Conversations with William F. Buckley Jr. - Paperbackby William F. Meehan (Editor) Although recognized for founding National Review, hosting television's Firing Line, and being one of the principal architects of the American conservative movement, William F. Buckley Jr. (1925 2008) was also a prominent literary figure. At his peak, he produced about 350,000 words for publication a year, and he was never at a loss for what to say or how to say it. He wrote over 7,000 columns, articles, reviews,