http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt6m3nc88c No online items Processed by Natasha Porfirenko. Hoover Institution Archives Stanford University Stanford, California 94305-6010 Phone: (650) 723-3563 Fax: (650) 725-3445 Email: archives@hoover.stanford.edu 2003, 2009 Hoover Institution Archives. All rights reserved. 80040 1
Hoover Institution Archives Stanford University Stanford, California Processed by: Natasha Porfirenko Date Completed: 2003, 2009 Encoded by: Machine-readable finding aid derived from Microsoft Word and MARC record by Lisa Miller and Natasha Porfirenko. 2009 Hoover Institution Archives. All rights reserved. Collection Summary Title: Firing Line Dates: 1966-1999 Collection Number: 80040 Collection Size: 189 manuscript boxes, 218 oversize boxes, 3 card file boxes, 352 linear feet of video recordings(948 linear feet) Repository: Hoover Institution Archives Stanford, California 94305-6010 Abstract: Videotape film and transcripts of television series hosted by William F. Buckley and produced by the Southern Educational Communications Association, relating to conservative thought, especially in the United States, and to American foreign and domestic policy. Also includes background research files, administrative files, sound recordings and photographs. A searchable database describing all Firing Line programs is available at http://hoohila.stanford.edu/firingline/. Physical Location: Hoover Institution Archives Languages: English Access Collection is open for research. The Hoover Institution Archives only allows access to copies of audiovisual items. To listen to sound recordings or to view videos or films during your visit, please contact the Archives at least two working days before your arrival. We will then advise you of the accessibility of the material you wish to see or hear. Please note that not all audiovisual material is immediately accessible. Publication Rights For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Archives. Preferred Citation [Identification of item], Firing Line, [Box number], Hoover Institution Archives. Acquisition Information Acquired by the Hoover Institution Archives in 2002. Accruals Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. To determine if this has occurred, find the collection in Stanford University's online catalog Socrates at http://library.stanford.edu/webcat. Materials have been added to the collection if the number of boxes listed in Socrates is larger than the number of boxes listed in this finding aid. Alternative Forms of Material Available Firing Line transcripts are available for immediate download on the Hoover Institution website at http://hoohila.stanford.edu/firingline/. Historical Note With 1,505 installments over 33 years, Firing Line is the longest-running public-affairs show with a single host, William F. Buckley Jr., in television history. 80040 2
Firing Line kept substantially the same basic format throughout its run, but with certain variations. (1) It began as an hour-long show for commercial television (i.e., with time subtracted for commercial breaks), syndicated by WOR in New York City. In 1971, under the auspices of the Southern Educational Communications Association (SECA), it moved to public television and became a full hour. This move is reflected in a numbering change in the programs: shows numbered 1 through 240 were on commercial television; the SECA series then begins with S1, taped on May 26, 1971. The WOR shows were numbered according to the order in which they were taped; the SECA shows were numbered according to the order in which they were first broadcast. In 1988 the length of the regular shows was changed to a half-hour. (2) Starting in 1978, interspersed among the regular shows are occasional specials and two-hour debates--formal debates, with opening statements, cross-examination, and closing statements. The debates were initially numbered as regular shows (the first Firing Line Debate was S306, although a debate sponsored by Columbia College's Debate Council was filmed as shows S296 and S297 a few weeks earlier). Beginning in 1986, a separate numbering system was instituted for Firing Line Specials (with the number prefaced by the