James L. Buckley

Given the difficulty of resisting such temptations over the longer run, a proper concern for the welfare of congressional souls may well…

— James L. Buckley

If enough people openly engage in conduct once considered reprehensible, we rewrite the rule book and assume that God, as a good…

— James L. Buckley

It would seem, therefore, that this constitutional safeguard may no longer serve its original purpose, especially when, as we learned last year,…

— James L. Buckley

This source of corruption, alas, is inherent in the democratic system itself, and it can only be controlled, if at all, by…

— James L. Buckley

The Court made an exception, however, in the case of candidates contributing to their own campaigns because of the rather reasonable presumption…

— James L. Buckley

Unfortunately, in today's world we have to be reminded that the power of an oath derives from the fact that in it…

— James L. Buckley

In rendering its decision in our case, the Supreme Court equated money with speech because these days it takes the first to…

— James L. Buckley

Under the circumstances, may I suggest another means of encouraging probity in elective office. I refer to term limitations, which can serve…

— James L. Buckley

Unfortunately, the media, which are not at all reluctant to act in their own self-interest, have succeeded in equating reform in the…

— James L. Buckley

I am persuaded that in the case of elected officials, the overwhelming temptation is to conclude that it is more important for…

— James L. Buckley

They may then be willing to cast principled votes based on an educated understanding of the public interest in the face of…

— James L. Buckley

I had hoped that the current presidential campaign debates might educate the public as to what is really involved in the ongoing…

— James L. Buckley

What people fail to appreciate is that the currency of corruption in elective office is, not money, but votes.

— James L. Buckley

Once it becomes impossible for members of Congress to make a career of legislative service, the temptation to bend a vote for…

— James L. Buckley

The kind of corruption the media talk about, the kind the Supreme Court was concerned about, involves the putative sale of votes…

— James L. Buckley

Moreover, we are showing a dismaying tendency to recast God in Man's image.

— James L. Buckley

In the last analysis, of course, an oath will encourage fidelity in office only to the degree that officeholders continue to believe…

— James L. Buckley

As a consequence, the Court ruled that the limits on campaign spending violated the First Amendment, but it accepted the $1,000 limit…

— James L. Buckley

What distinguishes the campaign finance issue from just about every other one being debated these days is that the two sides do…

— James L. Buckley