James L. Buckley
James Lane Buckley (March 9, 1923 – August 18, 2023) was an American politician and judge who served in the United States Senate as a member of the Conservative Party of New York State in the Republican caucus from 1971 to 1977 and additionally held multiple positions within the Reagan administration. He was also the Republican nominee in the 1980 Connecticut Senate race, but he was defeated by Democrat Chris Dodd.
James L. Buckley | |
|---|---|
Buckley in the 1970s | |
| Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit | |
| In office August 31, 1996 – August 18, 2023 | |
| Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit | |
| In office December 17, 1985 – August 31, 1996 | |
| Appointed by | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Edward Allen Tamm |
| Succeeded by | John Roberts |
| Counselor of the Department of State | |
| In office September 9, 1982 – September 26, 1982 | |
| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Robert McFarlane |
| Succeeded by | Ed Derwinski |
| Undersecretary of State for International Security Affairs | |
| In office February 28, 1981 – August 20, 1982 | |
| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Matthew Nimetz |
| Succeeded by | William Schneider Jr. |
| United States Senator from New York | |
| In office January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1977 | |
| Preceded by | Charles Goodell |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Patrick Moynihan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Lane Buckley March 9, 1923 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | August 18, 2023 (aged 100) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Political party |
|
| Spouse |
Ann Cooley
(m. 1953; died 2011) |
| Children | 6 |
| Parent |
|
| Relatives |
|
| Education | Yale University (BA, LLB) |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1942–1946 |
| Rank | Lieutenant (junior grade) |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
In 1970, Buckley was elected to the U.S. Senate as the nominee of the Conservative Party of New York; he won the race with 39% of the vote and served from 1971 until 1977. During the first Reagan administration, Buckley served as Undersecretary of State for International Security Affairs. He was also President of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty from 1982 to 1985.
Buckley was nominated by President Ronald Reagan to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on October 16, 1985. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 17, 1985, and he received his commission on December 17, 1985. Buckley assumed senior status on August 31, 1996. He was one of the few people in modern times to have served in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the American federal government.