Haddock said the United States is turning into a plutocracy -- a form of government where those with money hold all the power -- and she does not want her grandchildren or anyone else to grow up in that type of world.
She said elderly people are typically seen as apathetic when it comes to elections and voting, and she wanted to show Washington, D.C., that she did care.
"The woman is just an inspiration," said Rosa Eberly, director of the Center for Public Speaking and Civic Engagement.
Eberly helped bring Haddock to State College for today's event because she and her students found Haddock's book "compelling," and she knew Haddock would be an engaging speaker.
"Much like World War II veterans, fewer and fewer people are around who have the capacity to speak like that," she said. "Add to that fact that she walked across the country at the ages of 89 and 90."
Haddock said people walk across the country all the time.
"But not when they're 90 years old," she said.
Haddock's 14-month journey began in California and ended in the nation's capital. Although she considered giving up at times, she persevered, walking an average of 10 miles a day and stopping for two months to make speeches and public appearances.
She said that along the way she met many people who said they did not vote because all politicians are "a bunch of crooks."
"In an ideal setting, the person with the best vision, best track record would get elected, not someone from out of town who comes in with $30 million and buys an election," she said.
Eberly said the issue extends beyond just campaign finance reform.
"It's about reinvigorating participatory democracy, civil rights, public education -- all of these public or common issues," she said. "If money equals speech, then democracy has a real problem."
Haddock had a slight problem as she neared the end of her journey and was trying to travel into Washington, D.C.
There was a foot of snow in West Virginia, and Haddock, at age 90, skied 100 miles cross-country to reach her destination.
"What else could I do?" she said.
Haddock said she is very excited about her visit to State College because nothing will ever change without students' help.
"No revolution ever occurred until the students arose," she said.
Eberly said Americans no longer live in a participatory democracy because tyrants and absolute wealth still exist. She hopes Haddock's visit will inspire a new crowd to get involved in the cause.
"What is so striking is [Haddock] uses her life experience and her public speaking together to try to argue the idea that people are politically powerless," Eberly said.
Haddock will be at Webster's Bookstore Café, 128 S. Allen St., for a signing of her book Granny D: Walking Across America in My 90th Year from 3 to 4:30 p.m. and at 9 tonight after her speech.
