All class all the time

By Kathy G.

Here is a combination of words I never thought I'd read in the same sentence: "Pup" -- that would be the late William F. Buckley -- immediately followed by the phrase "would relieve himself through the opened door of a moving car."

The article linked to above -- which concerns a new memoir by Buckley's son, Christopher -- reveals similar examples ultra-classy behavior on the part of Buckley pere. For example, there's the story of how Buckley exited Christopher's college graduation a scant ten minutes into the ceremony and abandoned him for the rest of the day -- all because was "bored." 

Then there's William F.'s wife, Pat Buckley, who sounds like quite a piece of work. Her own son describes her as callous, appallingly rude, and a serial liar. Among other things, she apparently largely ignored her own granddaughter's existence.

Ya gotta love those conservative family values!

I know I should be used to it by now, but honestly, the rank hypocrisy and ultra-entitled mentality and lifestyle of the conservative elite (in the article, Christopher says his father had two secretaries and a household staff of five; never washed a dish or changed a diaper in his life; and expected everyone around him to bend to his will) never ceases to astonish me.

Comments

[fxg]

Kathy G
Glad to see your blogging again. Actually, I think Buckley's wholehearted embrace of segregation and McCarthyism were a lot more offensive than his personal peccadillos.

[Hattie]

I remember reading a piece about Pat Buckley about what a fun person she was and how she loved to shoes and have parties, this at the height of the Vietnam War.
Awful people.

[Hattie]

That's buy shoes, of course. Getting late.

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[lambert strether]

fxq -- It's all of a piece. These are aristocratic values.

[Scientific Wild Ass Guess]

Christopher says his father had two secretaries and a household staff of five; never washed a dish or changed a diaper in his life; and expected everyone around him to bend to his will.
=================

The plain people of DC.

Gotta wonder, though, was he just pissing out the door of the speeding limo, or hanging his rump out in the breeze and shitting on the highway as high-minded, pure-souled arbiters of good taste and policy generally do?

[Rick Shenkman]

Hooray! Kathy G is back.

[prufrock]

I just read a puffy piece in Vanity Fair, ostensibly about Pat, but you know, it couldn't stay away from those ever-so-slightly sycophantic glances at Bill. I remember when I was growing up (in the Chicago area, BTW) and sharing a hospital room with an Episcopalian "peer" from Hinsdale. I got a boy-crush on that patrician thing: WASPish, old money, Bass Weejuns, Brooks Bros, elite sliver of the classes. I fancied myself part of it through my dad's associations in Oakbrook, though we were solidly middle class. Polish Catholic mom, Wisconsin farm-boy dad... But that patina of the refined elite was like a drug. I ached to have a polo pony, and hobnob with the rich people. Eventually, as I read and lived more in my teens, I figured it out. As I have gone through the years, and worked and studied around the world and throughout many social strata I was able to discern why that life is so appealing, and why so many people covet it. But I also have found that most of these people from the 1% sliver are assholes in close-up, and shit out the doors of their limos as much if not more than the rest of us hoi polloi. It's just so frustrating to have made it to this point-- ridding myself of a suspension of disbelief-- and still see so many people perfectly willing to be the foolish acolytes to the wealthy elite. It's like quitting smoking; once you've had that moment of clarity you look back and wonder, "WTF was I thinking?!"

I love your writing by the way. I found you looking for Maureen Dowd idolatry, as I am a tool and slave to my heretofore honest belief that I am her perfect date. I'd still be happy to have her, though!

[notahypocrite]

Kathy, GREAT to have you back!

Another thing to note about this wonderful family: In William F. Buckley's will, he specifically disinherited Christopher illegimate son (a ten-year-old). Christopher pays $3,000 a month in child support, but never sees the child.

These people are such hypocrites! (Besides Christopher being a terrible writer)

[notahypocrite]

Also, apparently William F. Buckley thought all rich people are good people. Yes, it's the modern Republican party!

[serge]

I grew up a year or two behind Christopher Buckley and was well-trained in the art of thinking his father was a first-class dick. I will say this, though, his father's departure from his Yale grad ceremony was dickishness personified but quite understandable.

I have never spent so excruciating a time as the year my sister was awarded her PhD from Yale. We spent about seven hours in total in frigid Connecticut 'spring' weather with a three-year-old. My wife, herself an MD at this point, was heard saying to my daughter, "This is why you will never go to college!"

I'll give the old asshole a break on that one point.

[Eric]

@ prufrock: Did you never read 'The Great Gatsby'?

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[Rabbit Vibrator]

He needs to be humbled severely. Throw him out in the wild and make him actually work for something. Then he might appreciate the smaller things in life like doing a load of dishes or changing a diaper.

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