About This Stamp
One of the most influential public intellectuals in modern U.S. history, William F. Buckley, Jr. (1925–2008) defined the conservative movement of the mid-20th century and was one of its most recognizable spokesmen. Author of more than 50 books, Buckley founded National Review, one of the nation’s leading conservative publications, and hosted the Emmy Award–winning public affairs television program Firing Line for more than 30 years.
This stamp features a striking black-and-white portrait of Buckley created by artist Dale Stephanos. Using graphite and charcoal on hot-press watercolor paper, Stephanos created the artwork by hand before refining the details digitally. He based the portrait on a photograph taken by Steve Schapiro in the 1960s.
A major part of Buckley’s influence came through National Review, a magazine he founded in 1955 to strengthen conservatism at a time when liberalism dominated U.S. politics. His earlier books, God and Man at Yale (1951) and McCarthy and His Enemies (1954), had established his reputation, but National Review—which united thinkers across the spectrum to shape a relevant, non-extremist ideology—solidified him as the intellectual leader of modern conservatism. Within a decade, it became the nation’s most influential conservative publication.
Buckley expanded his reach beyond print by bringing his sharp intellect and humor to television with Firing Line in 1966. The show featured spirited conversations with guests from across the political spectrum, tackling divisive issues in a way that engaged conservative and liberal viewers alike. In 1969, Firing Line earned an Emmy, further cementing Buckley as the public face of conservatism.
As Firing Line popularized conservative thought, the movement gained political momentum. By the 1970s, conservatism was influencing public policy, with Ronald Reagan adopting many of Buckley’s ideas as governor and later as president. Throughout this time, Buckley remained a trusted advisor, further shaping the mainstream conservative agenda.
After 35 years, Buckley retired from National Review in 1990 and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1991. Although Firing Line ended in 1999, Buckley continued writing, publishing more than 50 books. Today, National Review carries on Buckley’s legacy, shaping conservative thought for new generations, while Firing Line continues its tradition of thoughtful debate with a relaunch on PBS in 2018.
Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp.
The William F. Buckley, Jr., stamp is being issued as a Forever® stamp. This Forever stamp will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail® one-ounce price.
Stamp Art Director
Greg Breeding
Greg Breeding is a graphic designer and principal of Journey Group, a design company he co-founded in 1992, located in Charlottesville, Virginia. He was creative director until 2013, at which time he began serving as president and continued in that role through 2023.
Breeding’s fascination with modernism began while studying design at Virginia Commonwealth University. His affinity with the movement continues and motivates his ongoing advanced studies at the Basel School of Design in Switzerland most every summer.
As an art director for postage stamp design since 2012, Breeding has designed more than 100 stamps covering a diverse array of subjects, from Star Wars droids and Batman to Harlem Renaissance writers and the transcontinental railroad.
His work has been recognized in annual design competitions held by Graphis, AIGA, PRINT magazine, and Communication Arts.
Breeding lives in North Garden, Virginia, with his wife and enjoys nothing so much as frolicking on the floor with his grandchildren.
Stamp Artist
Dale Stephanos
Raised in the Boston area, Dale Stephanos has been a full-time professional illustrator for more than thirty years. His client list is extensive and includes magazines such as Rolling Stone, TIME, and Sports Illustrated; newspapers such as the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and the Village Voice; the U.S. Open; and many others.
Stephanos’ work has been featured in numerous exhibits, and in 2017, he opened his own gallery in Boston. He has been honored by the Society of Illustrators, Illustrators West, American Illustration, Communication Arts, and Lürzer's Archive’s 200 Best Illustrators Worldwide 2016.
When he’s not working on illustration assignments for magazines or painting portraits for private commissions, Stephanos teaches at both Suffolk University in Boston and Lyme Academy College of Fine Art in Connecticut.
He now resides in the wilds of southeastern Massachusetts with his family and a cat with no name. A U.S. postage stamp commission has been a lifelong dream for Stephanos. The 2025 Betty White issuance is his first project for the United States Postal Service.