Good evening. Welcome to our Civic AffairsSpeaker Series. I am my love, president of the Womens NationalRepublican Club our organization was founded in 1921. Teaching women in the value the ballot. Our founders in 1934. Today, the Womens NationalRepublican Club continues its goal of furthering political education and promoting good government. Chairman of our Speaker Series will introduce our renowned authors this evening. [applause] good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I am chairing this speaker committee. Tonight i have the great privilege and honor to present to you our speaker mr. William buckley junior. Journalist and author of 37 books which range from assailing adventures to political commentary at awardwinning fiction. Mr. Buckley needs no introduction. Everyone in this room is familiar with this mega achiever. We have all read his article such as his column on the right, founded and until recently edited and, of course, watched him on the long running firing line on saturday mornings. Tonight mr. Buckley will speak to us about his latest and most personal book near my god, and autobiography of faith. Here is what one critic has to say about mr. Buckleys latest book. Near my god is a splendid story about a modern pilgrim progress. Written a book that is inspiring which is exactly what we have come to expect from him. It is an added lesson to us all with his rare and illuminating intelligence which has now graced this country for several generations. Please welcome our speaker for tonight mr. William s buckley junior. [applause] thank you so much, madame chairman. I hate to start my few minutes here with a personal remark, but i have to do so. I have a dreadful cold in the throat. Please be patient with me speaking with the theme of tonights exchange. I remember hearing when i was running for mayor, the story of a man poised at the corner of park avenue in this huge limousine goes by and just cuts his trousers. He sees she immediately throws himself to the ground. [laughter] one year later, he has on the street at the waldorfastoria and the carrier gives him a check for 1 million. He says i just want to tell you something. If i see you move one arm or one leg any time in your lifetime you will spend the rest of the time in jail. He says, well, i will tell you how to make it easier for you. In a few minutes i will be met by a cadillac limousine and it will take me to the United States line. I will get off at where i will be met by a mercedes limousine which will take me and it will be a miracle. [laughter] [applause] i am here by invitation of your hostess to speak on religion, not on the republican party. We sometimes struggle to make the distinction. [laughter] [applause] my book near my god was the idea of a Publishing Company here in new york. I was asked almost 10 years ago to undertake it. A couple seasons on the grounds. I was heavily mortgaged on other books. 1992. I read my books and switzerland. Six or seven weeks during the winter. At the end of my writing season i was pretty dismayed because i found that the subject was so intimidating that i was afraid i could not do it justice. When i came back to new york i said, sorry i am fading out. But then that little itch began. Probably most of you at some point in your life know what i am talking about. That little itch of something you should have undertaken a decided not to undertake. You think back on it and it does not quite leave the memory. When i sat down to attempt to define that particular little aggravation of conscience, i wrote an introduction from which i approached. I recalled transfers in the familiar pill of the monk who sought to express his devotion to our lady having this counselor be witness during his first reading. The part of the fellow monks among whom there were those that saying like nightingales playing their instruments as finished artists, the kind of poet, all they had learned to deal before entering the monastery was to entertain in the streets as a juggler. On the chosen day he makes his way through the dark dormitory into the chapel with his wooden mallets. He then does his act for our lady. I thought that this was unrivaled and in devotional literature. Grotesque array. Me paying the mother of the universe with muscular divergence designed in the beautiful i. Thinking of myself in this particular enterprise and undertook some of the questions that arrest christians, active christians and fellow traveling christians. I took a special look at a marvelous book widely forgotten called difficulties. What happened was in 1933, famous at that time as an explorer, as a philosopher, as a historian, found himself up against kind of a fellow traveling posture christian. He could not quite convince himself that he ought to go all the way. He so often activated the impulses of this kind. He wrote the most prominent young theologian in england. Ronald knox. He had been a minister at oxford he became a catholic somewhere along the line. He invited father knox to explore with him publicly certain difficulties he had with religion. How can human beings, for instance, how can they exercise free will while god is this. That was one of several difficulties in which the two exchanges magnificent others. I revisit those and well in them and ask ourselves whether they are modern perspectives on which we have fresh views of these difficulties. The opening chapter is a chapter that you might have caught in the National Review where it was published, the year i spent i was 12 years old, my father drove me he told me i had to stop by and he saw Dennis Chamberlain coming back bringing peace in our time, that was october 19, 9038. Anyway speak about the experiences in the sense of which the christian and mans nation is somewhat in my case, not unusual since im one of ten children with about a mother and a father. Christianity in the way of life as we understood it, i wrote in my biography to go through my experiences in the army or a few of them in my experiences at yell where he detected a hypocrisy, mainly affirmation of the christian position combined with the studious neglect and in many situations a disparage. And how does Christian Doctrine become christian since we do have a Supreme Court. The answer of that is of course in the church in my church, it is done as a result of an evolution wonderfully describe by colonel newman who i quote extensively and have a chapter on my nephew in the order, this is for five