James Buckley, a notable figure in New York politics and former U.S. Senator, has passed away at the age of 100 in a Washington, D.C. hospital, confirmed by his son David.
Buckley rose to prominence in the 1968 political landscape when he secured over a million votes running against liberal Republican Sen. Jacob Javits as the Conservative Party challenger. His performance marked a record for a minor party candidate in the state. Buckley then secured a Senate seat representing the Conservative Party of New York State in 1970, serving until 1977. Following an unsuccessful Senate bid in Connecticut in 1980, he was appointed undersecretary of state under President Ronald Reagan.
Coming from a prominent family, Buckley was the older brother of the renowned conservative commentator William F. Buckley Jr. He was the last surviving member among 10 siblings, born to a millionaire oil magnate. He leaves behind six children, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. His wife, Ann, predeceased him in 2011.
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