The title of the keynote speech given by former United States Secretary of Labor, Elaine Chao, in Shanghai recently -- "Chinese Heart, American Mind and Global Dream" -- said as much about the woman as it did about the nature of her talk.

A Chinese immigrant, Chao was the first Asian American woman in history to be appointed to a US President's cabinet, serving as the 24th United States Secretary of Labor from 2001.

Since leaving office at the start of this year, Chao has channelled her understanding of Western and Asian cultures into promoting the Sino-US relationship.

"I am a product of the two cultures," she told about 600 Fudan University students and teachers last week when she visited the school.

Chao's visit was organized for her investiture as an honorary professor of the prestigious Chinese university and she took the opportunity to deliver an inspiring speech in full academic regalia.

Though the lecture hall had only 400 seats, the aisles and doorways were packed with fans eager to hear what she had to say.

"She has not forgotten her Chinese roots," said Deng Feng, a school staff member and audience member.

The stylish Chao walked into the hall on the arm of her beloved father and waved her hand toward the students in a confident smile.

They were inspired by her grace and dignity and greeted her with a warm and enthusiastic applause.

"I'm very lucky I come from a wonderful family," she said in a speech which focused a lot on family values.

Despite her significant achievements, Chao remains modest and attributed her success to her parents' love and rigorous education.

She comes from a family of six daughters, each very successful in their different fields. All graduated from prestigious universities and four were from Harvard, including Chao.

Chao's mother and father are typical Chinese parents practicing determination, diligence and sacrifice. They taught their daughters Chinese philosophy and values which enabled them to advance as a family and even triumph in a foreign land.

Chao's father James Chao was born in a small, rural farming village in Shanghai's Jiading District and her mother Ruth Mulan Chu was born into an affluent family in Anhui Province. They married in Taiwan where Chao (1953) and two other sisters were born. The family moved to the United States when Chao was eight years old.

"As you may imagine, our initial years in America were very difficult," Chao said.

When they first landed in America, the family of five lived in a small one-bedroom apartment.

They didn't speak English, couldn't eat American food, and didn't understand American culture or traditions.

"At that time, people of Asian descent comprised less than 1 percent of America's entire population," Chao said.

"I am a product of the two cultures. I'm very lucky I come from a wonderful family."

They had no relatives or nearby friends and were often the first, or only, Asians many Americans had met.

When Chao went to school for the first time, she bowed at teachers to show respect in the Chinese tradition. But her classmates scorned her as a foreigner because they couldn't understand her behavior.

Similar culture shocks were common. But half a century later, the family has successfully moved up the rungs of acceptance and into the mainstream.

Chao's father eventually founded his own shipping company, called Foremost, to freight goods between the United States and Taiwan. Her mother acquired a master's degree in the US in her 50s and all six daughters excelled in different fields.

"Throughout the period of great difficulty, my parents always maintained their optimism and confidence that a better tomorrow awaited us," Chao said. "I was always positive."

"Though we had little money, we possessed life's most precious asset -- hope! Hope for a better future which enabled us to sustain and eventually overcome our adversities."

Chao's father worked three jobs to make ends meet. Yet every weekend and holiday, the couple set aside time to take the family to the free sights of New York City, including public parks, Central Park, the Brooklyn and Bronx Botanical Gardens to broaden their horizon.

Later after her father achieved great success and earned a generous income, the parents still maintained modest and frugal ways with their children.

The six daughters had to help clean and vacuum the house, wash their clothes and weed the plants even though they had gardeners.

The 300-meter U-shaped asphalt driveway in front of their house was even paved by the six daughters under their parents' direction.

Another familiar and treasured childhood scene was the Chao household dinner parties. Chao's father was very gregarious and enjoyed entertaining family and friends at home. Chao and her sisters were assigned to greet the guests at the door, take their wraps or coats and present tea.

During dinner, they would act as the waiting staff, bringing each dish to the table, pouring the wine, clearing away the dishes and courteously helping as little hostesses.

"I enjoyed these occasions and thought they were good opportunities to practice good manners, hone my social skills and make my parents proud," Chao recalled.

The parents also made each vacation and outing an educational experience to broaden their children's horizon and improve their independence.

The six daughters were involved in every aspect of planning for the family outing: researching various destinations, comparing hotels and their respective packages and prices, booking the airplane reservations, arranging ground transportation and other trip details.

"My mother is the foundation of our family. Everything our family has been able to achieve in America has been due to her."

After her work had spanned the public, private and non-profit sectors, Chao reached her career peak on January 11, 2001 when President George W. Bush announced her nomination as Labor Secretary. But on the same day, her beloved mother was diagnosed with lymphoma.

"Characteristically in her unselfish manner, amidst the excitement, she said nothing, not wanting to spoil the moment for her family," Chao said.

The mother attended Chao's swearing-in at the Oval Office the week she started her chemotherapy treatment, despite the wrenching side effects. Chu died on August 2, 2007, which left Chao in deep grief.

"My mother is the foundation of our family," Chao has said in public many times. "Everything our family has been able to achieve in America has been due to her determination, sacrifice, diligence, optimism and love."

But she herself led a life totally different from her mother and she married quite late. Chao wed Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, in 1993 and became stepmother to McConnell's three children from a previous marriage.

Asked by Time magazine whether the two discussed policy in their personal time, Chao replied, "No, we're much too busy. We both love what we're doing. When we have time together, we talk about college football, about getting together with friends -- the usual kind of stuff -- like who takes out the garbage. I have to confess, I do."

Chao was the only member of President Bush's cabinet to serve a full eight years. She avoided the controversies that surrounded several other members of the administration and was asked to stay on for a second term after Bush won reelection.

Her striving and success has not only been a credit to her parents but also an inspiration for people of Asian origin in America.


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