James Buckley lived an extraordinary life. After a successful life in business, he was a third-party U.S. senator, served as president of Radio Free Europe, as an undersecretary of state, and as a U.S Court of Appeals judge. Thus he held extremely high positions in all three branches of government. As a senator, he also was the lead plaintiff in the landmark case Buckley v. Valeo, which established the central constitutional proposition regarding presidential power, campaign finance, and the freedom of speech. What is so striking is that he started his service in government with a deep understanding of the Constitution and the structure of our government, which he demonstrated during that service and drew on, refined, and expounded in speeches and books after his retirement. Through it all he was unfailingly kind, polite, and ever the gentleman. R.I.P.

Eugene Meyer is president of the Federalist Society.