers such as Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, and Milton Freidman to name a few. It influenced generations of conservatives, including this conservative, with its frequently humorous and always intelligent writing, and it consistently published valuable commentaries on public events and figures, foreign and domestic affairs, culture, politics, and the economy.
During Mr. Buckley’s tenure, National Review did more than just observe and comment on the course of human events; it helped shape them. It played a central role in the “Reagan Revolution.” Its steadfast defense of liberty, free markets, and personal responsibility provided much of the intellectual underpinnings of America’s triumph over communist tyranny in Europe and around the world.
Mr. Buckley’s successors have ably carried on this proud tradition at National Review. It remains tremendously influential. With over 150,000 subscribers, it is the most read opinion magazine in America. Millions more visit National Review Online every month.
More importantly, Mr. Buckley’s successors have carried on as champions of the conservative movement. Every 2 weeks National Review arrives on my desk and serves as a reminder that conservative thought is alive and well in America.
Over the past 60 years, National Review has lived up to its founding statement so eloquently expressed by Mr. Buckley. To paraphrase, National Review continues to stand athwart history, yelling “stop,” when no other is inclined to do so, or to have much patience with those who so urge it.
Congratulations to all those who have made National Review a success over these last 60 years. Your contributions to American political discourse will serve as an inspiration and as a challenge to future generations of conservative thinkers.