James L. Buckley

James Lane Buckley (March 9, 1923 – August 18, 2023) was an American politician, jurist, diplomat, and author. Buckley served in the United States Senate as a member of the Conservative Party of New York State, held multiple positions within the Reagan administration, and served as a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. He was a brother of prominent conservative author and commentator William F. Buckley Jr.

Buckley defeated incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Charles Goodell and Democratic U.S. Representative Richard Ottinger in the 1970 U.S. Senate election as the nominee of the Conservative Party of New York. He served in the Senate from 1971 to 1977; Democrat Daniel Moynihan defeated him in 1976. Buckley also ran for the U.S. Senate in the 1980 United States Senate election in Connecticut, but was defeated by Democrat Chris Dodd. During the first Reagan administration, Buckley served as Undersecretary of State for International Security Affairs. He was also President of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty from 1982 to 1985.

Buckley was nominated by President Ronald Reagan to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on October 16, 1985. On December 17, 1985, he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate and received his commission. Buckley assumed senior status in 1996. He had the distinction of having held a constitutional office in each of the three branches of the American federal government.