[zeestephen]

I think you might be mistaken about the relationship between Buckley and Reagan.

There's a quasi-famous speech Buckley gave, with Reagan in attendance, where Buckley says Reagan is the political figure he admires most in America.

I'm not certain of the date, but I believe Buckley said that before Reagan ran for president.

[Solson]

I think I was mistaken. For some reason, and I’ve tried looking, I thought NR was supporting Bush over Reagan in the 1980 primaries and Ford over Reagan in 1976 but I can’t find anything.