Four years ago, I know that many Americans felt a fresh excitement about the possibilities of a new president. That president was not the choice of our party but Americans always come together after elections. We are a good and generous people who are united by so much more than divides us.
When that hard fought election was over, when the yard signs came down and the television commercials finally came off the air, Americans were eager to go back to work, to live our lives the way Americans always have – optimistic and positive and confident in the future.
That very optimism is uniquely American.
It is what brought us to America. We are a nation of immigrants. We are the children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the ones who wanted a better life, the driven ones, the ones who woke up at night hearing that voice telling them that life in that place called America could be better.

They came not just in pursuit of the riches of this world but for the richness of this life.

Every family in America wanted this to be a time when they could get ahead a little more, put aside a little more for college, do more for their elderly mom who’s living alone now or give a little more to their church or charity.
Every small business wanted these to be their best years ever, when they could hire more, do more for those who had stuck with them through the hard times, open a new store or sponsor that Little League team.
Every new college graduate thought they’d have a good job by now, a place of their own, and that they could start paying back some of their loans and build for the future.
This is when our nation was supposed to start paying down the national debt and rolling back those massive deficits.
This was the hope and change America voted for.
I wish President Obama had succeeded because I want America to succeed. But his promises gave way to disappointment and division. This isn’t something we have to accept. Now is the moment when we CAN do something. With your help we will do something.
Now is the moment when we can stand up and say, “I’m an American. I make my destiny. And we deserve better! My children deserve better! My family deserves better. My country deserves better!”
So here we stand. Americans have a choice. A decision.
To make that choice, you need to know more about me and about where I will lead our country.
My mom and dad gave their kids the greatest gift of all – the gift of unconditional love. They cared deeply about who we would BE, and much less about what we would DO.
Unconditional love is a gift that Ann and I have tried to pass on to our sons and now to our grandchildren. All the laws and legislation in the world will never heal this world like the loving hearts and arms of mothers and fathers. If every child could drift to sleep feeling wrapped in the love of their family – and God’s love– this world would be a far more gentle and better place.
My mom and dad were true partners, a life lesson that shaped me by everyday example. When my mom ran for the Senate, my dad was there for her every step of the way. I can still hear her saying in her beautiful voice, “Why should women have any less say than men, about the great decisions facing our nation?”
I wish she could have been here at the convention and heard leaders like Governor Mary Fallin, Governor Nikki Haley, Governor Susana Martinez, Senator Kelly Ayotte and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
As Governor of Massachusetts, I chose a woman Lt. Governor, a woman chief of staff, half of my cabinet and senior officials were women, and in business, I mentored and supported great women leaders who went on to run great companies.
Like a lot of families in a new place with no family, we found kinship with a wide circle of friends through our church. When we were new to the community it was welcoming and as the years went by, it was a joy to help others who had just moved to town or just joined our church. We had remarkably vibrant and diverse congregations of all walks of life and many who were new to America. We prayed together, our kids played together and we always stood ready to help each other out in different ways.
And that’s how it is in America. We look to our communities, our faiths, our families for our joy, our support, in good times and bad. It is both how we live our lives and why we live our lives. The strength and power and goodness of America has always been based on the strength and power and goodness of our communities, our families, our faiths.
When I was 37, I helped start a small company. My partners and I had been working for a company that was in the business of helping other businesses.
So some of us had this idea that if we really believed our advice was helping companies, we should invest in companies. We should bet on ourselves and on our advice.
That business we started with 10 people has now grown into a great American success story. Some of the companies we helped start are names you know. An office supply company called Staples – where I’m pleased to see the Obama campaign has been shopping; The Sports Authority, which became a favorite of my sons. We started an early childhood learning center called Bright Horizons that First Lady Michelle Obama rightly praised. At a time when nobody thought we’d ever see a new steel mill built in America, we took a chance and built one in a corn field in Indiana. Today Steel Dynamics is one of the largest steel producers in the United States.
