William Buckley vs Christopher Hitchens (Part 1)

Undaunted by the Gandalf of conservatism, a young socialist from England called Christopher Hitchens steps forward in defense of liberalism. The third participant in this contest is R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. This is part 1.

[@MrBrunxXxx]

Thanks for uploading these!

[@philipstmichael]

Tyrrell excepted, television needs the kind of intellectual debate Buckley and Hitchens bring. I enjoy that these are two intellectual men with incisive and interesting views. Thanks for posting.

[@Bren3485]

Thanks for posting this. I, along with I'm sure many others, would greatly appreciate if you could post the whole video.

[@ValkyrieZiege]

; Thank! You! so much for posting!

[@avantgardenovelist]

Thanks for uploading this.

[@BobBelson]

Absolutely brilliant verbal sparring coming from Buckley and Hitchens. Its like whenTwo champions from different divisions face off in a super fight .

[@TelecasterLPGTop]

Buckley is such a worm, he asks a question but as soon as he detects that his opponent knows his facts and is about to trump him with a rational argument he interrupts and talks over him in an effort to unbalance his retort.

[@gottenhimfella221]

Yet, by comparison with today's right wing TV opinion leaders, Buckley's restraint and preparedness to let his interviewees finish is remarkable, at least in some instances (and, perhaps because he respected Hitchens' intellect, most instances where Hitch had something to say) I realise that I'm risking damning Buckley with faint praise, because that's a vanishingly low standard of comparison, but I feel he at least wanted to understand what it was he was up against before deciding how to disagree with it. While that's not quite as good as .... deciding *whether* to disagree with it, it's orders of magnitude better than the standard response of the lunatics who run the asylum we know as Fox News

[@collectorduck9061]

To be fair. Some of Buckley's quips when he's been trounced by Hitchens are actually quite humorous. But he certainly knows when he's defeated and immediately deflects from it.

[@daskalaka]

Thanks for the upload. It's like watching an artist when Hitchens is debating. Hitchens eyes looked baggier then than they did when he was older

[@tayzlor]

Thank you so so much for giving us Hitch!!!!!

[@blueshade26]

am I the only one that finds the tone of voice of the host incredibly effected and condescending?

[@alexjaybrady]

+Tyler Schmidt careful he'll eat your liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti

[@rpbrush1]

love your description of Hitch. made my day

[@alexjaybrady]

By the end Hitch and Hannibal Lector just sort of dismiss the squeaky guy like, shh, calm down, the adults are talking.

[@Fersomling]

Thank you.

[@PoetlaureateNFDL]

This is great, a young CH, taking on one of the biggest GOP bullies of all time, love it!

[@collectorduck9061]

I had this playing in the background while browsing other stuff and wondered "who is the woman who started to butt into the conversation?" but then I tabbed back and realized it was Emmett Tyrell.

[@Jwhite1979]

I got here via a debate between Bill O'Reilly and Jon Stewart. I'm not sure whether or not this discussion between Hitch and Buckley was more enlightening, but it was certainly more pleasant to listen to.

[@JoeNietzsche]

Absolutely! Its like watching a fencing match between a couple of very skilled swordsmen. Impressive stuff - made even more so by the fact that despite occasionally talking over one another, it was, largely, a very well mannered exchange. About the only place you can see that kind of respectful dialogue today is the Daily Show - a comedy program, ironically enough.

[@michaelsummaria3859]

Tyrrell couldn't tell a laugh from an argument. ...He is the editor of the American Spectator after all.

[@Kurzula5150]

I swear, I grow new brain cells when I hear Hitchens talk.

[@kant1066]

Heh. It REALLY is amazing how much Tyrell looks like him, isn't it? I was sort of blown away by it.

[@BritishArrow]

that 'tell me more about it?' line from Buckley is very confident. that'd certainly put me off

[@jsingh106]

Your clever and well thought name says it all.

[@dskews]

Oh my dear, Buckley was not designed to smile. He looked like a caricature of a vampire!

[@ottawadrummer]

One of Hitches greatest strengths is his ability to stay the course. He doesn't allow others to talk over him and attacks immediately when weakness in argument or presentation is shown. He's as brutal as he is funny.

[@jimmbo13]

Hitchens was always quick to express his admiration and fondness for Buckley...both will not soon be seen again

[@StevenParrisWard]

Absolutely correct.

[@Crumplepunch]

6:14, Buckley stuns himself with his own pronunciation.

[@matchbox555]

would be nice if you put a date on it.. at least what year it was

[@LeeB9999]

My popcorn farts aren't even this dry.

[@patrickvanmeter2922]

I enjoyed listening to both Buckley and Hitchens. Unlike Buckley, Hitchens was likeable.

[@PaulJunkoKris]

This is the first time I've seen Hitch giving it to pompous cushion warmers at such a young age! He's a funny bastard...and so sharp and intelligent I just shit myself!! Out if all the people that have died on this planet I miss him the most....thank fuck for youtube...

[@matthewivresse3706]

Well said; I agree.

