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The Unmaking of a Mayor Paperback – Deluxe Edition, October 13, 2015

4.8 out of 5 stars 16 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 488 pages
  • Publisher: Encounter Books; 50th Anniversary Edition edition (October 13, 2015)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1594038473
  • ISBN-13: 978-1594038471
  • Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 1.4 x 9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #675,313 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Top Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsBuckley for Mayor
By Stephen Darlington on February 25, 2015
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
The Unmaking of a Mayor is the story of the unique campaign of William F. Buckley, Jr. for New York City Mayor in 1965. At this point in his life, the 39-year-old Buckley had founded National Review, published six books (including God and Man at Yale), had a syndicated column in hundreds of newspapers across the country, run the John Birch Society out of the conservative movement, and had energized the conservative wing of the Republican party to a point that it nominated Barry Goldwater for president in 1964. With this long list of accomplishments, why would he run for mayor? That's one of the questions this book answers.

In the mid-1960's, many people thought New York City was ungovernable, broken, and on an unreversible course of decline. Many of the city's problems will sound familiar with those of us who remember the period before Rudy Giuliani's election in 1993. Buckley opens the book with an account of the political system of New York, with its intricate third party laws, and follows on with a history of the previous 30 years of governance. Then he delves into what John V. Lindsay, the liberal congressman and presumptive GOP nominee, and Bill Buckley were doing in the spring of 1965.

It is customary to call any third party candidate "unserious" because they have no legitimate shot of winning and they typically have a few kook positions. Buckley was under no illusions of his chance at winning. In a famous exchange from the campaign, a reporter asked him what would be the first thing he'd do if he was elected. Buckley quipped, "Demand a recount." But reading his position papers, reprinted in total with reactions from the press and the other candidates, shows he really thought through the problems facing New York.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsA gem!
By Dani K on October 14, 2015
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
A great look at the past, reflecting right into our days. Buckley feels familiar and "cozy", while being his raw self! This book is a gem, something I will cherish and read over, and over, and over...Amazing read!
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5.0 out of 5 starsBuckley recounts run for office
By nathaniel lathy on May 22, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
William F Buckley is a giant in the conservative movement.This book documents his third party campaign for mayor of New York. He describes the two party system as ineffective in governing the city.The story remains timely due to the urgent need for reform in the political system nationally in our present day. New York City and state are in even worse shape now
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5.0 out of 5 starsWhen WFB Gave NYC a Choice, Not an Echo
By Eric Mayforth on November 2, 2015
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
In 1965, it was generally acknowledged that New York City was in crisis (although things would later get much, much worse). National Review editor William F. Buckley ran for mayor that year, in part to attempt to arrest the effort by many Republicans to pull the party leftward after the Goldwater landslide, and "The Unmaking of a Mayor" is a retrospective of the 1965 mayoral race.

Buckley limns the many problems that were facing the Big Apple in the mid-1960s, showing how the city was in decline and discussing the many social and cultural problems of the time. Buckley sets forth his program and explains how he thought the average New York City individual would have benefited from a Buckley victory. Position papers are not compelling reading in most cases, but the author's work on that score is an exception; the papers are a fascinating look at how Buckley would have applied the conservative ideals of individualism and freedom to the city in areas such as water, education, social programs, taxation, crime, housing, pollution, drugs, transportation, and traffic.

Buckley knew he was not going to win the election--he was running to set forth his program and influence the direction of the national GOP. Readers in the 2010s will find that many of the concerns about electability versus ideology and purity have not abated with time, and that other issues, such as the mischaracterization of Lincoln, are constants as well. Also touched on is New York State's unique four-party system and its impact on the 1965 mayoral race.Read more ›
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4.0 out of 5 starsIf you enjoy politics well worth the price
By Matt Mclellan on November 9, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
WFB and his wit shine through on every page of this interesting historical account of the NY City race for mayor in which he played neither the spoiler nor the fool. I find it interesting how little political discourse has changed; with accusations of racism the most widely exploited method of argument and a political "center" that's largely progressive in its assumptions. The differences between John Boehnor and John Lindsey are instructive and indicate just how successful WFB actually was. Boehnor the moderate is derided for lack of devotion as a Conservative while Lindsey was openly hostile. Point to Buckley.
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4.0 out of 5 starsEntertaining; WFB in All His Glory!
By Dennis Pitz on December 11, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
Historically interesting but the kindle version has problems with the footnotes. Buckley goes into great detail in most of them which further enriches the book. The problem is that the hot links do not work so it is extremely difficult to navigate to and from the notes.
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5.0 out of 5 starsTimeless classic.
By alman5555 on December 11, 2015
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
Timeless clasic. Although its been fifty years since this was written, its still topical today. Mr Buckley faced a hostile liberal media then , just as are todays candidates for office. Not much has changed, whenever you criticize urban policy you are automatically branded a racist as Mr Buckley found out back then. But like Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, Mister Buckley fought back with the facts and his own sense of humor. Reading this book, I realized that Mr Buckley was a man way ahead of his time. He was a proponent of clean energy decades before anyone else, and his plans for bike lanes in NYC were eventually built by Mayor Bloomberg. A man ahead of his time, intelligent and funny, this is one of Mr. Buckleys best efforts. Highly recommended.
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