But for too many Americans, these good days are harder to come by. How many days have you woken up feeling that something really special was happening in America?
Many of you felt that way on Election Day four years ago. Hope and Change had a powerful appeal. But tonight I’d ask a simple question: If you felt that excitement when you voted for Barack Obama, shouldn’t you feel that way now that he’s President Obama? You know there’s something wrong with the kind of job he’s done as president when the best feeling you had, was the day you voted for him.
Today the time has come for us to put the disappointments of the last four years behind us.
To put aside the divisiveness and the recriminations.
To forget about what might have been and to look ahead to what can be.
Now is the time to restore the Promise of America. Many Americans have given up on this president but they haven’t ever thought about giving up. Not on themselves. Not on each other. And not on America.
What is needed in our country today is not complicated or profound. It doesn’t take a special government commission to tell us what America needs.
What America needs is jobs.
Lots of jobs.
To the majority of Americans who now believe that the future will not be better than the past, I can guarantee you this: if Barack Obama is re-elected, you will be right.
I am running for president to help create a better future. A future where everyone who wants a job can find one. Where no senior fears for the security of their retirement. An America where every parent knows that their child will get an education that leads them to a good job and a bright horizon.
And unlike the president, I have a plan to create 12 million new jobs. It has 5 steps.
First, by 2020, North America will be energy independent by taking full advantage of our oil and coal and gas and nuclear and renewables.
Second, we will give our fellow citizens the skills they need for the jobs of today and the careers of tomorrow. When it comes to the school your child will attend, every parent should have a choice, and every child should have a chance.
Third, we will make trade work for America by forging new trade agreements. And when nations cheat in trade, there will be unmistakable consequences.
Fourth, to assure every entrepreneur and every job creator that their investments in America will not vanish as have those in Greece, we will cut the deficit and put America on track to a balanced budget.
And fifth, we will champion SMALL businesses, America’s engine of job growth. That means reducing taxes on business, not raising them. It means simplifying and modernizing the regulations that hurt small business the most. And it means that we must rein in the skyrocketing cost of healthcare by repealing and replacing Obamacare.
President Obama promised to slow the rise of the oceans and to heal the planet. MY promise…is to help you and your family.
We will honor America’s democratic ideals because a free world is a more peaceful world. This is the bipartisan foreign policy legacy of Truman, and Reagan. And under my presidency we will return to it once again.
The America we all know has been a story of the many becoming one, uniting to preserve liberty, uniting to build the greatest economy in the world, uniting to save the world from unspeakable darkness.
Everywhere I go in America, there are monuments that list those who have given their lives for America. There is no mention of their race, their party affiliation, or what they did for a living. They lived and died under a single flag, fighting for a single purpose. They pledged allegiance to the UNITED States of America.
That America, that united America, can unleash an economy that will put Americans back to work, that will once again lead the world with innovation and productivity, and that will restore every father and mother’s confidence that their children’s future is brighter even than the past.
That America, that united America, will preserve a military that is so strong, no nation would ever dare to test it.
That America, that united America, will uphold the constellation of rights that were endowed by our Creator, and codified in our constitution.
That united America will care for the poor and the sick, will honor and respect the elderly, and will give a helping hand to those in need.
That America is the best within each of us. That America we want for our children.
If I am elected President of these United States, I will work with all my energy and soul to restore that America, to lift our eyes to a better future. That future is our destiny. That future is out there. It is waiting for us. Our children deserve it, our nation depends upon it, the peace and freedom of the world require it. And with your help we will deliver it. Let us begin that future together tonight.

Thank you.

President Ronald Reagan once said that “there are no great limits to growth, because there are no limits of human intelligence, imagination and wonder.”

He believed, like I believe—like Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan believe—that the potential for America is limitless.

We can – and we will – overcome any economic challenge IF government lets go of the regulatory chokehold zapping the air out of the economy and deflating the spirits of our entrepreneurs.

