James L. Buckley
James Lane Buckley | |
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In office January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1977 | |
Preceded by | Charles Goodell |
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Succeeded by | Daniel Patrick Moynihan |
Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
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In office August 31, 1996 – August 18, 2023 | |
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
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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
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In office September 9, 1982 – September 26, 1982 | |
President | Ronald Reagan |
Preceded by | Robert McFarlane |
Succeeded by | Ed Derwinski |
Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs
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In office February 28, 1981 – August 20, 1982 | |
President | Ronald Reagan |
Preceded by | Matthew Nimetz |
Succeeded by | William Schneider Jr. |
Born | March 9, 1923 New York City |
Died | August 18, 2023 (aged 100) Washington, D.C. |
Political party | Conservative Party of New York State (pre-1976) Republican (1976-2023) |
Spouse(s) | Ann Cooley Buckley (married 1953-2011, her death) |
Children | Six children |
Alma mater | Yale University (B.A. and LL😎 |
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Military Service
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Service/branch | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1942–1946 |
Rank | Lieutenant |
Battles/wars | World War II |
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 his native New York. He caucused with Republican senators from 1971 to 1977 and additionally held multiple positions within the administration of U.S. President Ronald Reagan. He was also the Republican nominee in the 1980 Connecticut Senate race, but he was defeated by Chris Dodd in that heavily Democrat state.
In 1970, Buckley was elected to the U.S. Senate with just 39 percent of the vote, the only statewide victory that the Conservative Party of New York has won.[1] He served from 1971 to 1977 during the administrations of Richard M. Nixon and Gerald R. Ford, Jr. During the first Reagan administration, Buckley was the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs. He was also the president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty from 1982 to 1985.
Buckley was nominated on October 16, 1985, by President Reagan to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia circuit. He was confirmed by the Senate two months later and received his commission. Buckley assumed senior status on August 31, 1996.[2] He was one of the few people in modern times to have served in all three branches of the United States national government.