Buckley and America

Morning Jolt
. . . with Jim Geraghty

July 4, 2014

Dear Jolters,

The offices of National Review are closed today as we celebrate this 238th birthday of America, but we will not let the opportunity to wish you well pass.

Between the firecrackers and the frankfurters, have a thought for Franklin, Jefferson, Adams, Sherman, and Livingston and the Declaration they crafted.

Two other suggestions for the day. The first is non-ideological: Enjoy some John Philip Sousa music.

The second is . . . ideological: Read this 1998 Bill Buckley column which reflected on the 4th. It ends:

It happened to the Roman society that its shortcomings finally overwhelmed the state, and that a great society became merely a historical sanctuary. Burke said it definitively, that a society, to be loved, must be lovely. The consensus, on the Fourth of July, seemed to be that the American people still think it that, but that some probationary signs are flying.

Amen, Bill.

God bless you old pal, and all those who love this National Review you made, and these United States which your magazine and website seek to keep exceptional.

Jack Fowler
Publisher

P.S.: Ha! You thought I wasn't going to mention nrcruise.com!

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