"There's a whole lot more to the African-American community than entertainment and sports."

"In my wildest imagination, I never thought that the fifth of six children born to Helen and Buddy Watts - in a poor black neighborhood, in the poor rural community of Eufaula, Oklahoma - would someday be called Congressman."

"I think that anybody that stays in school, gets good grades, pays the price, I think we are wealthy enough in the public and the private sector in America to make sure that every child in America that wants to continue their education, they should be able to do that."

"In addition, there is one title I cherish a great deal more than Congressman and that is the title of... Dad."

"If you have a line of business - I know this as a CEO - or if you have a teenager - I know this as a parent - who have a spending problem, what do you do? You quit giving them money."

"I hoped, hoped, that maybe I'd be lucky enough to do something on Broadway, in the chorus."

"If you always do what interests you, at least one person is pleased."

"Do you want to know who you are? Don't ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you."