34 years ago today, the late great magazine publisher and adventurer, Malcolm S. Forbes, passed away at age 70. "WHILE ALIVE, HE LIVED", reads his tombstone.
Had the distinct privilege of getting to know Malcolm starting in 1987. First met him in Los Angeles after writing several letters asking for his advice on how to start a magazine.
After meeting him in LA, he called with an invitation to come out to New York, where he introduced to me members of the Forbes Magazine staff to learn as much as I could about their particular departments. At night, he took me to events his company organized at one of his townhouses, as well as on his yacht, The Highlander, where he wined and dined major advertising executives and guests that included foreign dignitaries, rock stars, supermodels and other news makers. He schooled me on the fine art of wooing more money out of advertisers without actually asking for it.
Several interesting things happened through knowing Malcolm Forbes, such as him introducing Henry Kissinger and I. At the time, my greatest asset was a comprehensive relational database of student leaders across the U.S. and abroad, which Kissinger was interested in tapping into for the World Economic Forum. The introduction and subsequent follow ups were monumental at the time. But in hindsight, I am glad I never shared my mailing list with Kissinger and his cohorts, for I am opposed to the globalist agenda of the Bilderberg Group and World Economic Forum of which Kissinger played a pivotal role while alive.
However, Malcolm was an amazing cat. He was the first to teach me the real virtues of the Libertarian Philosophy. And, for that, I am most forever grateful.