years ago, he had been there for 13 years and one does not quite know when it is and begin to become a priest, many want to become priest but he was indeed in a hundred of his friends and nephews and brothers and sisters were there and i gave them the night that he was admitted a questionnaire which i batted out on my traveling word processor, i record his answers which are really eloquently, there is a chapter and a visit which i did with bill simon in the story is so dramatic that the implication that they often neglected, people simply dont quite understand what in fact happened there, the miracles are very few and highly numbered, no enterprises is bound to the lack of success as somebody who pretends because those who affect a cure are exposed to a barrage of medical examination which cant possibly be survived by anyone who is faking anything. But the visit has an effect which is difficult to describe and the editor said nothing is indescribable, it becomes autistic challenge to describe it. And i tempted to do so, there is material of various kinds in the book, to substantial chances to exchanges between me and my forum consisting of seven or eight scholars who were converts to christianity, questioning them about aspects in the hope on the point that the illumination will be more distinctive than my own and reach some people not reached by my own explorations. I devote a little time, not a lot of time to the problem of religion in america, most conspicuously of a problem of inattention in the public schools, so ordained by a Supreme Court in the judgment of others including many Supreme Court justices with the amendment, in order to transform the constitution to an instrument, the subject is always in the news in some way or another and you may have not been the judge in alabama, he was detected to a copy of the Ten Commandments hanging in his courtroom, they had been there for quite a while but only i wouldve noticed. [laughter] the aclu went into a disease been and now appealing to a court order there, the scene is complicated by governor james that said he was not given the order to come down then somebody else want to do it. [laughter] a young lady, 15 years old called heller was detected a mischief what she had done, she had seek subscriptions to a pledge, the pledge was called lets wait until then. She had 50 girls committed to this covenant which was to postpone sexual experience until mark hunter marriage, when it was detected that hera that was a member of the girls Christian League under the circumstances the superintendent said this is a previolation of the constitution and their activity would have to seize and i remember at the time reflecting on it and it was too late to insert it in my book but everyone is familiar that Nancy Reagans victim just say no, what would happen hypothetically were canonized. [laughter] would it be unconstitutional to circulate a pledge saying nancy reagan dont say no. What if it were discovered by the incremental myths in the last minute moses confessed the Ten Commandments of personal convention under the circumstances would it be all right to hang them if they were established if theres no religious ostracism involved . [laughter] these are questions in which ever form i do talk of little bit about on any book which is noncontroversial except the extent that religion is often controversial especially in a high secularized world, there were a couple of concrete events recorded in the book, one of which i read now from the text in february of 1980, a wealthy canadian approach me to immediate area to ask if id undertake a experimental documentary exact size and shape undecided how that would be left in my hand, the singular asset cost them a lot of money and it was exclusive access on the one month away from 48 hours. This privilege had never before been extended and how we came to be the canadian had got it but the invitation to me with our programs to be filled in the 16 chapel. I accepted the commission and i called on malcolm and asked him if he was set as my cohost. He readily agreed and it was expected that i would attractive start to participate in the 16 extravaganza, only two weeks before the deadline i approach david a neighbor in switzerland and the princess monica who regularly vacation with her family nearby and who he spent occasional evenings at her house painting by telephone i got charles who played michelangelo in one movie and john the baptist did another. The greatest roi ever told. And moses the third the Ten Commandments. And by doing something in michelangelos primary shrine adorned by the great painting of the creation, at the few days i had a call from m in the coursef my lifetime i met most of the famous people in the world and was uniformly i had myself wishing i had not. But i think this is different, i wonder if you can arrange an audience with him so i suggested he uses resources and i use mine and we were arriving and notified by a written message and had an appointment with the pope the following day, we proceeded with the parables that we had skits to do, the idea was to have grace monica read to parables. One was on and then to ask her whether in their own experience there was something that could rival the parable whether to say it had a contemporary application, all of them are formed marvelously and when it was over we prepared to the vatican for scheduled appointment and it was wonderf wonderful, we were summoned to his private quarters at 1245 for a 1 00 oclock appointment, wednesday was the day during the morning before any argument he that with the pilgrims because the plight of the chamber where we sat after 12 and he pointed out the end of john paul ii was still talking to the curiosity of the world and he gave him his blessing and he was asked to stand next to each other the slight benign smile, fatigue and the next day he was hospitalized with influenza, in the auditorium he wore it on his head and around his neck a School Necklace with a pectoral cost, several aides were in attendance, he approached malcolm and extended his hand, the words and the exhuming ends changes are exactly edged in my memory. Now addressed in his service with the english and he said, you are radio, what possible answer can one get to that question and, malcolm smiled and managed to say he had done civil work on radio, the pope wished nothing further and smiled and offered his hands and said you are very close to my predecessor and his