P.J. O’Rourke was a wickedly funny satirist who was uniquely able to skewer the powerful across the entire political spectrum and still earn the respect of all.

February 16, 2022

Dear Fellow Investor,

We received sad news yesterday that P.J. O’Rourke, a beloved political satirist and long-standing friend of the New Orleans Conference, passed away.

It hit me hard, because P.J. was not only one of my favorite speakers in the long history of the New Orleans Conference, but also one of my favorite people.

He was not just a brilliant writer, but a genuine human being. He was a true gentleman in the classic sense, always making a point of attending the social events at our conferences and mingling with the attendees.

On one level, he felt an obligation to do so. But even more to his credit, he enjoyed it...he took great pleasure in talking with everyone because he never thought himself to be more important than anyone.

He will be missed greatly.

One Story...

I was blessed to witness some great lines and observations from P.J. over the years, but perhaps the funniest story was when he could say nothing at all.

It came at a lunch in Jim Blanchard’s suite during a New Orleans Conference in the early 1990s, shortly after the FBI’s Waco disaster. P.J. was seated across from me, and to my immediate right was none other than G. Gordon Liddy.

Liddy was regaling us with his view of how the FBI should have stormed the Branch Davidian compound, using the ultra-secret “kill teams” at their disposal. He was so forceful that a vein on his forehead was pulsing with blood. I genuinely thought he was going to have an aneurysm and spray me with blood.

Despite the intensity of Liddy’s oratory and my fear of his brain vein exploding all over me, I had to chuckle when I glanced across the table at P.J.

His mouth was agape...his jaw figuratively resting on the table...as he stared wide-eyed at the crazed man to my right.

It was the first and only time I ever saw P.J. speechless.

Some Highlights...

In memory of this funny, insightful and all-around great guy, I’d like to share a couple of P.J.’s contributions to the New Orleans Conference — the political panel (with Charles Krauthammer and Steven Moore) and his speech from our 2016 event.

Click on the links below to get a small taste of P.J.’s brilliance.

All the best,

Brien Lundin
Editor, Gold Newsletter
CEO, the New Orleans Investment Conference

P.J. O’Rourke’s Speech From New Orleans 2016

The Political Panel From New Orleans 2016 Featuring P.J. O’Rourke, Charles Krauthammer, Steven Moore and Gary Alexander