letters FLS). (Note: Debates listed as "Part I" and "Part II" were shown on consecutive weeks in the regular time slot rather than being shown all at once in a special two-hour time slot.) Starting with S961, in March of 1993, the formal debate would often be followed by two or more shows in which roughly the same participants were released from the debate format for informal discussion. (3) Over the years Buckley and his producer, Warren Steibel, used various methods of bringing an extra perspective to the discussion. In the early years there would often be a panel of three questioners--sometimes students, sometimes adults. Starting in 1977 there would often be a single "examiner," who would play a larger part in the proceedings than the panel of questioners had typically done. The examiners who appeared most frequently were Jeff Greenfield, Michael Kinsley, Harriet Pilpel, and Mark Green. In 1988, when the show went to half an hour, the examiner was eliminated, but there was often a "moderator," whose role was similar to that of the moderator in a formal debate. The moderator would introduce both host and guest, and then ask the opening question. The moderator appearing most frequently was Michael Kinsley. Some early programs included a person called a "chairman," who functioned like a moderator. For programs discovered to have a chairman, he or she has been designated in the Hoover Institution Archive's online database of Firing Line programs by including the chairman's name in the guest field and the word "chairman" in the biography field. Some early programs had a three- or four-person panel. When located, these have been designated in the same database by including the names of persons in guest fields and the word "panelist" in the respective biography fields. (4) Beginning with show 171, in October of 1969, approximately twice a year the tables would be turned, with a panel of questioners putting Buckley "on the firing line." Source: Preface to the program catalogue compiled by Firing Line staff member Linda Bridges, included in box 1. Scope and Content of Collection The collection contains the records of the television series hosted by William F. Buckley and mainly produced by the Southern Educational Communications Association, relating to conservative thought, especially in the United States, and to American foreign and domestic policy. Material includes background research files, administrative files, photographs, videotapes and transcripts. A searchable database describing all Firing Line programs is available at http://hoohila.stanford.edu/firingline/. The collection is organized into six series: Administrative files, Background materials, Publicity files, Transcripts, Sound recordings, and Video recordings. The Administrative files document the creation of the program. Files contain a catalogue of transcripts, Firing Line guests' topic lists, programs lists, Special Debates lists, correspondence with prominent politicians, economists, and scientists, as well as viewer comments and suggestions. Press releases, newsletters, newspaper clippings, and files on William F. Buckley and Warren Steibel, the Firing Line producer-director, are also included. Photographs, negatives, and slides of William F. Buckley individually and with the guests on his shows complete the records. The Background materials contain two sets of files: Speaker files and Program files. Both types of files include preparation materials, such as clippings, correspondence, transcripts, histories, press summaries, and printed matter, as well as other collected materials on speakers and their appearances on the Firing Line shows. Some files include the transcript of the show although not every show or speaker is represented with a file. The Speaker files are arranged alphabetically by the last name of the speaker. Speakers who made multiple appearances may have several files. The William F. Buckley book On the Firing Line: The Public Life of Our Public Figures (Random House, New York, 1989) contains an alphabetical list of guests on Firing Line (see box 7). 80040 3
