Conservative at Yale; Buckley Biographer Lawrence Perelman on William F. Buckley, Jr., The Man

Pod and Man at Yale

On the newest episode of Pod and Man at Yale, Anshul Guha ’25 and Kevin Baisden LAW ’25 talked about what it means to be conservative at Yale:

• Guha: “I think the most important thing for me, as a conservative on campus at that time, was to make sure that I was continuing to speak out…and making sure that my views were heard just so that there was this opposing view on campus.”
• Baisden: “I didn’t self-censor. None of my closest friends at the law school self-censored. Even in classes—I’m just thinking back to my federal courts class, which is taught by a very famous constitutional scholar who is definitely liberal—I would have no issue espousing or endorsing a conservative viewpoint leading up to the election.”
• Guha: “A couple years ago, the whole idea that young people can plausibly be conservative in large numbers was just not a thing and so even the discussion [about conservative policies] wouldn’t happen. So, I’m just happy that the discussion is now happening.”
• Baisden: “If I’m being candid, I expected more critical thought and critical discussions from both directions before I got to Yale Law School.”
• Baisden: “As a conservative, I’m defense counsel every time I walk into the law school.”

Lawrence Perelman, a close friend of William F. Buckley, Jr., recently published a new bio of the iconic conservative thinker, American Impresario: William F. Buckley, Jr. and the Elements of American Character. He joined the podcast to talk about his new book, his relationship with Buckley, and how music shaped their lives and relationship:

• Perelman: “I knew of Bill–not only knew of, but he was a hero of mine growing up in the 1980’s as a vehement anticommunist, as a philosemite, as someone had pushed the antisemites out of the conservative movement. And for me and my parents—my parents fled the Soviet Union in 1975, so 50 years ago—he always stood as a beacon of hope and inspiration.”
• Perelman on Finding a Mentor: “Getting through the door the first time can be tough. But getting through the second time is even tougher. You have to really prove yourself.”
• Perelman: “After my parents, he was the most important person in my life. There is no question…In terms of my formative life, to understand generosity, to understand the importance of communication, of staying in touch, of actually responding to someone’s letter, there’s no one that shines brighter for me. Those acts actually changed the course of my life.”
• Perelman: “He was just a pleasure to be around. He was nice. He was fun. He was warm. He was, for me at that age, probably more grandfatherly…It was just a real grasp and respect for the young people around him.”

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