I've spent my whole life with people underestimating me.

We are living longer, and we need to live better.

I would argue that we have a generation of young people, particularly minorities, who are no longer putting up with the kinds of things their parents put up with. They're much more self-confident. It's no longer acceptable to make fun of people because of race or sex. But it has always been present in American society.

In every community, whether large or small, there are people who lead in their community in easy and difficult times.

We can't afford as a nation - not because of money but because of our social fabric - to have large numbers of people who are not working.

I bring other constituencies - I also have ties to minority communities. And obviously, to the world of world-class research universities. So I can bring some constituencies that I'm used to working with.

I'm pretty disciplined and am almost always on schedule.