My Dad, a small-town lawyer, was also named Paul. Until we lost him when I was 16, he was a gentle presence in my life. I like to think hed be proud of me and my sister and brothers, because Im sure proud of him and of where I come from, Janesville, Wisconsin. – Paul Ryan
Mom was 50 when my Dad died. She got on a bus every weekday for years, and rode 40 miles each morning to Madison. She earned a new degree and learned new skills to start her small business. It wasnt just a new livelihood. It was a new life. – Paul Ryan