During this period at the Department of Education my working relationship with Judge Thomas was positive.

I couldn't help but to think back to my classmates at Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio. They had the same talent the same brains the same dreams as the folks we sat with at Stanford and Harvard. I realized the difference wasn't one of intelligence or drive. The difference was opportunity.

After the Great Depression and after public urging a nationwide public competition was held to determine a design for a memorial that would honor President Thomas Jefferson's bold vision for westward expansion for America.

I think in my case I had no choice but to have a good sense of humor. I grew up with my dad Danny Thomas and George Burns and Bob Hope and Milton Berle and Sid Caesar and all those guys were at our house all the time and telling jokes and making each other laugh.

That was really cool. I got to kiss a little boy. I was 7 and he was 10 and his name is Thomas Curtis. He was the first boy I've ever kissed in my entire life and he was three years older than me.

Yes my grandfather worked with Thomas Edison on the electric car and he sold electric cars at the 1900 World's Fair in Paris.

I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent of human knowledge that has ever been gathered at the White House - with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.

Thomas Jefferson once said 'We should never judge a president by his age only by his works.' And ever since he told me that I stopped worrying.