Program files are arranged by the type of show: public television shows, special programs, and debates, and then by show number. Publicity files cover the Public television shows under the auspices of the SECA, and contain materials such as still photographs, negatives, and slides, as well as transcripts, newsletters, and other documents, although the type of material available on a particular program varies. Transcripts of the television shows are arranged by the type of show, and then by show number. Some Firing Line transcripts are available for immediate download on the Hoover Institution website. There are two productions hosted by William F. Buckley that were not Firing Line programs. The shows have been designated as 000a and 000b. These programs are included in the data base and have been placed at the beginning of the Firing Line transcripts. Sound recordings contain sound tracks of the early Firing Line television shows on open reel tapes and compact sound cassettes. Video recordings include videotapes of most shows in a variety of formats. Some shows are recorded on videotape formats that are approaching obsolescence. The Hoover Institution is gradually preserving and transferring the shows to a modern format. Many videotapes have been digitized; additional reformatting depends on funding. Priority for transfer is given to the most endangered formats and to the programs most requested. Videotapes of programs that have not been reformatted are typically not available for immediate viewing. Selected programs can be viewed in the Hoover Archives reading room or purchased from Amazon.com. Please contact Hoover Institution Archives for information. Arrangement The collection is organized into six series: Administrative files, Background materials, Publicity files, Transcripts, Sound recordings, and Video recordings. Indexing Terms The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog. Conservatism United States--Politics and government. United States-Foreign relations-20th century United States-Politics and government-20th century Buckley, William F. (William Frank), 1925- Southern Educational Communications Association Video tapes. Box: 1-15, 193 Administrative files, 1966-1994 Physical Description: 6.4 linear feet The files include a catalogue of transcripts, guest and topic lists, a card catalogue of Firing Line guests, memoranda, pamphlets, press releases, press reviews, newsletters, clippings, correspondence, photographs, negatives, microfiche, and slides. This section contains correspondence with prominent politicians, economists, scientists, as well as viewer comments and suggestions arranged chronologically. Series also includes personal information of William F. Buckley and Warren Steibel, the Firing Line producer-director. Additionally, photographs, negatives, and slides depict William F. Buckley individually and with the guests of his shows. Also includes an oversize photo of William F. Buckley Arrangement Series arranged chronologically. General Box: 1 Catalogue of transcripts/audio cassettes, 1971-1999 Box: 1 Guest and topic lists, 1966-1999 Box: 1 Program lists, 1977-1999 80040 4
Administrative files, 1966-1994 General Box: 1 Special Debates lists, 1986-1999 Box: 1 Fonts and messages, 1995-1999 Physical Description: 90 MB Bernoulli disc Box: 1 Theme music, 1998 Physical Description: compact disc Box: 1 Fifth anniversary, 1971 Box: 1 Twenty-fifth anniversary, 1991 Box: 2-3 Card catalogue, Firing Line guests (A-Z) circa 1966-1999 Box: 4 Microfiche of early program transcripts, 1966-1968 Physical Description: number 1-113 Box: 5 Press releases, press reviews, and newspaper clippings, 1970-1994 Box: 5 Newsletters, 1968-1984 Box: 6 Newsletters, 1985-1994 Box: 6 Introductions and notes, circa 1970-1990 Box: 6 Memoranda, pamphlets, and other materials, 1970-1978 Box: 6 Warren Steibel, Firing Line producer-director files, 1994-1997. Physical Description: Includes his extensive memoranda to Program managers Box: 193 Two flyers depicting African American young man called Would You Be More Careful if It Was You That Got Pregnant? Undated Physical Description: oversize William F. Buckley files, 1985-1992 Box: 7 Personal information, circa 1970-1980 Box: 7 Commencement, University of South Carolina, 1985 December 15 Box: 7 On the Firing Line: The Public Life of Our