Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the House of Representatives, easily moved from lecturer to town hall host Thursday night as he initiated a rigorous dialogue with students and community members who filled every available seat and lined the aisles of Memorial Chapel.

Gingrich spoke without notes during his lecture, in which he said America is in a very dangerous place with an economic situation not seen in 80 years.

No one has a clue on how to address the crisis, he said, including members of Congress who are "culpable, not capable."

Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the House of Representatives, will deliver a lecture at 7:30 p.m. March 26 in Memorial Chapel.

During his talk, "President Obama & the Future of the American Freedom," Gingrich will assess Obama's policies and administration and discuss the future of the Republican Party.

Gingrich's lecture, sponsored by the university's Center for Freedom and Western Civilization and the College Republicans, is free and open to the public.