eyes widened, i had great admiration for you and so much on whom he smiled and extended his hand to me, i had to act quickly i thought. If there was any hope of rescuing our audience, the machinery of the vatican had got tingled in one br chrissy and with the important gentlemen who was given the Sistine Chapel for their work in one of his visitors mightve informed the holy father in the most eloquent English Speaking christian alive. Another was a renowned and greatly loved actor and princess grace both of whom all woodwork unrepresented documentary in the 11616 trave16 chapel. A second bureaucracy had briefed the pope about an entirely different set of people, one of whom was a radio. [laughter] another was a biographer of paul the six. I thought i might give the pope a lifesaving need so after shaking hands before we could speak i said to him smiling, it will be very hard for me too get used to my own private chapel back home having spent so many hours in yours. [laughter] into alert the holy father to what was getting on my words clearly startled him and he stopped and step back with emotion signaling and escorted him to the side of the room politely i wife and me, photographed, materialized, shot his picture, the pope blessed us, smiled again and left the chamber. They could never have been rivalry in the vatican elevator, that took us down to our waiting, malcolm practice being radio and david demanded so he could perceive with the life story of pope the six. But in today malcolms voice would come in over the Long Distance line and always hear from him, is this radio on the line. But when i visited him add his cottage in sussex, there was a few pictures of his family and one of him and pope john and so it goes my instructions were to stick to this thing to invite the questions and to agree to share whatever you wish to share of a secular concern so i close by giving you two paragraphs written about my mother who the book is dedicated and eroded a few years earlier, here is the 50 more years together and then we will both go. But my father my father died not 15 years later but three years later, her grief was profound and she emerged through the solvent of prayer. Her belief in submission to a divine order and irrepressible politeness and family and friends, few years made later her daughter maureen died aged 31 and she struggled to fight her desolation would not complete success, her oldest daughter died three years after that give three months before her own death her son, john my oldest brother by then was in a retirement home absentminded, she knew us all and vague about when she had last seen us or where and giving references to my father in the trip that they plan next week to mexico or perish under paris, she sensed what happened and extracted her nurse with the impression that she owned the establishment in which she had, to driver to the cemetery and they are unknown to us until later that afternoon she witnessed from inside the car and her oldest son, he had been visiting her every day often taken her to a local restaurant for lunch and her grief was by her standards compulsive but she never broker route. She was never ever to complain because she explained she could never repay god that favors that he had done her no matter what tribulations she might be made to suffer. Ten years before she died my wife and i arrived from new york much later than we had expected and mother had given up waiting for us, we went directly to the guest room, there was a little slip of blue paper on the bed, another on the door to the bedroom and a third on the mere, they were love notes on her three by five newspaper, little valentines as though we were back from searching the globe, there was no sensation to match the timbre of her pleasure of hearing from her when you called her on the telephone or the vibrations of her embrace when she laid eyes on you something unique. Five days before she died, one week having going by without her said anything, though she clutched the hands of her children and grandchildren as they came to say goodbye, the nurse brought her from the bathroom to the on chair, she put on her lipstick and a touch of rouge and the pearls. Suddenly for the first time she reached out her mere and with effort she raised in front of her face and said with a smile on her face as she turned to the nurse, is an amazing everyone is so openly beautiful. [laughter] it was amazing that anybody could be so beautiful. Thank you. [applause] mr. Buckley will take questions, can you please step up to the mic because were being recorded by cspan. Dont misbehave in front of cspan. [laughter] hello. Thank you for your very expiring comments, i arity read the book, is very worthwhile. I have, that is general, if its ever worthy today to compromise ones religious beliefs in order to promote unity weather here in america or abroad. I think the critical word is compromise, the pope is very straightforward on a matter of the Political Correctness of trying to do that much that can be done, for instance if one were to vote for one candidate who said im in favor of abortion but i insist the mother be notified to vote for him as against the person that said no mother should be notified would be a politically prudent and understandable step, in those circumstances under the christian theology is one justified and affecting a mortal sin for whatever purpose. For instance whether catholic were whatever it would never be justified for a spike to seduce somebody. Or to assassinate somebody, they would have to be a civil understanding better protective shield to activities who would be theologically if anybody wants to contradict me,. [laughter] with particular reference to the middle east, there is now a big trouble spot in terms of Orthodox Jewish law and a movement in america. For my orthodoxy seeks control as it should have a say. Do you have any suggestions. The religious intentions within israel was for many years private matter, it has no longer that because israel to be sure is a discrete National Community but also International Shelter and under the circumstances the concern of people who dont live in israel and its a felt concern in what we seen a situation in which a small but a demanding more from section withholding or is not holding it sanction to a Coalition Government on whether certain laws are forced which the majority are against enforcing. We have a genuine problem is that weve all read about the extent