Public Figures, Random House, New York, 1989. Physical Description: Printed copy Box: 7 Asian trip, 1992 Box: 8 Photographs, circa 1966-1999 Physical Description: Depicting William F. Buckley individually and with the guests of his shows Box: 193 William F. Buckley photo, undated, Physical Description: oversize Box: 9 Negatives, circa 1966-1999. Physical Description: Contain negatives of various moments during Firing Line shows and their participants Box: 9-10 Slides, circa 1966-1990. Physical Description: Consists of slides depicting moments on Firing Line shows and their participants Box: 11-15 Correspondence, 1966-1994. Physical Description: Arranged chronologically 80040 5
Administrative files, 1966-1994 William F. Buckley files, 1985-1992 Box: 11 General correspondence, 1966 Box: 11 Viewer comments, 1966 Box: 11 General correspondence, 1967 Box: 11 Viewer comments, 1967 Box: 11 General correspondence, 1968 Box: 11 Firing Line guests suggestions and comments, 1968 Box: 12 Business, 1968 Box: 12 General correspondence, 1969 Box: 12 Firing Line guests suggestions and comments, 1969 Box: 12 Alphabetical (A-R), 1970-1978 Box: 13 Alphabetical (P-Z), 1970-1978 Box: 13 Omega Communications, 1980-1982 Box: 13 General correspondence, 1981 Box: 13 Friends of Firing Line, 1981-1983 Firing Line guests, 1982 General correspondence, 1983 80040 6
Administrative files, 1966-1994 William F. Buckley files, 1985-1992 Unemployment letters, 1983 General correspondence, 1984 Firing Line guests, 1984 Friends of Firing Line, 1984 General correspondence, 1985 Firing Line guests, 1985 General correspondence, 1986 Firing Line guests, 1986 Viewer correspondence on the program Harvest of Despair, 1986 General correspondence, 1987 Firing Line guests, 1987 General correspondence, 1988 Firing Line guests, 1988 General correspondence, 1989 Firing Line guests, 1989 General correspondence, 1990 80040 7
Administrative files, 1966-1994 William F. Buckley files, 1985-1992 General correspondence, 1991 General correspondence, 1993-1994 Box: 16-103 Background materials, 1966-1999 Physical Description: 35.2 linear feet Contains two sets of files: Speaker files and Program files. Both types of file include preparation materials, such as clippings, correspondence, transcripts, histories, press summaries, and printed matter as well as other collected material on speakers and their appearances on the Firing Line shows. The program files also include 42 Firing Line Special programs arranged by show number. Arrangement Program Files arranged by type of the show, then by the show number. Speaker's files are arranged alphabetically by the last name of the speaker. Box: 16-103 Speaker file, 1966-1999. Arranged alphabetically by the last name of the speaker, though not all speakers have a file Box: 16-19 Box: 19-27 Box: 27-30 Box: 30-33 Box: 33-34 Box: 34-36 Box: 36-40 Box: 40-43 Box: 43-47 Box: 47-50 Box: 50-55 Box: 55-57 Box: 57-58 Box: 58-61 Box: 61-63 Box: 63-64 Box: 64-69 Box: 69 A B C D E F G H K L M N O P R S W W-Z Box: 70-84 Commercial television shows 1966-1971 Physical Description: syndicated by WOR in New York City, programs 1-240. Arranged by program number, though not all programs have a file Box: 70 1-17 Box: 71 18-34 Box: 72 35-48 Box: 73 50-62 Box: 74 63-75 Box: 75 76-97 Box: 76 98-114 Box: 77 115-135 80040 8
Background materials, 1966-1999 Commercial television shows 1966-1971 Box: 78 136-149 Box: 79 150-167 Box: 80 168-177 Box: 81 178-191 Box: 82 192-202 Box: 83 203-216 Box: 84 218-240 Box: 85-100 Public television shows, 1971-1996 Physical Description: under the auspices of the Southern Educational Communications Association (SECA). Arranged by program number, though not all shows have a file Box: 85 Box: 86 Box: 87 Box: 88 Box: 89 Box: 90 Box: 91 Box: 92 Box: 93 Box: 94 Box: 95 Box: 96 Box: 97 Box: 98 Box: 99 Box: 100 S1-S12 S14-S36 S39-S49 S50-S67 S68-S91 S93-S109 S111-S132 S133-S163 S165-S207 S209-S234 S235-S267 S273-S361 S362-S806 S987-S1037 S1038-S1085 S1086-S1111 Box: 100-102 Firing Line Specials (FLS), formal debates, 1987-1997 Arranged by program number, though not all shows have a file Box: 100 Box: 101 Box: 102 FLS002 FLS101-FLS117 FLS117-FLS129 Box: 103 Cancelled shows, 1966-1977 Box: 104-158 Publicity files, 1971-1999 Physical Description: 22 linear feet Describes Public television shows under the auspices of the Southern Educational Communications Association (SECA) generally containing publicity materials such as press releases, newsletters, photos, negatives, slides, and may include transcripts, though not every show has a file Arrangement Publicity files arranged by type of the show, then by the show number. Box: 104-147 Public television shows, 1971-1999 80040 9
