First, the American legislative process isn't well suited to large and complex measures.

From my parents, I learned a very strong work ethic, and all of my brothers and sisters all worked from the earliest days of life right through to the present time.

As they say, one thing led to another, and, ultimately, the British and Irish governments asked me to serve as chairman of the peace negotiations, which ironically began six years ago this week.

So my father grew up in an orphanage in Boston. He was then adopted by an elderly childless couple from Maine, who gave him the name of Mitchell. He moved to Maine, and there he met my mother and was married.

When I went to college, my goal was to be a college history teacher. I majored in history.

My mother was an immigrant from Lebanon to the United States. She came when she was 18 years old in 1920.

I had a great interest in sports. I had three older brothers who were great athletes. I was not.