it has divided many of israels supporters here in america. Some people who think the old order should holdfast anothers thinking the reconciliation is in order. [inaudible question] i am on the board of governors, we thank you for coming. My question is a little digression but, 20 years ago i bought at a charity ball one of your beautiful paintings. One of my what. One of your beautiful paintings, a boat on water. I was happy to have the painting. You signed for me. I have two questions, one are you still painting in the second question, is my painting more valuable . [laughter] [applause] this will sound like a plant but i promise it isnt. Would my brother was elected to the senate he had a deficit in two events were scheduled to try to collect money to defray the deficit. Both were auctions, one here and one in rochester the next night. I was auctioneer. And among the items, this was to be a painting to which i devoted much time in switzerland who painted every night in the great moment came in the crowd really was not watching as well as very fiercely because everything sold at extra for them prices. I kept aiming up the price of the painting and it went to 1875. I nearly fainted and offered myself in at the end of the evening it was humiliating because the gentleman who bought it turned to my wife and said you can have it. [laughter] so the night he was up again in rochester but in rochester there are much in vista gnostic than in manhattan. But early on the enthusiasm generated for anything in new york was not going to go. Time came for beautiful paintings, who will bid 1000, dead silence. Who will bid 500. Dead silence. Who will bid 250, i will, it was my dear wife. [laughter] so she got it 250, i am glad you know how that. I hope you enjoy. [applause] as long as i married which is 45 years i think i first tell you interviewed by mike wallace on latenight television. I was wondering if you comment do you think your American Heritage has been unfortunately i dont qualify completely to serve under that manner i was enjoying to join the order of Saint Patrick a few years ago in new york so they asked for my credentials. It did not work. Yet of three grandparents who have perished in a field having irish blood in my mothers and the soul of the earth and the heavy incidents. I remember the night of mike wallace, especially because he had a ferocious reputation and his show was called open and and a half hour he slashed and destroyed reputation after reputation, his fierce research, when i came on he was a little bit frazzled because of preceding guest had been a postof america, a butterfly and most days trying to air to any black american to express discontent and fatigue with america and at the end of the evening, he turned just before he came on. He said do you worry about how much time we are wasting and how much risk we are taking on the military, no, sir. I dont worry at all. I say my prayers every night senator joe mccarthy. [laughter] my flaws were very discomforted. I once asked, i said, larry, have you ever been completely wasted, this devastated by one of your guests, he said yes. He said about a year ago i had on the man i hate the most in the United States, i hate most in the world. So i save my hate maker until the last 22 seconds. And i said senator, last week senator called you the worst man to ever been elected in the senate of the history the United States, what is your comment on that . He said dont you understand he is a communist. [laughter] that is one way of closing that exploration. Sorry i am rambling. I have to say you and your son will look more like brothers. My question to you. [inaudible question] is anybody having trouble hearing me. I know that you are a catholic and i have not read your books yet except the first chapter because they describe from the review and i tend to read the book and get it and read the whole thing. My question, have you had any doubts and gone into the religions which give an entire indifferent aspect to the great creator and for instance the only reality is consciousness and as all and im just wondering if you had any problems about that, how did you arrive at your solution. I acknowledge here and in the book though not my enemies profoundly, the enticements of this or that in this been, and i remember when all four illegals took to a magic yoga in india to get the inspiration and it did not last, i do not mean to denigrate those religions but all i can say is never complained once in the past, a classmate expressed his restlessness with christianity, i urge him to read, he did two books, both by the same man, orthodoxy written when he was a partisan in the everlasting man in which he compares the credentials of the competing in the riser his conclusions, i wish i could quote exactly when they are all over the world anxiously seeking something until you finally found it, it was orthodoxy. So to answer your question on a personal level, im aware they are not of what you call and im never troubled with many worry that anything has come up that hasnt been plumbed by men and women of huge intellect who settle for christianity. I was debating last week and on evolution and creation, very formative people on both sides. And one of me, brilliant professor, i written a hundred books, it is about, i made a point that much of a racially, they say they mustve been materialist Natural Selection untroubled or by divine intervention and for the circumstances the following has to be used because that is her commitment and i believe in douglas two. Yes, i do. And on the other hand he did not arise again on the third day. So there is several perceptions on the basis of which christianity can never be selfsatisfied, that would be wrong but proud and confident. [applause] we thank him for being with us this evening, i also want to thank him and her committee, and jane of the library committee. For having this event this evening. Thank you all for coming and he has been sent to sign your book, please come forward. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] you are watching the tv on cspan2, tonight we are Binge Watching with the late author William Buckley junior. We have one more program tonight to show you, in april 2000 he sat down from three hours to talk about his life and his work, this is from book tv indepth program, here it is. Welcome to book tv indepth, these are the books of william x buckley junior, 41 in total, ranging from his first book