FIRING LINE: BILL BUCKLEY AND FIRING LINE GET ROASTED (TV)
Summary
One in this talk/interview series hosted by William F. Buckley, Jr. This special retrospective features authors Tom Wolfe and John Kenneth Galbraith, attorney Harriet Pilpel, former senator Eugene McCarthy, and former secretary of state Henry Kissinger giving a "colorfully rude" send-up of William Buckley on the occasion of his twentieth year on the air. First, guest host Jeff Greenfield talks about the idea that Buckley overturned television's rules "with abandon," Buckley's extensive vocabulary, and the efficiency of Buckley's writing. Then Wolfe refers to Buckley as a "national treasure," looks at Buckley's "rapier-like ripostes," and reads a fictional introduction for an upcoming episode of "Firing Line" with Gore Vidal. Galbraith gives a few reasons for the success of "Firing Line," including Buckley's kindness and skill as a skier. Pilpel talks about Buckley's diverse talents and near "perfection," her belief that Buckley is actually a closet liberal, and her respect for the accomplishments of "Firing Line." In addition, McCarthy explains his 1980 endorsement of President Ronald Reagan, which was based on Reagan's theology and reading habits; refers to President James Carter and John Anderson; talks about President Richard Nixon, restating and noting the truth of Nixon's assertion that "the last thing he would ever do as president was recognize China"; and discusses Buckley's influence on the Reagan White House. Then Kissinger examines his past appearances on "Firing Line" and Buckley's effect on American politics in the past forty years. At the close of the program, Buckley takes the podium and thanks his guests and his producer, Warren Steibel.
(This series also ran in syndication from 1966 to 1971 and from 1975 to 1977.)
Cataloging of this program was made possible by Mr. and Mrs. Theodore R. Stanley.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: February 28, 1986 Friday
- RUNNING TIME: 0:59:24
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T86:2150
- GENRE: Talk/Interviews
- SUBJECT HEADING: Parody; Presidents - United States
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1971-1999
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Warren Steibel … Producer, Director
- Paul Sweeney … Associate Producer
- George Kahookele … Direction (Misc.), Assistant Director
- Dorothy McCartney … Researcher
- William F. Buckley, Jr. … Host
- Jeff Greenfield … Host
- John Kenneth Galbraith … Guest
- Henry Kissinger … Guest
- Eugene McCarthy … Guest
- Harriet Pilpel … Guest
- Tom Wolfe … Guest
- John Anderson
- Jimmy Carter
- Richard Nixon
- Ronald Reagan
- Warren Steibel
- Gore Vidal