We need a president who will applaud and encourage those who work hard to pursue their dreams … to reach their potential … and, in doing so, make themselves and America better and stronger.

That man is Mitt Romney.

The history of my state of Oklahoma offers a great example of pursuing the American Dream. It was built and settled by pioneers moving West to seek better lives.

During the great the Land Run of 1889, thousands of families rushed to put a stake down on empty plots of land. They built tent cities overnight, they farmed the land and they worked hard. And in 1897, eight years after the Land Run, a handful of adventurous pioneers risked their own money – NOT, the federal government’s – to drill Oklahoma’s first oil well, the Nellie Johnstone.

By doing so, these early-day pioneers changed the future and the fortune of Oklahoma forever, and today Oklahoma is one of the nation’s key energy producers and job creators.

President Obama wants us to believe that Oklahomans owe that success to the federal government: to the Department of Energy, to the EPA, the IRS or maybe even to him.

Mr. President, we know better … as we say in Oklahoma, that dog won’t hunt.

We owe these remarkable successes to the imagination and ingenuity of people like my friend, Oklahoman Harold Hamm. The son of sharecroppers, and the youngest of 13 children, Harold grew up in the small town of Lexington, Oklahoma.

As a child, he helped out on the farm and went to school only after the first freeze or Christmas. While attending high school, he worked for a dollar an hour at a gas station. After high school, Harold took a job cleaning out oil barrels.

At the age of 20, he bought his own truck and began a one man oil field service business. He made enough money to begin taking college level classes in geology and mineralogy. At 26 years old, he drilled a wildcat well that produced 75 barrels of oil an hour … we call that a gusher.

Today, Harold Hamm is the Chairman and CEO of Oklahoma’s own Continental Resources, a top ten U.S. producer of petroleum liquids with nearly 700 employees operating in 10 states and valued at over $13 billion.

Now Harold and his company are helping to power cars, homes and businesses across the nation. Harold and other energy entrepreneurs have completely transformed the U.S.’s energy outlook. And with a President Romney, we’ll reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil even further and create even more American jobs.

Harold’ success story is not one-of-a-kind; it is an American dream that has been realized by countless men and women since the founding of this country. He is just one of the many visionaries and innovators in the private sector that are the true drivers of economic growth and job creation.

And that’s where President Obama just doesn’t get it. He’ll tell you that “If you’ve got a business ‘you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen.’” Well, Mr. President … like who? The IRS? The EPA? Or the federal government?

The president believes that government is responsible for our successes and that’s why his solution to everything is more government, bigger spending, more regulation, and more bureaucratic programs like ObamaCare.

He says his plans are working, but look at the results:
• 42 straight months of unemployment over 8%.
• 23 Million Americans out of work, underemployed, or no longer looking for work
• A nation threatened by nearly $16 trillion of debt

Families feeling pinched not just by a bad economy, but by a President who promised hope and change and left many Americans with no hope and just change in their pockets. President Obama believes the power of a Big Government is the key to American success.

Mitt Romney believes in the power of the people. Mitt Romney understands that free enterprise and hard work — not government handouts — have made the United States the envy of the world.
And the selection of Paul Ryan to be his running mate is an excellent choice. There are many reasons that Congressman Ryan will be an great Vice-President . . . not the least of which is his wife is from Oklahoma . . . and their two dogs are named Boomer and Sooner—after the Land Run Oklahomans!
They will reverse the tide of decline and promote economic security. They know it is hardworking American families, not a federal bureaucracy that has built our great and glorious nation. Mitt Romney is ready to lead. He has the experience and the vision we need to restore America’s economy and its greatness. I am proud to support his candidacy for president, and as the next leader of the Free World he will make us proud.

Thank you.

She began her speech with:

President Ronald Reagan once said “there are no great limits to growth, because there are no
limits of human intelligence, imagination, and wonder.”

