The memorial mass this morning for William F. Buckley, Jr. packed St. Patrick’s Cathedral, which is no small feat. Christopher Buckley delivered a touching speech in which he mentioned the lovely music played as part of the ceremony was a dress rehearsal for an upcoming visit by Pope Benedict. He remarked that this would have pleased his father, though more so if it had been the other way around. Henry Kissinger also delivered a eulogy that was fittingly spiritual. Many of those in attendance knew Bill–some of us even owe our political and journalism careers to him. Secretary Kissinger’s speech reminded me how divine an opportunity it was to walk by Bill’s side in this life. One final observation about how amazing Bill Buckley was. At today’s memorial mass, I saw Christopher Hitchens walking around the church–the same church that Kissinger happened to be in. Not that Hitchens and Kissinger are now BFFs, but Bill had a habit of bringing people together. On the walks I was blessed to take with him, Bill often regaled me with stories about how these seemingly implausible friendships were born. How he met John Kenneth Galbraith at the Black and White ball, or introduced Truman Capote to Ronald Reagan and Barry Goldwater. What unlikely encounters, and yet Bill’s wit and charm seemed to make anything possible.
