Steve Forbes to speak at Gonzaga in visit sponsored by College Republicans

Publisher Steve Forbes will speak at Gonzaga University on Feb. 7 in a visit sponsored by the university’s College Republicans.

Forbes, chairman of Forbes Media and a two-time candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, will talk about “How Capitalism will Save Us.”

Admission to the 7 p.m. event is free; however, members of the public must have a ticket to attend. Tickets will be available beginning at 9 a.m. Jan. 29 at the welcome desk in the John J. Hemmingson Center, 702 E. Desmet Ave.

Forbes, 70, is the editor-in-chief of Forbes, the business magazine founded by his grandfather and run for more than 25 years by his father, Malcolm Forbes. Steve Forbes ran for president in 1996 and 2000 on a platform that included a flat-rate income tax, school choice, Social Security overhaul, term limits for politicians and medical savings accounts.

Forbes was among the earlier champions of flattening the tax code, which was supported in the 2012 presidential primary by candidates Herman Cain, Mitt Romney and Rick Perry.

Forbes is co-author of several best-selling books about politics and the global economy. His 2015 release was “Reviving America: How Repealing Obamacare, Replacing the Tax Code and Reforming The Fed will Restore Hope and Prosperity.”

Gonzaga College Republicans invited Forbes to speak because of his expertise on economic issues, said Nick Gervasini, president of the organization.

In 2016, College Republicans invited conservative author Dinesh D’Souza to speak on campus. University officials initially closed that event to the public. After a formal appeal from College Republicans, GU President Thayne McCulloh allowed members of the public to attend the event.