He believed, like I believe – like Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan believe – that the potential for
America is limitless.

We can – and we will – overcome any economic challenge if government lets go of the
regulatory chokehold zapping the air out of the economy and deflating the spirits of our
entrepreneurs.

We need a president who will applaud and encourage those who work hard to pursue their
dreams, to reach their potential, and, in doing so, make themselves and America better and
stronger.

That man is Mitt Romney.

“Having worked with Paul Ryan in Congress, I know he is a smart, committed advocate for the kind of small government, pro-growth policies that are going to create more jobs and get this country back on track. He’s also a genuinely nice person with a great family and a wonderful wife from Madill, Oklahoma. He will make a great running mate, and continue to be an effective voice for the principles of limited government and free markets that make America great. I applaud Mitt Romney for selecting Paul, and I look forward to doing everything I can to support the Romney/Ryan ticket.”

“Today marks a turning point in this presidential race. Ryan’s addition to the ticket shows that Governor Romney, in addition to his focus on job creation, is prepared to run a robust campaign with a sharp message built around tax and spending cuts, deficit reduction and entitlement reform; policies that will literally save this country.

“When you couple this winning message with the fact that he’s married to an Oklahoman and his dogs are named Boomer and Sooner, Mitt Romney couldn’t have chosen a more qualified running mate.”

“Andrea and I are excited for Paul and Janna. Janna and I grew up together and I couldn’t be more proud of my cousin. Like my late mother after whom she is named, Janna is a wonderful parent to their children and will be Paul’s strongest supporter on the campaign trail. Paul has a firm moral compass and has always approached his job as a congressman with diligence and honesty. Having many friends on both sides of the aisle, he is an effective and talented leader. Although we belong in different political parties, I see Paul as a friend, a fellow hunter, and most importantly a family man.”

1970s State Politician Buried

Saturday, December 4, 1993

Funeral services for Reuel W. Little, a Madill lawyer and rancher who played a major role in the formation of a third political party in Oklahoma in the 1960s, were Friday in Madill.

Little, 92, who was the American Party’s candidate for governor in 1970, died Wednesday.

In 1967, Little and a group began planning for the formation of a third political party to push the candidacy of former Alabama Gov. George Wallace for president.

The group, like many in other states, formed the American Party and made Wallace its presidential candidate.

Rep. Tom Cole, R-Moore, who serves with Ryan on the House Budget Committee, said:

“Paul Ryan is a solid conservative whose expertise and thoughtful leadership as chairman of the Budget Committee has helped change the spending status quo in Congress. As a young congressman, Paul has shown more leadership and political courage on economic issues than has the president of the United States.

“Ryan’s selection says a lot about Mitt Romney. Paul is a bold and brilliant choice. His selection sharpens the distinctions between the parties, excites conservatives and gives the country the debate it needs and craves. The fact that Mitt Romney has chosen Paul Ryan tells America that the governor is willing to lead with vision, courage and decisiveness. Those are the qualities that the country needs at this critical juncture in its history.”

Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Muskogee:

“Governor Romney has made an outstanding selection. He has sent a clear signal that he intends to win not just a political victory but a mandate to restore America. The Romney-Ryan ‘comeback team’ understands our debt is the greatest threat to our national security and will act decisively to meet that generational challenge.

“I have had the privilege of working alongside Paul Ryan for many years. He has exhibited the rarest and most essential quality of leadership in politics – moral courage. When most elected officials have offered only rhetoric, Ryan has had the audacity to offer specifics and a plan that has transformed the landscape of American politics.

“Those on the left who view this pick as an opportunity to demonize their opponents will, through their attacks, only energize Americans who are yearning for honesty and real answers. The fact is Ryan has proposed innovative ways to salvage the noblest goals of his political opponents – a safety net that is both compassionate and sustainable. I applaud Governor Romney and look forward to helping the Romney-Ryan ticket put America back on track.”

