One of the most impressive men I’ve ever met passed away recently at the age of 100. James Buckley was a World War II veteran — a U.S. Navy officer who served three years in the Pacific, in many battles, including Leyte Gulf and Okinawa, the bloodiest battles in U.S. Navy history. He was a U.S. senator, a senior Reagan State Department official, a federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, a patriot, a statesman, a man of impeccable integrity and deep faith, a dear friend and mentor, and a shining and inspiring example of a life well lived, and a life lived in full.

Over 30 years ago, during my last year of law school at Georgetown, I had the great fortune of being hired by then-Judge Buckley as a law clerk/intern when he was a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. This was an incredible opportunity. I saw up close in Judge Buckley an example of principled jurisprudence that was anchored in the text of federal statutes and the Constitution, that recognized and emphasized limits on the federal judiciary and agency powers, and that underscored the importance of federalism and the separation of powers in our constitutional system of ordered liberty.

He is frequently remembered as the plaintiff in Buckley v. Valeo. But one underappreciated aspect of Judge Buckley’s legacy that I witnessed firsthand was not just his philosophy of judicial restraint and textualism, but his exceptional writing style and respectful approach to his colleagues that brought the court together. Don’t take my word for it. At the ceremony unveiling his portrait at the D.C. Circuit, both liberals and conservatives who served with Judge Buckley on this court were in agreement.

Justice Ginsburg stated: “Judge Buckley was unexcelled as a stylist and a craftsman by anyone with whom he served.” And he served with many of the day’s most renowned judges: Scalia, Bork, Starr, Silberman. Judge Silberman himself said that Judge Buckley wrote opinions “carefully and skillfully, with great craft.” And Chief Judge Patricia Wald noted at this same ceremony that the D.C. Circuit back then was chock-full of strong personalities and intellects, but due to the Buckley combination of patience, tolerance, good nature, respect, and his own towering intellect, he made it a much more collegial and well-functioning court.

This Buckley example on how to treat all people respectfully while continuing to hold and advance enduring conservative principles provided me with lifelong lessons and an inspiring example that continues to impact me today.

My clerkship/internship with Judge Buckley was a lucky break that developed into a lifelong friendship and mentorship with me, Judge Buckley, and my then-girlfriend, Julie — now my wife of 29 years.

Julie and Judge Buckley had a very special connection concerning Alaska. In 1971, when Judge Buckley was a U.S. senator, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) — the largest indigenous-lands-claim act in history — was being debated. Alaska Native leaders from across the state came to D.C. to lobby for the bill. One of those leaders was Julie’s mother, my mother-in-law, the beautiful and brilliant Mary Jane Fate. Her personal efforts turned Senator Buckley — a conservative from New York State — into a strong proponent of ANCSA and Alaska Native self-determination. For Judge Buckley, this made sense — private property and individual empowerment for the Alaska Native people instead of the failed reservation system of the Lower 48. It also built on a lifelong interest in and involvement with Alaska and the Arctic. Well into his 90s, Judge Buckley would come almost every summer to visit our state. Julie, her parents, and I had such memorable meetings and dinners with him during his visits to Alaska.

The ivory polar bear depicted in the corner of his D.C. Circuit Court portrait makes it clear his passions extended beyond the law.

Another enduring characteristic of this great American was humility. A few years back, I suggested that Judge Buckley come to one of our Senate Republican lunches. I wanted him to talk to the Steering Committee lunch about his book, Saving Congress from Itself, centered on the Constitution and federalism, published when he was a spry 91 years old!

“Judge, the Steering Committee was initially set up a long time ago by a group of conservative senators, but the weekly lunch is now pretty much attended by all Republican senators,” I told him. “Are you familiar with the Steering Committee?” I asked.

In typical, James Buckley humble fashion, he said quietly: “Why, Dan, yes, I believe I was one of the co-founders of the Steering Committee.”

“Of course you were,” I responded. “Of course you were.”

And, of course, the lunch was a big hit.

A few years ago, I was asked by the outstanding organization, the Fund for American Studies, to give an address about “Honorable Leadership.” I made my entire speech about the life and example of James Buckley.

Honorable leadership and upholding the highest values of ethical service, which is what the life of Judge Buckley epitomizes, is not always easy.

For example, as a U.S. senator, Judge Buckley was one of the first members of the Senate Republican caucus to call on President Nixon to resign in the wake of the Watergate scandal. That certainly was not easy.

He was also an early Republican leader on issues of environmental stewardship and responsible, commonsense conservationism in the spirit of Republican President Teddy Roosevelt that has the support of local communities.

He co-sponsored legislation that created the Gateway National Recreation Area, which stretches along the northeast Atlantic coast from New York to New Jersey, and is home to one of the most significant bird sanctuaries in the northeastern part of the United States.

Honorable Leadership — that was James Buckley. Boy, could our nation use more of that today, on both sides of the aisle.

I think, without a doubt, the most important legacy Jim Buckley has left all of us in the past 100 years has been his commitment to freedom and American liberty in both word and deed.

He fought for American freedom in the Pacific during World War II. Like so many from the “greatest generation,” he literally saved the world from tyranny, but never boasted once of his heroic service.

He spoke eloquently of American freedom throughout his life. In another one of his books, If Men Were Angels, he wrote:

I believe that in the last analysis, the most important thing in social and political life is freedom, and I believe that it is because of the safeguards written into the Constitution, and the character of the American people, that we have enjoyed it in so great a measure.

James L. Buckley left his mark on the American soul and American history and American heritage. He will be remembered and will be greatly missed by countless Americans, including Alaskans. Our prayers and deepest condolences go out to his wonderful family and his many friends and admirers, including the readers of National Review.

Dan Sullivan represents Alaska in the U.S. Senate.