Inventory of the
Firing Line (Television Program) Broadcast Records
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.
Inventory of the
Firing Line (Television Program) Broadcast Records
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 (Television Program) Broadcast Records
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
Administrative Information
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 (Television Program) Broadcast Records, [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
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.
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.
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).
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.
Collection Contents
Box: 1-15, 193
Administrative files,
1966-1994
Physical Description: 6.4 linear feet
Scope and Content Note
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.
Box: 1
Catalogue of transcripts/audio cassettes,
1971-1999
Box: 1
Guest and topic lists,
1966-1999
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
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: 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: 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
Box: 11
General correspondence,
1966
Box: 11
General correspondence,
1967
Box: 11
General correspondence,
1968
Box: 11
Firing Line guests suggestions and comments,
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
Box: 14
General correspondence,
1983
Box: 14
Unemployment letters,
1983
Box: 14
General correspondence,
1984
Box: 14
Friends of Firing Line,
1984
Box: 14
General correspondence,
1985
Box: 14
General correspondence,
1986
Box: 14
Viewer correspondence on the program Harvest of Despair,
1986
Box: 15
General correspondence,
1987
Box: 15
General correspondence,
1988
Box: 15
General correspondence,
1989
Box: 15
General correspondence,
1990
Box: 15
General correspondence,
1991
Box: 15
General correspondence,
1993-1994
Box: 16-103
Background materials,
1966-1999
Physical Description: 35.2 linear feet
Scope and Content Note
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.
Scope and Content Note
Arranged alphabetically by the last name of the speaker, though not all speakers have a file
Box: 70-84
Commercial television shows
1966-1971
Physical Description: syndicated by WOR in New York City, programs 1-240.
Scope and Content Note
Arranged by program number, though not all programs have a file
Box: 85-100
Public television shows,
1971-1996
Physical Description: under the auspices of the Southern Educational Communications Association (SECA).
Scope and Content Note
Arranged by program number, though not all shows have a file
Box: 100-102
Firing Line Specials (FLS), formal debates,
1987-1997
Scope and Content Note
Arranged by program number, though not all shows have a file
Box: 103
Cancelled shows,
1966-1977
Box: 104-158
Publicity files,
1971-1999
Physical Description: 22 linear feet
Scope and Content Note
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
Box: 147-158
Firing Line Specials (FLS),
1986-1999
Box: 159-192
Transcripts,
1966-1999
Physical Description: 13.6 linear feet
Scope and Content Note
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.
Box: 159-168
Commercial television,
1966-1971
Scope and Content Note
syndicated by WOR in New York City, programs 1-240
Box: 169-190
Public television shows,
1971-1999
Scope and Content Note
under the auspices of the Southern Educational Communications Association (SECA)
Box: 191-192
Firing Line Special (FLS) shows,
1986-1999
Box: 194-200, 408-410
Sound recordings,
1966-1971
Physical Description: 7 linear feet
Scope and Content Note
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
2, 19, 35, 40-72 (with gaps)
Box: 201-407, 352 linear feet
Video recordings,
1966-1999
Physical Description: 863.8 linear feet
Scope and Content Note
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/ .
