I was in Europe and it was at this stage that I fell in love with Americans in uniform. And I continue to have that love affair.

I was a little girl in World War II and I'm used to being freed by Americans.

My parents were of the generation who thought they were the children of a free Czechoslovakia, the only democracy in central Europe.

I love being a woman and I was not one of these women who rose through professional life by wearing men's clothes or looking masculine. I loved wearing bright colors and being who I am.

Because of my parents' love of democracy, we came to America after being driven twice from our home in Czechoslovakia - first by Hitler and then by Stalin.

I was taught to strive not because there were any guarantees of success but because the act of striving is in itself the only way to keep faith with life.