James L. Buckley

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
21st 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
6th Under Secretary 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 (1923-03-09)March 9, 1923 New York City, U.S.
Died	August 18, 2023(2023-08-18) (aged 100) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political party	Conservative (until 1976)[a] Republican (from 1976)
Spouse	Ann Cooley ​ ​ (m. 1953; died 2011)​
Children	6
Parent	William F. Buckley Sr. (father)
Relatives	William F. Buckley Jr. (brother) Reid Buckley (brother) Priscilla Buckley (sister) Patricia Buckley Bozell (sister) Christopher Buckley (nephew) L. Brent Bozell III (nephew) William F. B. O'Reilly (nephew)
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

James Lane Buckley (March 9, 1923 – August 18, 2023) was an American politician, jurist, diplomat, and author. Buckley served in the United States Senate as a member of the Conservative Party of New York State, held multiple positions within the Reagan administration, and served as a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. He was a brother of prominent conservative author and commentator William F. Buckley Jr.

In 1970, Buckley was elected to the U.S. Senate as the nominee of the Conservative Party of New York. In a stunning upset, he won the 1970 election with 39% of the vote and served from 1971 until 1977; Democrat Daniel Moynihan unseated him in 1976. Buckley also ran for the U.S. Senate in the 1980 United States Senate election in Connecticut, but was defeated by Democrat Chris Dodd. 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. On December 17, 1985, he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate and received his commission. Buckley assumed senior status in 1996. He had the distinction of having held a constitutional office in each of the three branches of the American federal government.
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