[@LearnerChess]

I'm surprised that at such a young age Mr. Hitchens was able to kick Mr. Buckley's ass like that.

[@karmayangzom5497]

Love him or hate him, Christopher Hitchens always brought brains to the table. RIP

[@ScinLaeca358]

It's Norm MacDonald being used as a puppet by Meredith Viera, apparently.

[@nvrwlb]

+ScinLaeca358 hilarious!

[@Hooga89]

Hitchens is an intellectual thresher, eviscerating everything in his way!

[@robertharper5047]

wish the DATE of the discussion was displayed

[@samsa419]

Where's the rest of this discussion?

[@Fersomling]

Please, could somebody pinpoint the exact date of this show, or at least the year?

[@f0xygem]

There is not date on when this show aired. Please add this info.

[@shawnomancy]

Who the hell knows Tyrell these days, yet he is still alive; and Buckley is more forgotten each day. Hitch will live for centuries.

[@wiz9496]

I threw a party the day Hitchens died. Someone remarked that he was roasting in hell with Teddy Kennedy.

[@frastephen]

Hitchens reflection on the use of the IRS against political opponents is timely ...

[@interestingyoutubechannel1]

give a dog a biscuit he'll want ten. where' the rest of the video? have you got a link for the whole talk? hitchens was just too freakin insightful!

[@tarmbruster1]

8:38 Lynndonn Johnnsonn lol I alway's loved that.

[@avantgardenovelist]

What year is this from?

[@zorgzarg9849]

I don't know if you've seen the entire episode (only part of it has been posted by this uploader), but I have. Even in this portion, neither Tyrell nor Buckley make any thrusts that Hitch doesn't deflect with ease.

[@geniusofmozart]

Quite fascinating how Hitchens sounded the same when he was debating back then as he did more recently.

[@paulspydar]

just wondering if you were smiling when you posted that?

[@csnowutube]

"My withers, Mr. Buckley, are unwrung."

[@slickhector]

No. To say some circumstance would have been better than the actual one that occurred does not require the agents contributing to it to have foreseen the differences. Hitchens' is merely a statement of preference, as when one says, "it would have been better to have been born into a rich family."

[@MYPOSTINGCAREERcom]

lol at tyrrell just laughing in his face

[@fortuner123]

I choose to do what I feel.

[@SurelyYewJest]

The point CH makes at 10:20 is *beautiful*. It illustrates perfectly - decades ago - that the conservative conception of a "liberal" is anyone slightly to 100% to the left of them, and that there is no difference between an LBJ and a GM. There clearly was, because in another breath any conservative would bash LBJ for forceful misuses of the presidency while laughing off GM as a hippy. Does Tyrrell think Eisenhower and Reagan were the same sort of Republican?

[@Fersomling]

I do not know whether Hitchens became American, but Buckley is a born and bred American. He picked up an English accent while studying in England.

[@HITCHBITCH22]

The Hitch dominates the stage.... Buckley even realizes that Tyrrell is woefully outmatched........

[@HITCHBITCH22]

fantastic.. check out the last remark from Hitch..

[@hz2309]

What year is this exactly?

[@vonteflon]

Scary moment at 6:13 when Tyrell started talking but was still off-camera - I thought Joe Pesci had arrived at first!

[@Jrunri]

What was the date of this?

[@erlpen2016]

this, to me, was a beautiful exchange between a real conservative and a liberal...Buckley trying to castigate the Hitch for passing opinion on American politics...little did we know then that we were watching the making of a true American as what Hitch later became...i find the Hitch more refreshing as a liberal on this exchange than what he became later on ...by supporting the Iraq war for example, a war that was not only wrong but also a waste of this country's resources...

[@MeatballHeaven]

Three great minds: William F. Buckley, Christopher Hitchens ... and a young Norm McDonald! :)

[@tarmbruster1]

I miss Mr. Buckley, especially the way his forhead would twitch when (amused).

[@donluchitti]

anyone have the date of this?

[@LearnerChess]

It was taped on 12/11/1984.

[@The_Gallowglass]

'Cause it's not flashy and exciting. People have gotten so used to having everything premade, prefashioned, pre-thought for them.

[@Beardmania]

Norm MacDonald sounds like he was neutered in this video.

[@GuitarHeroPhenomSux]

Who is that third guy? Michael Keaton?

[@iluvatarchem]

I enjoyed that he underestimated Hitchens, then tried to taunt him and then got destroyed by him. I was seriously laughing out loud...

[@shaunweston613]

Even when young, the way Hitchens always debates - his opponents will attempt to talk over him and he'll raise is voice ever so slightly and continue as if nothing occured. It only works if you know what you're talking about and not many people do.

[@Yorosero]

People don't talk like this on current affairs anymore. There are no real serious discussions of any length by educated minds, only shadows of such a format left in the English speaking world.

[@mikevikeus]

Government IS the problem. Name me another more inefficient entity in the country? There is none, and yet Obama says "the government is the solution." Romney graduated near the top of his class at both Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School, at the SAME TIME, AND also while raising a family. And if you've seen Romney's impressive resume, his turnaround accomplishments in different venues, erasing record deficits, etc., to call him an anti-intellectual is beyond laughable.