Here is the obituary that the family wrote when Prudence Little died in 2010.

Prudence Mae (Petersen) Little died on the 22nd day of May, 2010 at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. Prudence was born November 16, 1942, the first child of Dr. Vernon Petersen, M.D., from Manning, Iowa, and Adelaide Vaala Petersen from Saude and New Hampton, Iowa. Prudence is survived by husband, Dan Vincent Little; and their daughters: Janna Christine (Little) Ryan and husband Paul Ryan, Dana Suzanne (Little) Jackson and husband William Jackson, Mary Catherine “Molly” (Little) Olcott and husband Mark Olcott; grandchildren: Elizabeth Anne “Liza” Ryan, Charles Wilson Ryan, Samuel Lowery Ryan, William Covington “Cov” Jackson, Jr., Amelia Prudence “Ellie” Jackson, Zachary Gardner Jackson, Aidan Frederick Olcott, Mary Sophia Olcott and Daniel Douglas Olcott; brother, Paul Petersen and wife Katie Wilson; mother-in-law, Oteka D. Little; brother-in-law, Jack Little; sister-in law, Oteka Ann Ball and husband Jerry Ball; brother-in-law, John Robbins and wife Lana; and nephews and nieces: Jeremy Ball, Oteka Lynn Bernard, Carrie Boren and Dan Boren.

Prudence grew up in Clinton, Iowa, graduating from Clinton High School with honors. With the encouragement of Aunt Gertrude Vaala, Prudence made the fateful decision to attend Wellesley College near Boston, Massachusetts, from which she graduated with honors in economics in 1965. After graduation, on June 12, 1965, Prudence married her college sweetheart, Dan, and returned with him to attend the University of Oklahoma College of Law. Prudence graduated first in the Class of 1968, achieving numerous academic honors. After working the first year in Oklahoma City for Attorney General G.T. Blankenship, during which she wrote the legal opinion which became part of the movie, “Believe in Me,” Prudence returned with Dan to his hometown of Madill to practice law and to rear their three daughters, Janna, Dana and Molly.

In the early years, Prudence immersed herself in Madill community activities, including the Madill United Methodist Church, the building of the Fran Drummond Day Care Center, the expansion of the Madill City Library, Madill Daughters, Camp Fire and 4-H, serving on many different boards and committees and being selected Marshall County Citizen of the Year, 1985, all while practicing law and earning the highest respect of the judges and her fellow lawyers for her legal brilliance and the deep appreciation of her clients for her guidance, patience, caring and kindness.

In the later years, Prudence was appointed by Governor Henry Bellmon as a founding member of the first Oklahoma Ethics Commission, providing vital legal guidance through the first Court challenges and political controversies and to the Oklahoma Council of Campaign Compliance and Ethical Standards. Beginning in 1992, Prudence served on the University of Oklahoma Foundation. During her three years as Chairman, Prudence provided skillful leadership in reorganizing and reforming the Foundation during challenging times of transition. Prudence also served as board member for the Oklahoma Council on Research and Graduate Education; the Women’s Foundation of Oklahoma; the Oklahoma Arts Institute; the Wellesley College Club of Dallas; St. Mark’s School, Southborough, Massachusetts; and the University of Oklahoma College of Fine Arts Board of Visitors and University of Oklahoma Alumni Association.

Thirty-five years ago, the week before Molly was born, Prudence was diagnosed with advanced melanoma cancer; twelve years ago with advanced breast cancer; six years ago with ovarian cancer; and six months ago with advanced melanoma cancer again. In fighting and winning so many battles with constant courage, peace and calmness, it was Prudence who provided the love, support, strength and inspiration to Dan, their family and friends. During the last twelve years under the magnificent care of Dr. Robert Bast at M.D. Anderson and wonderful care of Dr. Joe Potter in Madill, Prudence had the great joys of seeing her daughters married and welcoming to the world nine grandchildren as their “Nini.”