The speech by presidential hopeful Donald Trump's wife at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland was a passionate treatise on personal strengths gained by inheriting a strong work ethic from her elders.

"We need to pass those lessons on to the many generations to follow," Mrs. Trump said Monday evening. "Because we want our children in this nation to know that the only limit to your achievements is the strength of your dreams and your willingness to work for them."

The speech appeared to be well-received and why not? Sections of the 15-minute address had been delivered before.

Observers were quick to note that entire lines had been lifted from First Lady Michelle Obama's 2008 to the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

In that speech, Mrs. Obama had said her husband and her had built their lives guided by their parents values, "because we want our children - and all children in this nation - to know that the only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work hard for them."

Echoes of Michelle Obama

In an interview with NBC News taped ahead of her convention appearance and posted online early Tuesday, Mrs. Trump said of her speech, "I wrote it." She added that she had "a little help."

The Trump campaign responded to reports on the lifted passages by releasing a statement, but didn't mention Michelle Obama.

"In writing her beautiful speech, Melania's team of writers took notes on her life's inspirations, and in some instances included fragments that reflected her own thinking," Trump spokesman Jason Miller said.

White House officials have so far not commented.

jar/kms (AP, Reuters)