what became known as the culture
war speech, the former presidential
aide described “a religious war go-
ing on in our country for the soul
of America,” with the Democrats
(led by Bill Clinton) and their lib-
eral values on one side and the Re-
publicans on the other. Buchanan’s
speech drew sharp criticism, but
the sharpest quip was made by polit-
ical commentator Molly Ivins, who
said the speech “probably sounded
better in the original German.”
In the 1996 Republican primary,
Buchanan ran again for the nomi-
nation and won an upset victory in
New Hampshire. His rhetoric had
taken on a populist note as he prom-
ised to “use the bully pulpit of the
Presidency of the United States, to
the full extent of my power and abil-
ity, to defend American traditions
and the values of faith, family, and
country, from any and all direc-
tions.” Buchanan openly advocated
prayer in schools, saying, “Eternal
truths that do not change from the Old and New Tes-
tament have been expelled from our public schools,
and our children are being indoctrinated in moral
relativism, and the propaganda of an anti-Western
ideology.” After his defeat in the Republican pri-
mary, Buchanan returned to his work as a commen-
tator.
Impact Pat Buchanan’s sharp rhetoric helped de-
fine the era as a time in American culture when reac-
tions to modernity became a point of contention be-
tween conservatives and liberals. Buchanan was
instrumental in helping to define the existing cul-
tural differences and their significance in American
culture.
Further Reading
Alter, Jonathan. “Beltway Populist.”Newsweek, March
4, 1996, 24-27.
Novak, Robert D. “Pat Buchanan, Populist Republi-
can.”National Review, August 14, 1995, 33.
Denis Mueller
See also Cable television; Clinton, Bill; Conserva-
tism in U.S. politics; Culture wars; Dole, Bob; Elec-
tions in the United States, 1992; Elections in the
United States, 1996; Journalism; Limbaugh, Rush;
Reform Party; Religion and spirituality in the United
States; Television. Buffett, Warren
Identification American investor and
businessman
Born August 30, 1930; Omaha, Nebraska
Commonly considered one of the greatest living investors,
Buffett grew his fortune in the 1990’s to become one of the
ten richest men in the world, and the only one to have made
his money entirely from investing.
Warren Buffett began the 1990’s as a very wealthy
man, but a particularly shrewd investment of $1 bil-
lion in a poorly performing Coca-Cola Company at
the end of the 1980’s became worth more than all
of his other investments combined. However, de-
spite this positive start, the 1990’s were a turbulent
decade for Buffett, bringing a scandal and growing
skepticism of his investment methodology.The Nineties in America Buffett, Warren 125
Presidential candidate Pat Buchanan gives a thumbs up to supporters on the evening
of February 12, 1996, after finishing second in the Iowa caucus to Kansas senator
Bob Dole.(AP/Wide World Photos)