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As early as the autumn of 1862, I was made very happy by being sent to school.

What motivated me to dedicate myself to public service for nearly two-thirds of my life was the chance to produce results for those people who entrusted me to be their voice and their champion.

The pride people take in their work transcends to their homes, their education, families and communities.

I hope there have been times when I made you all proud, or made you all smile or at least piqued your interest in this wonderful institution we call government.

In terms of achievement, the pride is very important to me. It keeps me going every day. The money is always second to me.

We had rising student achievement across the board because high standards, robust accountability, ending social promotion in third grade, real school choice across the board, challenging the teachers union and beating them is the way to go.

I've had a very good career and I'm grateful that the public has had some level of acceptance and appreciation of my work.

I have no other view than to promote the public good, and am unambitious of honors not founded in the approbation of my Country.

I was motivated to go into public life because of the great chasm that exists between justice and injustice in our country. Nowhere is that divide greater than in America's cities.

My passion for strengthening the community and making peoples' lives better is stronger now than when I first got into politics.