In 1994, William F. Buckley, Jr., the conservative icon, received a letter from an eighteen-year-old aspiring pianist by the name of Lawrence Perelman, the son of Soviet Jewish immigrants. Buckley&’s response sparked a remarkable cross-generational friendship during which Perelman learned of the timeless elements of Buckley&’s character, and the central role of classical music in Buckley&’s American vision.Lawrence Perelman, an eighteen-year-old aspiring pianist and son of Soviet Jewish immigrants, wrote a letter to William F. Buckley, Jr., the conservative icon, in 1994. A remarkable cross-generational friendship was sparked by Buckley&’s response. During their friendship Perelman would go on to learn of the timeless elements of Buckley&’s character and the central role of classical music in Buckley&’s American vision. In 2025, the 100th anniversary of Buckley&’s birth, this book delves into some of Buckley&’s virtues which Perelman witnessed firsthand and argues that those virtues can transform the fabric of America&’s character. Their friendship spanned from 1995 to February 27, 2008, the day Buckley passed away in his Connecticut home while Perelman practiced piano in a nearby room for a private recital that evening for Buckley and friends that would never happen. American Impresario is a portrait of Buckley, the impresario of the conservative movement, man of faith, Cold Warrior, bulwark against Anti-Semitism, Renaissance man, musician, and mentor to countless people who continue their work today. This book will inspire readers, both young and old, to emulate Buckley&’s virtues, including a return to civil discourse, anonymous philanthropy, faith, patriotism and fostering relationships between mentor and protégé, as part of a goal to reweave the fabric of our nation&’s character.
