I've always believed in America and in the American Dream. The notion that anyone with determination, ability and a willingness to work hard can succeed. In fact, I've always thought of myself as a living testament to the essence of that concept.

I came from modest beginnings. Lack of money and family illness made it impossible for me to attend college. I've had to overcome a failed marriage, workplace discrimination and a debilitating disease.

Despite the obstacles that life has thrown my way, however, I've been able to achieve what most people view as success. I did it by taking risks and working hard, and most important, never giving up. But that's what the American Dream is all about. That's why countless millions have struggled to come to our shores in search of a better life.

It's a glorious vision, but it's a vision that can only be realized if we adhere to another of our founding principles: the understanding that America is a nation governed by laws, not by men. This principle is what ensures that all of us will have a chance to realize the American Dream. It means that we all play by the same set of rules. It also means that we know what those rules are from the beginning. Most importantly, it means that no one, no matter how powerful, can destroy our dreams on a whim. To the Founding Fathers this concept was so important that they pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to make it a reality. Indeed, our reverence and exaltation of the rule of law is such that we build our courts to resemble cathedrals. They are in a sense, secular churches.

As a young girl growing up in Connecticut in the late 50s and early 60s, I lived on what people used to call "the wrong side of the tracks." My parents were decent and hardworking, but by any reasonable measure we were not affluent; we were an average family. With day to day survival a struggle, there was barely enough money for necessities, much less luxuries. So, at an early age I went to work, holding as many as four jobs after school to help out, so I could afford to buy things others took for granted, like Christmas presents.

Despite our limited means, however, I still shared all of the hopes and ambitions of that innocent age. It was an optimistic era, and I was and remain an optimist. I dreamed of being a fashion model or interior designer, of being on magazine covers and traveling the world. After all, my generation's parents had overcome the challenges of the Great Depression and the Second World War. Streets were safe, the economy was strong, and America's leadership was unchallenged around the globe. The future held limitless possibilities and I wanted to share in them. I sincerely believed that any dream could come true. Little did I suspect how quickly my dreams could shatter.