"William F. Buckley Jr. brought a rare combination of gifts to American politics: brilliance, wit, and a fearless determination to challenge the conventional wisdom of the day.  He believed that ideas could transform society, and he was right. As a publisher, author, and candidate, he jousted with the world - civilly, stylishly, and memorably. His 1965 bid for New York's City Hall will live on as one of the defining mayoral campaigns of the city's history. William F. Buckley was a giant in American politics, but first and foremost, he was a New Yorker. And we will miss him. My thoughts and prayers are with the Buckley family as they mourn his passing, and celebrate a life well-lived."