George Pataki

Governor, New York

His is the classic second-generation-American-makes-good story. The Hungarian Patakis were poor farmers in Peekskill, NY; George worked hard on the farm; they didn't have much, but they were rich in other ways, he describes in his autobiography "Pataki: Where I Come From."

From his Website: "During his nearly 6-year tenure as New York's 53rd chief executive, Governor Pataki has spoken often of the inherent greatness of the individual. Indeed, the policies he has fought for are all based on the fundamental principle that a strong society is built upon a spirit that springs to life when men and women enjoy, embrace, and exercise freedom in the pursuit of personal greatness -- individually, but not independently of one another.

He attributes these beliefs to the lessons he learned on his family's farm in Peekskill and from the example of his mother and late father -- a postman, a farmer and, in the words of the Governor, "a hero who lived the American Dream."

"His deep reverence for freedom was established early in life. In 1956, as an 11-year old boy, he recalls watching the unfolding events of the Hungarian Revolution with his father. He still speaks of the euphoria he felt at the prospect of a liberated Hungary, only to be followed by the despair of seeing Russian tanks rolling through the streets of Hungary. "These were our people, our family. All they wanted was freedom and all the Soviets wanted was to deny them that freedom."

Source: The Hungary Page