National Review (founded 1955)

National Review (founded 1955)
source
Name	National Review
Founder	William F. Buckley Jr.
Founded	1955
Country	United States
Language	English
Frequency	Biweekly
Headquarters	New York City

National Review (founded 1955) National Review (founded 1955) is an American conservative magazine established by William F. Buckley Jr. that has shaped postwar Goldwater conservatism and influenced figures from Eisenhower era Republicans to Reagan administration policymakers. The magazine has engaged with intellectuals and activists across disputes involving Friedman, Hayek, Strauss, and movements connected to Conservative Party circles, debating issues tied to personalities such as Nixon, George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Trump.

History

National Review was founded in 1955 in New York City by William F. Buckley Jr. with early involvement from editors and writers like Frank Meyer, Whittaker Chambers, and James Burnham. The magazine positioned itself against mid‑century figures including Adlai Stevenson and movements associated with New Deal critics such as Hoover. During the 1960s the publication debated Goldwater conservatism and the rise of activists who later allied with Buchanan and Falwell. In the 1970s and 1980s National Review intersected with policy discussions involving Haig, Kirkpatrick, and the intellectual currents around Reagan. The magazine's roster expanded to engage with journalists and scholars connected to institutions like Hoover Institution, American Enterprise Institute, Heritage Foundation, and Hoover Institution Library and Archives. In the 1990s and 2000s National Review covered controversies tied to Gingrich, Clinton, Gore, Rove, and the Iraq War era debates that involved commentators from The New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal.

Editorial stance and influence

National Review articulates a conservative editorial stance informed by strands of fusionism, drawing on thinkers like Frank Meyer and William F. Buckley Jr. while engaging with classical liberal figures such as Locke and Smith. Its pages have debated international affairs with references to actors like Soviet Union, China, NATO, and policymakers including Thatcher and Kohl. The magazine has been influential in shaping platforms for Republican politicians such as Goldwater, Reagan, George W. Bush, and critics of progressives including Dean. National Review has also engaged with judicial and legal debates involving Supreme Court appointments, figures like Scalia, Thomas, and cases debated by scholars at Yale Law School and Harvard Law School.

Notable contributors and editors

Notable editors and contributors have included founder William F. Buckley Jr., editors such as Frank Meyer, John O'Sullivan, and writers including James L. Buckley, George Will, Irving Kristol, Norman Podhoretz, Jeane Kirkpatrick, Michael Gerson, Ramesh Ponnuru, Charles Krauthammer, David Brooks, and Andrew Sullivan. The magazine has published pieces by intellectuals and policymakers such as Friedman, Hayek, Burnham, Chambers, Lippmann, and commentators now associated with organizations like American Conservative Union, Cato Institute, and CSIS.

Major controversies and criticisms

National Review has been central to controversies involving editorial decisions, ideological splits, and public condemnations. It faced internal conflict during the rise of Buchanan and the New Right debates, drew criticism during the Iran–Contra affair era coverage, and had heated exchanges over endorsement choices in contests involving Goldwater, George W. Bush, and Trump. Critics from publications such as The New Republic, The Nation, Mother Jones, and Vanity Fair have challenged National Review on positions related to civil rights, social policy debates involving figures like Schlafly, and stances on immigration contested by organizations like American Immigration Council and scholars from Columbia and Princeton. The magazine has also been criticized for op-eds linked to media personalities including Limbaugh and commentators associated with Fox News.

Publication format and distribution

National Review is published in print and online with a biweekly print schedule and a continuously updated website that features columns, essays, and reviews. Its digital platform features contributions that intersect with outlets like The Weekly Standard, Commentary, The Atlantic, and The New Yorker, while its archives are held in repositories linked to institutions such as Yale University Library and University of Chicago Library. The magazine distributes through subscriptions, newsstand sales in markets served by distributors like Barnes & Noble, and syndication to newspapers including The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and New York Post.

Political and cultural impact

The magazine influenced conservative policy networks and political strategies associated with Hoover‑era activists, Goldwater conservatism, and the Reagan realignment that reshaped Republican National Committee agendas. Its cultural influence extended into debates over literature and arts critiqued alongside commentators from NEA controversies, conservative critiques of academia involving University of California campuses, and interventions in media discourse involving outlets such as CBS News, ABC News, and CNN. National Review’s pages helped incubate arguments later used by think tanks including Heritage Foundation, Manhattan Institute, and Hudson Institute.

Awards and recognition

National Review and its writers have received recognition from institutions and awards bodies associated with journalism and public affairs, including prizes from organizations like National Magazine Awards, endorsements from conservative groups such as ACU and citations by scholars at Hoover Institution, American Enterprise Institute, and Brookings Institution. Individual contributors have received honors including fellowships at Council on Foreign Relations, awards from Pulitzer Prize‑winning entities, and academic appointments at universities like Georgetown University, Harvard University, and Columbia University.

Category:Conservative magazines