[@csgorton]

Whats Norm McDonald doing on in this video?

[@shimadamada9646]

I agree!

[@DClean]

Look at this young stud. How old do you think Hitch was here?

[@Anti-proton]

Wow... I would wager that Christopher Hitchens entered into a debate with his own doctor at birth and won and many points. Hitchens will eternally be, "the man".

[@kirbygene]

Did anyone else chuckle at the 6:16 mark? After hearing the sophisticated voices of Buckley and Christopher Hitchens in came Richie Cunningham.

[@viggosimonsen]

Why is Buckley's head so huge relative to his body?

[@bigmomba1992]

Find me the quote where he called himself a neoconservative. I've got a handful of articles right here where he talks about temporary allies on the right, agreeing with neocons on military intervention, etc but not being a conservative of any kind.

[@monerissucks]

Ya, at 8:15 Buckly is doing an impression of George Hamilton doing the Joker.

[@iamdabossofnepal]

hitch and buckley, as eloquent as anyone has ever been

[@Avidcomp]

Hitchens is brilliant as ever but let's remember that he moved his ideology from the left to the right so this highlights two things. If one of his ideological positions was wrong it shows how a gifted orator can create a convincing argument about anything and secondly if you agree with my first premise then you must conclude that one has to come to one's own mind through rationality rather than look to be convinced by another intellectual to form one's own opinion.

[@josan2964]

He has a great point. Why would he need to seek mental help? He displays no signs of serious mental incapabilities or schizophrenia.

[@MattSingh1]

Regurgitating the same garbled statement with a certain amount of insouciance, is, by most accounts, an exit strategy.

[@zorgzarg9849]

No, Hitch carried the moment. He replied "of course they've all done it. With Nixon, quantity was turning into quality" which is right on the mark.

[@PoliticalWeekly]

A corporation is essentially a company that has shareholders with limited liability to all of them. A libertarian view is that a business can do whatever it wants. Libertarian, like myself, are against corporate as it is aided and amassed by a big government. That is why corporations have special laws and exemptions (ObamaCare exempted a few companies.) If a libertarian government were to happen, the first thing is to get rid of the special rules. And decrease regulation that helps any business.

[@willbond]

Well, it was nice to see an adversarial political discussion actually settle some issues for once....

[@RiotQuietly]

That guy is a genius, that is why he is as popular as ever. I don't think I have ever seen him smile hahh

[@bottleracket]

So funny how both Buckley and Hitchens have such dead eyes which stare out into nowhere as they go off on their rants.

[@Fifty1stState]

I thought it was Mike Yarwood from the thumb nail!

[@wutangmitch]

The base of your statement is inaccurate, my friend. Hitchen's shift is constantly blown out of proportion. His shift was miniscule in comparison to shifts in a changing historical landscape - the composition of the left in Europe from the sixties to the eighties was quite different from the reactionary post 9-11 left in America. His principles just grew from his young ideological socialist perspective into ones shaped by experience with real-world issues. They didn't change. He's misunderstood.

[@Nyxtia]

How curious to see that Hitchens had become more Anglicised in tone and mannerisms since moving to the US.

[@themagicwookster]

Hitchens is simply wonderful here.

[@7eardstapa7]

Buckley has the soporific drone of drugged buffalo. I almost nodded off until Hitchens started to talk.

[@ram0166]

Hitchens wouldn't even admit that Johnson was a liberal. He's trying to disassociate his movement from someone he doesn't like and accusing Buckley and Tyrrell of calling LBJ a liberal because they don't like him. He did not have an intellectual leg to stand on and he just kept running the whold thing in a circle to avoid admitting that Johnson was a liberal. He didn't win this one, he looked like a fool.

[@1028Ted]

Oh, brother. Yes, Hitchens had a British accent. Buckley had a distinct upper class, New York accent. Each is unique and authentic to those who pay attention.

[@scarshapedstar]

Why is William B. Fuckley's head twice the size of his body?

[@Gunnerss09]

He does say though that he was sympathetic to Thatcherism, and that sometimes right wing economics are necessary, especially in the case of the Unions in England during the 80s who had too much power with a govt. that was too centralized. He's quite outspoken about his teetering between left and right economic policy.

[@Crumplepunch]

It wasn't a criticism, and he wouldn't have seen it as such. Hitch came down on the right of many issues later in his career, and was increasingly critical of the left and liberal attitudes. Of course, he was critical of the right as well, and justifiably so, but the contrast between young Hitch and old Hitch is pretty clear. Again, I don't say this as an attack, I'm as big a fan of the man as you'll find.

[@shrapn0]

He was in no way a leftist by the time of his death, and he knew it. He even has said on numerous occasion that he could no longer call himself a socialist. He may be on the libertarian left, but mainstream left (the type that made excuses for jihadists) would never consider him a comrade. He was a neoconservative, and a bloody good one. The term isn't a slur.