William F. Buckley

William Buckley contributed to the way we talk about political affairs by not being afraid to discuss the issues or his views on the issues. Buckley created "Firing Line," which was the first of many debate shows to air on television. Buckley was witty, personable and intelligent and many people, both liberal and conservative, were happy to discuss political issues with him. I feel that he could compete very well in today's multimedia world, and given that he was the first to create televised debating, he most likely would adapt to the new forms of media that have come about in the last ten years. My only fear is that he might be more harshly criticized for his very opinionated right wing views in present day than he was thirty some years ago (ex. the tattooing of HIV/AIDS infected individuals in an attempt to stop it's spread...this seems like a bit of a throw back to Nazi Germany to me...) His opinionated stance on the issues, his eloquence, and his lifelong quest for knowledge are all qualities that would very likely help one in their own career.