William F. Buckley Sr.: Witness to the Mexican Revolution, 1908–1922 by John A. Adams Jr. (review)

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• William F. Buckley Sr.: Witness to the Mexican Revolution, 1908–1922 by John A. Adams Jr.
• Steven Collins

William F. Buckley Sr.: Witness to the Mexican Revolution, 1908–1922. By John A. Adams Jr. ( Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2023. Pp. 320. Illustrations, map, graph, tables, notes, bibliography, index.)

In William F. Buckley Sr.: Witness to the Mexican Revolution, 1908-1922, John Adams provides a long overdue biography of an attorney and oilman from San Diego, Texas. Buckley secured his place in history as one of the leading forces behind the Tampico oil boom in Mexico, 1908. After the ouster of his friend, Mexican President Porfirio Díaz, his keen knowledge of the oil industry and ability to negotiate with politicians and bandits alike gave him and his Pantepec Oil Company a front-row seat to Mexico's long revolution. In the 1920s, when the Mexican oil and gas industry experienced a downturn, he identified new possibilities in Venezuela. He then befriended Venezuelan President Juan Gómez and provided plans for commercial facilities and gained leasing rights in the Lake Maracaibo region. During the 1930s, Buckley acknowledged the importance of diversification for the long-term viability of his company. He secured drilling contracts in Florida, Canada, and the Middle East, establishing a truly global enterprise. Adams concludes that Buckley's upbringing in South Texas and his University of Texas law degree contributed to his success as one of the most accomplished independent oilmen in the industry's history. The lasting impact of Buckley's influence helped to shape the international oil industry for decades following his death in 1958.

The book demonstrates Buckley's unparalleled business acumen and astute political mind. Following the establishment of a law office in Mexico City, he used the local Petroleum Club as a venue for negotiating contracts and securing loans, culminating in the founding of his Pantepec Oil Company. He was critical of President Woodrow Wilson's administration, which lacked appreciation for Mexican culture, politics, and social dynamics. His defense of the Catholic Church and testimony during the 1919 Fall Committee hearings led to his expulsion from Mexico in 1921. Adams explains this was a watershed for Buckley's career. He fortuitously [End Page 360] expanded Pantepec Oil to Venezuela. Then, as the Great Depression unfolded, he had the great foresight to diversify Pantepec. He gained new leases in Florida, Canada, and the Middle East to create one of the largest independently owned oil companies.

Adams' book is more than a biography. It is a historical ride through the rough and tumble days of the Tampico oil rush and the Mexican Revolution. In the final years of his regime, Díaz invited foreign investment to improve the standard of living for Mexicans. His economic changes brought widespread poverty and social unrest, giving rise to rebellious factions and a violent revolution that targeted foreigners. Buckley sparred with revolutionary leaders, such as Pancho Villa, as well as the Mexican presidents Venustiano Carranza and Alvaro Obregón. The latter ultimately expelled him from Mexico.

Adams does an incredible job of documenting the life of an inquisitive boy from San Diego, Texas. Through his meticulous research, he unveils a daring explorer, audacious businessperson, and devoted family man. The book provides the reader with a fascinating historical perspective on the Mexican Revolution, as well as the oil booms in Mexico and Venezuela in the early 1900s. Considering the present border difficulties, Adams' cultural and diplomatic history offers valuable insights.

Steven Collins University of North Texas Copyright © 2022 The Texas State Historical Association ...