Brian Lundin ..

Although I haven't seen the movie yet, Hollywood is all abuzz over "The Iron Lady" and Meryl Streep's apparently stunning portrayal of Lady Margaret Thatcher.

Streep is an amazing actress, and I have no doubt that she puts on a soaring performance. But I don't see any way she could have captured the indomitable spirit of this remarkable woman.

My wife and I had the pleasure of having lunch seated next to Lady Thatcher when she spoke at the New Orleans Investment Conference in 1998. We had small children at the time, and once Lady Thatcher discovered this, all she could talk about was our kids and her grandchildren.

Then an interesting thing happened: Someone at the other end of the table, a very famous investor/hedge fund manager whom you've seen on CNBC hundreds of times, interrupted Lady Thatcher to ask about her position on the euro.

The Iron Lady graciously acknowledged the interloper and, in fairness, did provide a quick, pat answer to his inquiry. She then turned back to our conversation.

The questioner persisted, however. "Everyone knows that answer," he sniped. "What I want to know is what you really think."

Well, you could've heard the proverbial pin drop as Lady Thatcher lifted her head, looked him right in the eyes, and...without raising her voice...slashed him to rhetorical ribbons.

We were so taken aback that no one who was there, to this day, can remember precisely what she said. But we all remember clearly that, once the impolite fellow was dispatched, Lady Thatcher calmly turned back to my wife and I and resumed her conversation right where she left off.

I've met a lot of very important people through the New Orleans Conference — many of the giants of recent history. But none impressed me like Lady Thatcher. She was the real deal.

While the tongue-lashing she delivered at lunch that day is lost to history, we are fortunate to have preserved her presentation, not long after, to our New Orleans Conference audience. It was a truly spellbinding speech — probably the best I've ever witnessed.

As with every New Orleans Conference, you really have to attend to fully appreciate it. But we've provided some highlights of Lady Thatcher's presentation to give you a taste.

http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=26755524&msgid=301108&act=28PW&c=752501&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fuser%2Fneworleansinvestment%23p%2Fu%2F12%2F4T8L7fyJOI0">Click Blue To View....