BOSTON, July 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a transcript of a speech by Christie Vilsak, First Lady of Iowa at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, July 27, 2004:

When I was three years old, my parents took me to meet Harry Truman. When the President asked to shake my hand, I put my hands behind my back, and shook my head, no. "If I give you this pen, little girl, would you shake my hand?" he asked. I wanted the pen, so I took a bribe from the President of the United States. The words on the pen say, "I swiped this pen from Harry Truman."

My dad swiped it from me and put it in a safe deposit box for 40 years. When my husband was elected the first Democratic governor of Iowa since 1966, I asked my dad if I could have my pen back. Here it is.

My father, an Iowa farm boy and small town lawyer and my mother, a homemaker and teacher from Missouri, taught me the values that their parents taught them. They were children of the Depression and survivors of a world war. They championed the underdog. They thought government should give people in need a helping hand. They taught us the value of hard work. They preached the value of staying out of debt and saving for a rainy day. When it came to accumulating money, my dad said, "Enough and no more." The trick, he explained, is figuring out how much is "enough."

They saved so we could go to college. They taught us the value of community by taking us to church, volunteering, and caring for friends and neighbors. We learned stewardship of our land by planting trees as a legacy for the future. These are the values generations of young men and women in the military have fought to preserve in countries around the world. These are the values we look for when we elect public servants at the state and local levels. And these values are the reason I stood for John Kerry in the Iowa Caucus in January. And that's why I support him now for President of the United States.

John Kerry has seen the devastation caused in small midwestern towns when their largest employers pack up and send jobs overseas or across the border. With his plan to give companies incentives to create good-paying jobs here at home, John Kerry offers hope to working families. Because they deserve a president who will stand up to the Enrons and Halliburtons and say, "enough and no more."

With his plan to ease the burden of health care costs for working families, to provide the same coverage to working families as for members of Congress, John Kerry gives us hope that some day all our children will have access to quality health care, that the greatest generation will finally have a president who will stand up to pharmaceutical companies who overcharge and say, "enough and no more."

I have been a teacher for 30 years. Teachers at my middle school are angry that this administration promised to leave no child behind, then pulled the funding to make it happen. They deserve a president who will stand by his promises to America's children. I taught at and now serve on the board of a small midwestern college. John Kerry's service-for-college program gives hope to those seeking a college degree. By serving their communities, they can earn the educations they deserve but can't afford. Yes, John Kerry embodies the values we Iowans treasure.

These values didn't just show up overnight in a well-crafted speech. They began at his parents' knees. John was born on an Army base in Colorado. His dad volunteered in World War II. And when John grew up, even though many young people were finding ways to avoid serving in Vietnam, he followed the example set by his dad and enlisted.

In a dangerous and complicated world, America's president must lead bravely and wisely by word and deed. John Kerry volunteered for two tours of duty in Vietnam. He saved his small band of brothers when they came under enemy fire. He risked his own life to save the lives of others. Then he came home and helped lead the fight to end that war. In communities across my state, we have sent our sons and daughters off to war. In our hometown, Lanon Baccam, a National Guardsman, the son of Southeast Asian immigrants, was a month from completing his service when he was sent to Afghanistan last week. So far, fourteen Iowans-taught to believe in the value of honesty and service to country-have died. When Iowans hear John Kerry speak about his service in Vietnam, we feel safer, knowing that our next president has made life and death decisions under fire.

I support John Kerry because I want to feel safe again. All of us want to feel safe-safe in our homes, safe in our communities, safe at work and safe as we travel at home and abroad. Tom and I have kept our home on Main Street in small town Iowa where we raised our sons. Our friends and neighbors come from all walks of life. Some work long hours at local industries. Some work part time with no insurance at discount stores. Some care for elderly parents and still find time to coach Little League. Some are seniors living on fixed incomes, going without to afford their medicines.

Yes, our small towns and rural communities have been hard hit these past four years. But we aren't buying the pessimism of those who say, "This is as good as it gets." We know we can do better. We embrace the hope and the optimism of John Kerry and John Edwards: the conviction that we can build a stronger America. And together, with your help, we will. And remember we need enough votes, and a little more.

Thank you very much.

Source: Democratic National Convention Committee

CONTACT:  Peggy Wilhide of the Democratic National Convention Committee,
+1-617-366-3100

Web site:  http://www.dems2004.org/