As a young boy I read 'Cheaper by the Dozen' and immediately became neurotic about my use of time. It taxed me severely but only for the next 50 years. But I think it also allowed me to discipline myself to sit in the chair and be a writer where one of the most needed qualities is patience.

Nature is by and large to be found out of doors a location where it cannot be argued there are never enough comfortable chairs.

I was scheduled to give my first official press conference that morning anyway 'cause I was chairman of the Governors Energy Council and I was making a press conference with regard to energy policy.

Well the chairman of Federal Reserve just made his move to rescue Barack Obama. We're gonna have QE3. We're gonna print some more money.

I'm so proud to represent the people of South Florida. I was so honored when President Obama asked me to serve as chair of the Democratic Party. But there's one job I'm even more proud of and that's being a mom to my three kids Rebecca Jake and Shelby.

I was the Chair of the first department of medical physics in a medical school in the U.S.

I've been the co-chair of the Non-Partisan Women's Caucus and vice-chair for several years taking a leadership role in this women's organization.

We've been sitting at the compromise table for a long time. We're just waiting for that cold chair to be warmed up by the Republican leadership. They still have time to do the right thing and be responsible. They just seem to be moving further and further away from it.

First I have the privilege of being Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. It is not an oxymoron I assure you.

Well our position and our chairman has talked about this extensively is that we had a lot of intelligence prior to 9/11. We knew that two al Qaeda operatives who ultimately participated in the 9/11 disaster were in the United States. We didn't find them.

I have had national security background 10 years on the Intelligence Committee the last two years as chair.

I'm the chairman of the intelligence committee. We don't only get formal briefings but we collect our information from the intelligence community in a variety of ways.

I like to think of myself at home in the armchair writing smoking and occasionally wandering down the shop.

We have two dogs Mabel and Wolf and three cats at home Charlie George and Chairman. We have two cats on our farm Tom and Little Sister two horses and two mini horses Hannah and Tricky. We also have two cows Holy and Madonna. And those are only the animals we let sleep in our bed.

As founder and co-chair of the upper Mississippi River Congressional task force I have long sought to preserve the river's health and historical multiple uses including as a natural waterway and a home to wildlife for the benefit of future generations of Americans.

It was physically difficult adjusting to wheelchair life but I remember a great relief and happiness that I was finally getting somewhere finding musicians to work with that were sympathetic.

A table a chair a bowl of fruit and a violin what else does a man need to be happy?