Christopher Buckley, PR genius

Published Oct 19 2008, 11:29 AM by Adam Reilly

On Friday's installment of Greater Boston's Beat the Press, Herald deputy managing editor Joe Sciacca suggested that Christopher Buckley's recent endorsement of Barack Obama might be a PR stunt aimed at promoting his next book.

You got it, Joe. From today's NY Times profile of Buckley:

As to his own father, it was “a complicated relationship,” he said. Early on, the elder Mr. Buckley was enthusiastic about his son’s writing. But as the son racked up one best seller after another, the father grew deeply critical. Mr. Buckley can quote word for word: “Sorry, this one didn’t work for me,” or, “As regards your new book, my views are negative.” When his father inscribed books to him, he signed them, “Bill.”
Mr. Buckley does not say so, but the suggestion of father-son competition hung in the air. Perhaps he will spell it out in his memoir, “Losing Mum and Pup,” due out next year. “I wrote it in 40 days,” he said. “It just kind of poured out.”
Is it a kiss-and-tell?
“It’s a live-and-tell,” he said, “a grow-up-and-tell.”

Think that book might sell a wee bit better thanks to the Obama kerfluffle?

Filed Under: new york times co., William F. Buckley, Christopher Buckley, National Review

3 Comments

Bill Dearing said:

Speaking of that discussion from Greater Boston, "Kos," as in "Daily Kos" does not rhyme with "cause." It rhymes with "coast."

The founder's name is Markos Moulitsas Zúñiga. "Kos" is the last sylable of his first name.

October 19, 2008 4:08 PM
Adam said:

Obviously I regret the mispronunciation.

October 19, 2008 7:10 PM
andrew said:

Pretty chancy strategy if that is so. Alienating your long developed fan base in order to court a new one is a possible strategy. Is the new base going to be bowled over by him stating he's supporting their candidate? Probably not, though it will put his earlier fans into orbit with rage.

October 19, 2008 11:38 PM

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Filed Under: new york times co., William F. Buckley, Christopher Buckley, National Review

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Christopher Buckley, PR genius

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