'Things Can Change,' Says 106-Year-Old Star of Speech

She was the toast of the town—and much of the nation—today, but 106-year-old Ann Nixon Cooper isn't letting her starring role in Barack Obama's acceptance speech go to her head, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. "It's nothing unusual really," said Cooper, the Atlanta resident Obama talked about at length because she was born "just a generation past slavery" but lived to see a black man be elected president.

“I never thought we’d see that happen," said Cooper, who made a point to vote early for Obama. "I always thought it would be a white man. Now I see that things can change and I’m glad to know it.” As for the endless stream of reporters traipsing through her home today: “I’ve had all the excitement one could expect when something like this happens,” she said. "It’s been real nice.”
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