The conversation with students in Todd Gibson's United States Government class ranged from family values to freedom and life in Washington.
Rep. Mike Pence, who serves Hoosiers in East Central Indiana, met with students Friday as part of a circuit around the state where Pence will meet with people and get their ideas on what he should do next — make a run for governor or try for a seventh term in Congress.
"We went back and forth in our heads. We never went back and forth in our hearts," Pence said about the decision not to run for president in 2012. "Our hearts are in Indiana, and our hearts and in public service."
Pence regailed students about life in Washington, having met President Barack Obama and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. But sometimes he gets homesick for the familiar things back in Indiana.
"At the end of the day I'm the kid who grew up on 31st Street, down from Haw Creek," he said. "I had a corn field in my backyard."
Pence talked about his respect for President Barack Obama, even though they often disagree on policy. He talked about Indiana being poised for a strong regrowth in the economy and about paying respect to Indiana families who have lost someone overseas in Iraq or Afghanistan.
And he peppered in some laughs.
"I don't see any of it [the job of being a Congressman] as being really hard," he said. "It's all indoor work, mostly air conditioned. I've had jobs where I was bent over all day picking beans, getting paid $5 a bushel. That was a hard job."
Senior Merlyn Florez asked Pence why he wasn't going to run for president and later what was the best part about being a congressman. Pence said he was impressed and asked him to stay after the rest of the class was dismissed.
"I think he could be a great governor," Florez said. "I think he would do a lot for Indiana, and he loves this place.
"I think we're doing really well [as a country]. We're united, we have our moments. I have a feeling this morning he influenced a lot of people here to follow their dreams."
MARG
Noteable quotes from Pence's speech:
I don't care where you're from or who you are. Anybody can be anybody.
I have met "The Terminator." I'm glad he's back in the movies full time. He's a nice guy, no taller than me. Isn't that a shock?
My family lives in Washington with me. They actually go to Yorktown — it's in Arlington, Va.
We're at the inauguration, which I thought was an incredible moment. ...We got back to arguing full time right afterwards, but it was really special.
I'm just a kid who grew up on 31st Street, down from Haw Creek. I had a corn field in my backyard.
Let me say I'm pro life, and I don't apologize for it. Ther are differences of opinion on that, and I respect people who differe with me on that.
To this day, he inspires me greatly. I got to thinking, well gosh, if John F. Kennedy's father was just like mine — he came from a big Catholic family like mine — I thought maybe I can go to the White House too. Now, nobody told me he was fabulously rich and a war hero, and his dad was ambassador of England. But here's the thing, I was right.
In response to a student who asked what is the hardest thing about being a Congressman:
I don't see any of it as being really hard. It's all indoor work, mostly air conditioned. I've had jobs where I was bent over all day picking beans getting paid $5 a bushel. That was a hard job.
In response to a student who asked about Indiana's economy in relation to other states:
I think for the first time in my lifetime we're the lead car after the yellow light. When you look at where Indiana is in terms of a climate where people want to invest in and grow jobs, we are No. 1 in the midwest over everybody. I think there's a lot of opportunities coming in the Hoosier state. So be encouraged.
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