William F. Buckley, R.I.P.

William F. Buckley, man of letters and somewhat proud Yale alumnus, died Wednesday at the age of 82.

Buckley was a towering figure in the conservative movement, and he was erudite, witty, and lovable -- even if you didn't share his worldview. As writer Joan Didion put it, "I was very fond of him... Everyone was, even if they didn't agree with him." Perhaps the best tribute, then, is to watch Buckley himself in action. Here's a retrospective put together by the Charlie Rose show last year:

You can also check out the reflections of staffers at the National Review, the magazine he founded in 1955.

(Hat tip: The Weekly Standard)