I grew up in a small house on a hill in Reading, Ohio, with 11 brothers and sisters. My dad owned a bar - Andy's Café - that my grandfather Andy Boehner started in 1938. What little money my parents had they used to send all of us to Catholic schools. I worked nights as a janitor to put myself through college.

Only in America could someone from these humble beginnings go on to run a small business and then have the opportunity to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, much less to ask his colleagues for the honor of serving as Speaker.

It's the American Dream that brought me here. Defending and restoring that Dream for our children and grandchildren will be my mission as Speaker, if I am fortunate enough to serve. I humbly ask for your vote to serve as Speaker of the House in the 112th Congress.

Sincerely,

John Boehner