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James L. Buckley Biography

Former United States Senator

James L. Buckley is a former United States Senator, born on March 9, 1923. He has had a rich career in politics, law, and education, serving as a U.S. Senator and making significant contributions in various fields.

Important Deals Cases Honestly Temptation Officials Overwhelming Constituents Elected Officials

Book:Freedom at Risk: Reflections on Politics, Liberty, and the State

Source: Freedom at Risk: Reflections on Politics, Liberty, and the State

“Unfortunately, the media, which are not at all reluctant to act in their own self-interest, have succeeded in equating reform in the public mind with further restrictions on just about everyone else's freedom of political speech.”

Mind Self Political Interest Media Speech Reform Restriction Self Interest Reluctant Political Speeches

Author:James L. Buckley

“This source of corruption, alas, is inherent in the democratic system itself, and it can only be controlled, if at all, by finding ways to encourage legislators to subordinate ambition to principle.”

Ifs Way Principles Source Ambition Findings Democratic Corruption Controlled Inherent Alas Subordinates Legislators

Book:Freedom at Risk: Reflections on Politics, Liberty, and the State

Source: Freedom at Risk: Reflections on Politics, Liberty, and the State

“Unfortunately, in today's world we have to be reminded that the power of an oath derives from the fact that in it we ask God to bear witness to the promises we make with the implicit expectation that He will hold us accountable for the manner in which we honor them.”

World Facts Today Asks Bears Honor Promise Expectations Witness Oath Implicit Today's World

Book:Freedom at Risk: Reflections on Politics, Liberty, and the State

Source: Freedom at Risk: Reflections on Politics, Liberty, and the State

“They may then be willing to cast principled votes based on an educated understanding of the public interest in the face of polls suggesting that the public itself may have quite a different understanding of where its interest lies.”

May Different Faces Lying Understanding Interest Willing Vote Casts Educated Deceit Polls Suggesting Public Interest Principled

Book:Freedom at Risk: Reflections on Politics, Liberty, and the State

Source: Freedom at Risk: Reflections on Politics, Liberty, and the State

“What people fail to appreciate is that the currency of corruption in elective office is, not money, but votes.”

People Failing Office Appreciate Vote Corruption Currency

Book:Freedom at Risk: Reflections on Politics, Liberty, and the State

Source: Freedom at Risk: Reflections on Politics, Liberty, and the State

“In rendering its decision in our case, the Supreme Court equated money with speech because these days it takes the first to make yourself heard.”

Firsts Decision Cases Heard Speech Court Supreme These Days Supreme Court Rendering

Author:James L. Buckley

“I had hoped that the current presidential campaign debates might educate the public as to what is really involved in the ongoing controversy over campaign financing.”

Might Involved Currents Campaigns Debate Presidential Educate Afterlife Controversy Ongoing Financing Presidential Campaign

Author:James L. Buckley

“If enough people openly engage in conduct once considered reprehensible, we rewrite the rule book and assume that God, as a good democrat, will go along.”

People Ifs Book Enough Assuming Democrat Engagement

Author:James L. Buckley

“The kind of corruption the media talk about, the kind the Supreme Court was concerned about, involves the putative sale of votes in exchange for campaign contributions.”

Kind Media Concerned Vote Court Corruption Campaigns Supreme Contribution Supreme Court Campaign Contributions

Book:Freedom at Risk: Reflections on Politics, Liberty, and the State

Source: Freedom at Risk: Reflections on Politics, Liberty, and the State

“What distinguishes the campaign finance issue from just about every other one being debated these days is that the two sides do not divide along conventional liberal/ conservative lines.”

Two Sides Lines Issues Conservative Campaigns Finance These Days Divides Conventional Two Sides Campaign Finance

Author:James L. Buckley

“Under the circumstances, may I suggest another means of encouraging probity in elective office. I refer to term limitations, which can serve ends beyond that of saving congressional souls.”

May Mean Soul Ends Term Circumstances Office Saving Limitation Probity

Author:James L. Buckley

“Given the difficulty of resisting such temptations over the longer run, a proper concern for the welfare of congressional souls may well be the ultimate argument in favor of term limitations.”

Wells May Soul Running Given Term Concern Argument Ultimate Difficulty Favors Temptation Limitation Welfare Resisting

Book:Freedom at Risk: Reflections on Politics, Liberty, and the State

Source: Freedom at Risk: Reflections on Politics, Liberty, and the State

About the Author

Born: March 9, 1923
Known for: Former United States Senator
Quotes: 13

Books & Sources

Freedom at Risk: Reflections on Politics, Liberty, and the StateRelated source material

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