
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 16, 1994                   TAG: 9411160166
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: KIMBERLY N. MARTIN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

DIGS AT CLINTON PUNCTUATE CONSERVATIVE BUCKLEY'S TALK

The audience member's question seemed simple enough for the man who for years has been regarded by many as the definitive conservative. But as the panelist read the question, William F. Buckley Jr. paused, chuckled and admitted it was one he was reluctant to answer.

"What is a conservative?"

After thinking a moment, he offered: "A conservative in America is a person who resists the growth of government ... `Liberal' has changed in its meaning. A liberal was a man who traditionally opposes the growth of government, but the only liberty today's liberal favors is the liberty of a man from his marriage contract."

That dart was one of many the eloquent Buckley aimed at President Clinton and Democrats during his lecture, "Reflections on Current Contentions: Role of Media."

The lecture was the final one in Roanoke College's four-part series, "The Responsibility of the Media in American Life."

And for many, his lecture was the most anticipated.

A near-capacity crowd filled the Bast Center to see Buckley, who continues to write his column "On the Right," publish about a book a year, and be host of the weekly public television show "Firing Line."

William Hill, director of the Henry Fowler Public Affairs Program, attributes the turnout to the series' makeup. The other three speakers were "self-confessed liberals," with Buckley representing the only conservative voice, he said.

When Buckley, who was scheduled to open the series in October, had to postpone because of illness, his ideological opposite, Daniel Schorr, filled in for him.

John Stroud had tickets for Buckley's October lecture, but when he found out it was going to be Schorr instead, he stayed home.

"I wanted to hear the country's archconservative," said Stroud, who particularly enjoyed Buckley's definition. "I always thought I was a conservative, and I was delighted to find out that I was."

Buckley's 40-minute exposition began on the premise that "things are really worse than they ought to be."

Sprinkling digs at Clinton throughout, Buckley questioned everything from why spending more money hasn't improved America's education system to why juries are awarding large settlements against companies.

He gave no solutions, but one thing was clear: He believes last Tuesday's election, in which the Republican Party captured control of both the House and the Senate, will make a difference.

"I think any Republican could have won the presidency last week," he said at a news conference Tuesday. "At this rate, it won't take much" to have a Republican president in two years.

by CNB