From 1966–1999, Firing Line, hosted by William F. Buckley Jr., featured conversations with figures in politics, entertainment, journalism, and academia. Buckley conceived the show as an "exchange of opinions," where guests answered Buckley's questions at length. In Buckley's view, Firing Line was "the only program on the air that gives to presidents and poets a full hour in which to disclose themselves." The exchanges between Buckley and his guests explored the most important ideas and events of the latter half of the 20th century, many of which influence contemporary issues.

The Hoover Institution Library & Archives houses and preserves the Firing Line Broadcast Records, which includes administrative files, program preparation materials, photographs, transcripts, sound recordings, and videotapes of the programs. The collection is open to the public and serves as an invaluable tool for understanding the social, political, and economic changes that marked the end of...