CLEVELAND -- U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton shared his story Monday with thousands of Republican delegates, describing how he gave up a lucrative legal career and became an infantryman, risking his life to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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The Republican from Dardanelle also spoke of his father, Len Cotton, who volunteered to serve in Vietnam.
Cotton explained what motivated them and so many others to risk their lives.
"We don't fight because we hate our enemies, but because we love our country. We love its freedom and we love that we as Americans are born equal and live free, that no one can boss us around or rule us without our consent," the former Army captain said. "We know these things are worth fighting for and dying for because they make life worth living for."
Cotton was speaking on the first night of the Republican National Convention. Arkansas delegates cheered as he strode to the podium, some of them waving "Make America Safe Again" signs.
Shortly before taking the stage, the first-term senator said he wasn't stressed about giving the speech.
"It'll be the biggest audience, I'm sure, since it'll be a national televised audience, but I have been in some few other pressure-packed situations, so I think I can handle the convention hall tonight," he said.
Asked how he had prepared for Monday night, he said, "I've spent several hours working on my speech, a few more hours with my wife working on the delivery, a few prayers, a good dinner."
During the nine-minute speech, he praised presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump while taking a swipe or two at likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
"We'd like a commander in chief who speaks of winning wars and not merely ending wars. We'd like a commander in chief who calls the enemy by its name. A commander in chief who draws red lines cautiously but enforces them ruthlessly. And it'd be nice to have a commander in chief who can be trusted to handle classified information," he said, drawing applause.
The speech was repeatedly interrupted by applause. Before and after the address, he stopped by television studios, sharing his views on CNN before taking the stage, chatting with Fox News after he departed.
In addition to addressing television audiences and a crowded convention hall, Cotton is also speaking to smaller groups, including several delegations from places with early primaries and caucuses.
His choice of states hasn't gone unnoticed, and Politico, a Capitol Hill paper, is already referring to him as one of the 2020 White House contenders.
Cotton said his focus is on states with competitive Senate races.
"I want to make sure we maintain our majority that helps us advance the principles on which I campaigned: keeping America safe, helping our economy grow again so folks can get back to work, defending traditional values, defending the Constitution," he said.
In an interview, CNN's Chris Cuomo said there are plenty of television journalists eager to interview Cotton this week.
"He's the future of your party. He's 39 years old. He's a family man, he's a veteran ... and he's speaking to a lot of the issues that resonate with the American people," he said. "Age matters, generation matters, energy matters. He has all of those things."
Asked why Cotton is in demand, CNN's Wolf Blitzer said: "I think it's obvious. He's a very ambitious guy. He's a very smart guy, a very nice guy."
Arkansas Republicans say Cotton has great potential.
Republican National Committeeman Jonathan Barnett of Siloam Springs said Cotton "has become a rock star in Republican leadership and in congressional and national politics."
U.S. Rep. Steve Womack said Cotton is a "fast mover, a great story, and it's not surprising that Republicans nationwide are confident and encouraged by the progress he's made in the Senate. ... There's no question that he's got a role in the future of this party at a national level."
After Monday's speech, Arkansas Republicans stood and applauded. "I think he nailed it," Gov. Asa Hutchinson said. "I think it was a great speech."
Charlann Reely, a delegate from Searcy, gave it glowing reviews and praised Cotton for making eye contact with the Arkansas delegation.
"He noticed us over here. He knew we were behind him. Coming in he waved, and going out he waved," she said.
Now that the speech is over, Cotton could kick back and relax, but he said that isn't going to happen. This morning, he addresses the delegation from Florida at 9 a.m. and the Iowa delegation at 11:30 a.m. On Wednesday, he meets with the New Hampshire delegation, then visits with journalists from USA Today and the Des Moines Register.
His schedule, he said, is going to be "pretty busy," adding, "I came to Cleveland to work, not to party."
Metro on 07/19/2016