Publicity files, 1971-1999 Public television shows, 1971-1999 Box: 104 Box: 105 Box: 106 Box: 107 Box: 108 Box: 109 Box: 110 Box: 111 Box: 112 Box: 113 Box: 114 Box: 115 Box: 116 Box: 117 Box: 118 Box: 119 Box: 120 Box: 121 Box: 122 Box: 123 Box: 124 Box: 125 Box: 126 Box: 127 Box: 128 Box: 129 Box: 130 Box: 131 Box: 132 Box: 133 Box: 134 Box: 135 Box: 136 Box: 137 Box: 138 Box: 139 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 S1-S18 S19-S39 S40-S60 S61-S99 S100-S132 S133-S169 S170-S197 S198-S227 S228-S260 S261-S294 S295-S325 S327-S369 S371-S407 S400-S435 S436-S462 S463-S499 S500-S537 S538-S568 S569-S608 S609-S635 S636-S661 S662-S684 S685-S717 S718-S746 S742-S777 S778-S809 S810-S841 S842-S872 S873-S900 S901-S916 S917-S939 S940-S962 S963-S990 S991-S1019 S1020-S1042 S1043-S1072 S1093-S1099 S1100-S1121 S1122-S1140 S1141-S1156 S1157-S1170 S1171-S1185 S1186-S1213 S1214-S1225 7-158 Firing Line Specials (FLS), 1986-1999 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 FLS001 FLS002, FLS101 FLS102- FLS105 FLS106- FLS109 FLS110- FLS114 FLS115- FLS118 FLS119- FLS121 FLS122- FLS126 FLS127- FLS131 FLS132, FLS201-203 FLS203- FLS205 80040 10
Publicity files, 1971-1999 Firing Line Specials (FLS), 1986-1999 8 FLS301, FLS302, FLS401 9-192 Transcripts, 1966-1999 Physical Description: 13.6 linear feet Typewritten and printed Firing Line transcripts. Series also includes two of William F. Buckley show transcripts that were not Firing Line shows. Arrangement Transcripts of the television series are arranged by the type of show, and then by show number. 9-168 Commercial television, 1966-1971 syndicated by WOR in New York City, programs 1-240 9 000a, 000b, 1-22 Box: 160 23-50 Box: 161 51-75 Box: 162 76-100 Box: 163 101-125 Box: 164 126-145 Box: 165 146-167 Box: 166 168-191 Box: 167 192-212 Box: 168 213-240 Box: 169-190 Public television shows, 1971-1999 under the auspices of the Southern Educational Communications Association (SECA) Box: 169 Box: 170 Box: 171 Box: 172 Box: 173 Box: 174 Box: 175 Box: 176 Box: 177 Box: 178 Box: 179 Box: 180 Box: 181 Box: 182 Box: 183 Box: 184 Box: 185 Box: 186 Box: 187 Box: 188 Box: 189 Box: 190 S001-S50 S51-S100 S101-S159 S160-S219 S220-S291 S292-S360 S361-S413 S414-S464 S465-S524 S525-S586 S587-S649 S650-S705 S706-S753 S754-S806 S807-S866 S867-S928 S929-S995 S996-S1042 S1043-S1089 S1090-S1136 S1137-S1184 S1185-S1225 Box: 191-192 Firing Line Special (FLS) shows, 1986-1999 80040 11
Transcripts, 1966-1999 Firing Line Special (FLS) shows, 1986-1999 Box: 191 Box: 192 Box: 194-200, 408-410 FLS001-FLS122 FLS123-FLS401 Sound recordings, 1966-1971 Physical Description: 7 linear feet Sound recordings are the sound tracks of the Firing Line television shows, on open reel tapes and compact sound cassettes. The tapes are of the hour-long shows for commercial television with incomplete coverage of shows 2-240 Arrangement Arranged by show number, though not all shows will have a sound recording Box: 194 Box: 195 Box: 196 Box: 197 Box: 198 Box: 199 Box: 200 Box: 408-410 Box: 201-407, 352 linear feet 2, 19, 35, 40-72 (with gaps) 72-103 (with gaps) 104-142 (with gaps) 143-164 (with gaps) 165-183 (with gaps) 184-206 (with gaps) 207-240 (with gaps) Other sound recordings Video recordings, 1966-1999 Physical Description: 863.8 linear feet Includes video recordings of most shows in a variety of formats such as 2" tapes, 1" tapes, 3/4" tapes, Betacam SP tapes, VHS tapes, and SVHS tapes. Selected programs can be viewed in the Hoover Archives reading room or purchased from Amazon.com. Please contact Hoover Institution Archives for information. A searchable database describing all Firing Line programs is available at http://hoohila.stanford.edu/firingline/. 80040 12