William F. Buckley, Jr., on American Conservatism

George W. Bush won the Presidency of the United States running on an ideology he called "compassionate conservatism." But how does this new conservatism stack up to conservatism's original ideals?

This hour, the grand old man of modern conservatism, William F. Buckley, Jr., discusses the state and future of the movement he helped was influential in creating.

William F. Buckley, Jr. helped launch the modern conservative movement back in the 1960's. It began as a response to New Deal liberalism and the loosening of society's moral code. It saw the ever-expanding role of the government as the first step towards totalitarianism. The government should not meddle in the everyday affairs of American life, the ideology held. But it did have a role in protecting the Americans and promoting morality.

Since the election of Ronald Reagan, conservatism has been a mainstream influence in American politics. This hour, William F. Buckley, Jr. examines the impact the conservative movement has had on American politics, and whether today's brand of conservatism holds true to the ideals of the movement he has worked so hard to build over the past 40 years.

Guests:

William F. Buckley, Jr., founder of The National Review, author of the new novel "Nuremberg: The Reckoning"