After working the halls of power in Washington and now investing money on Wall Street, John Kasich figures he knows a thing or two about what’s gotten America into a series of political and business scandals in recent years.

And he’s coming to Lawrence to tell everyone about it.

Kasich, a former Ohio congressman turned author, TV host and investment banker, will speak tonight at the Lied Center about his contention that Americans have lost their moral fiber, forgetting values such as honesty, integrity and personal responsibility.

His talk, “Stand for Something: The Battle for America’s Soul,” will be delivered at 7 p.m. as the 2007 J.A. Vickers Sr. and Robert F. Vickers Sr. Memorial Lecture, sponsored by Kansas University’s School of Business.

The lecture is free and open to the public.

“Stand for Something” is the title of Kasich’s latest book, a call to action for Americans uneasy about what the author calls an erosion of the “long-standing, hard-earned values upon which our nation is built.” Kasich is host of “Heartland with John Kasich,” shown Saturday nights on Fox News Channel.

Kasich has spoken to groups that include Coca-Cola Enterprises, General Motors and the American Medical Association.

Kasich is a former nine-term congressman, representing a district in suburban Columbus, Ohio. He served as chairman of the House Budget Committee.

He left Congress in 2001 and is a Wall Street investment banker with Lehman Brothers.