mr. buckley also describes how the statue's influence continues to modern-day. the virginia historical society hosted this event. it is 50 minutes. >> the significance of the virginia statute for establishing religious freedom teaches far beyond the borders of the old dominion. its influence ultimately extended to the supreme court's interpretation of the separation of church and state. in his latest book, today's speaker tells the story of that statute, beginning with its background and the struggle of colonial dissenters with an oppressive church of england. displacing an established church by instituting religious freedom, the virginia statute divided the most substantial guarantees of religious freedom in any state of the new nation. the effort to implement jefferson's statute has even broader significance in anticipation of the conflict that would occupy the whole court after the supreme court nationalized the religion clause in the first amendment in the 1940's. thomas e. buckley sj is currently in the university of los angeles. he taught in the history de

mr. buckley also describes how the statue's influence continues to modern-day. the virginia historical society hosted this event.

mr. nixon said something about bill buckley and the buckley has been more dangerous than the birchers. id we are going to have to clear this. and so i wrote this letter explaining what mr. nixon had meant to the publisher of national review and bill buckley. we show that breach. with a friend, we started holding meetings during 66 of the leaders of various conservative groups nixon had made and i certainly had met. i was a journalist, but houston native who they were. so enough with them and started inviting every columnist who is a conservative too, and meet richard nixon and have an interview and so we kept building this alliance with richard nixon and the conservative movement. the center of the republican party and conservative wing of the republican party. then his own idea went out on his own in 1966 and campaigned in 35 states, 80 congressional districts, every single republican in all 11 southern states all over the country, working for the republican party and there was, i sat in my book, it was the nixon's interest to do this. but it is also consistent with what he believed. n

mr. nixon said something about bill buckley and the buckley as being more dangerous than the birchers. e are going to have to clear this up. and so i wrote this letter explaining what mr. nixon had meant to the publisher of the national review and bill buckl buckley. we healed their breach and then my with my friend tom charles houston is sort of came aboard restarted holding meetings all during 66 with readers of various conservative groups. nixon had met and i certainly have medcom i was a journalist but houston knew who they were. we met with them and started finding every columnist who was a conservative to come up and meet richard nixon have an interview with him and give him time. the cap building this alliance with the conservative movement. been nixon, his own idea went out on his own in 1966 and campaigned in 35 states, 80 congressional districts come every single republican who asked for him. he went all over the southern states and went all over the country working for the republican party and i said in my book it was in nixon's interest to do this but it was also consistent

mr. nixon had something about bill buckley and they were more dangerous than the berkshires. ave to clear this up. and so i wrote this letter explaining what mr. nixon had meant to the publisher of "national review" and bill buckley and we feel that breach and then with my friend tom charles houston who came aboard, we started holding meetings all during 66 with leaders of various conservative groups, nixon had met and i had met, i was a journalist but houston knew who they all were. so we met with them and started inviting every columnist who was a conservative to come up and meet richard nixon and had an interview with him and give him time and we kept building this alliance with richard nixon and the conservative movement, the center of the republican party and the conservative wing of the republican party. than nixon, his own idea went out on his own in 1966 and campaigned in 35 states, 8 congressional districts, every single republican who asked for him, all seven states, all over the country working for the republican party and it was a move that i said in my book, in ni

mr. nixon said something about bill buckley, and the buckleyites being more dangerous than the birchers. e're going to have the clear up. [laughter] -- clear this up. so i wrote this letter explaining what mr. nixon had meant to the publisher of "national review" and bill buckley. and we healed that breach. and then with my friend tom charles houston who sort of came aboard, we started holding meetings all during '66 with leaders of various conservative groups nixon hadn't met and i certainly hadn't met. i was a journalist, but houston knew who they were. so we met with them, and and then we started inviting every columnist who was a conservative to come up and meet richard nixon, have an interview with him and give them time. so we kept building this alicense with the center of the republican -- alliance with the center of the republican party and the conservative wig of the republican party. then nixon, his own idea, went out on his own in 1966 and campaigned in 35 states, 80 congressional districts, every single republican who asked for him. he went in all 11 southern states, went all

mr. romanoff, there is a lot of pressure to trim defense spending. in the next few years there could be a basic realignment and closure process. if buckley air force base were to come under consideration for closure, what would you do as the congressman representing the area? >> i would defend buckley. this may be a point where congress meant coffman and i agree, you will be happy to know. buckley plays an essential role both in our national security and local economy. by some estimates, generating $1 billion in economic activity, although i will tell you, that number has declined in the wake of decisions by congress to sequester, to furlough, even to shut down the government itself. i'm disappointed by the vote took a yearcoffman ago to shut down the federal government and take a $24 billion bite out of the economy. i will do my very best to keep berkeley playing a central -- to keep buckley playing a central role it plays and to defend it from the press -- the cuts you are asking about. >> mr. coffman? largest employer in his congressional district and the employment has grown year after you -- year after year. i was at the base last w