Meeting with Steve Forbes

Jim Blanchard and I met privately with Steve Forbes at the 1997 New Orleans Investment Conference. Forbes is planning to make another bid of the presidency in 2000 (which came to pass though he dropped out after low showings in the first round of Republican primaries and caucuses), and we assured him the hard-money movement was behind him 100%.

Like me, he is bullish on US technology, and his formula for "hope, growth and opportunity" can only improve the prospects for America -- a flat 17% tax with generous deductions, privatization of Social Security, and sound money.

Speaking of sound money, I presented Steve with a 1880 Morgan silver dollar and he was delighted to see that the date was the year his grandfather, B.C. Forbes, founder of the magazine, was born.