The War has been waged with success, although there have been in some instances errors and misfortunes. But the heart of the nation is sounder and its hopes brighter.

The hopeless grief of those poor colored people affected me more than almost anything else.

I decided that instead of making jokes about politics, I need to take part in it, and therefore, I can't make jokes and participate.

Don't get me wrong, I am a proud Republican, and I want to support my party. I am a firm believer in the Republican principles of smaller government, low taxes and economic freedom. I have spent my time in government service fighting for these principles.

In general, I found that the more that debates can be about facts and data, the more likely government is to make sound decisions that benefit innovators and the American people.

Racial politics in Chicago has a long history of being intertwined with the mayor's race, but I'd like to think we're past much of that.