As commander and chief of the United States, the president plays a crucial role in enforcing the laws and beliefs that America was built upon, making sure to uphold democracy. Though this is largely done through policies and laws, it’s also done through letters. The three significant types of presidential letters- letters to the president, transition letters, and the farewell address- serve a major purpose in American democracy by giving American citizens a voice, supporting the peaceful transition of power, and promoting patriotism and unity.
One of the most significant and arguably influential types of presidential letters is one not written by the president themselves. Letters to the president are letters that the American people write and send to their current president, voicing their concerns for the country, and what they believe the president can do to help. These letters represent the stories of Americans across the country, informing the president of their unique struggles. These letters have the potential to inspire a president and their policies, which has happened quite a few times throughout history. During President Eisenhower’s administration that lasted from 1953 to 1961, the civil rights movement was at its peak with African Americans fighting for civil rights across the country. During this time, a young African American man, Charles Alexander, wrote a letter to President Eisenhower about the topic of integration in the South. Alexander writes “Mr. President, I can’t express clearly enough how I feel about this. People being abused because of the color of their skin is not only unconstitutional and indecent, but is a threat to all humanity” (Charles Alexander). Alexander writes to Eisenhower to express how he feels about the racial segregation and discrimination he witnesses. At the end of the letter, Alexander writes “I sincerely hope this letter will have some effect upon the actions taken by the government” (Charles Alexander). Writing this letter gave Alexander a voice when he was being silenced, and allowed him to appeal to and inform the president about the racial discrimination taking place in the US. In 1957, President Eisenhower sent Congress a proposal for civil rights legislation and The Civil Rights Act of 1957 was created. It can be assumed that letters from American citizens like Alexander’s had a major influence on Eisenhower’s actions. More recently, during the Obama administration, an eight year old girl, Mari, from Flint, Michigan wrote a letter to President Obama about the water crisis in Flint. At this time, much of the drinking water in Flint, Michigan was highly contaminated, threatening the health of Flint residents. In her letter, Mari talks about how there have been many rallies taking place in Flint with residents protesting the water contamination, and she asks President Obama to come visit Flint. Mari writes “-I would love for a chance to meet you or your wife – there is a lot of people coming on these buses and even just a meeting from you or your wife would really lift people’s spirits” (Mari, 2016). In her letter, Mari uses her voice to call for change, a change she knows the President could help make. After receiving Mari’s letter, on May 4th 2016, President Obama visited Mari in Flint, Michigan. Both Charles Alexander and Mari, though decades apart, utilized letters to their president to make a change in their communities.
Another exceptionally important presidential letter that serves to uphold the values of democracy is the transition letter. The transition letter is the letter each president writes to their successor when they leave office. The letter is handwritten, and left in the Oval office for the incoming president to read. Transition letters represent the peaceful transfer of power from each administration to the next, reflecting the idea that a president can only serve two terms before voluntarily stepping down. These letters humanize such a powerful moment with each president acknowledging that their administration has come to an end. When Bill Clinton’s presidency had ended on January 20th, 2001, he wrote the following in his letter to incoming president George W. Bush: “Dear George, today you embark on the greatest venture, with the greatest honor, that can come to an American citizen- I salute you and wish you success and much happiness”(Bill Clinton, 2001). To ensure the peaceful transition of power, President Clinton leaves President Bush with a few kind words and some advice, showing that he is stepping down both willingly, and with pride. Additionally, in President Bush’s transition letter to incoming President Obama, Bush writes: “Dear Barack, Congratulations on becoming our President. You have just begun a fantastic chapter in your life- No matter what comes, you will be inspired by the character and compassion of the people you now lead”(George W. Bush, 2009). Once again, this time with President Bush, the outgoing president leaves kind and thoughtful words to the incoming president, supporting the peaceful transition of power. Another important aspect of these transition letters is that they are always handwritten. Each outgoing president takes the time to handwrite their letter, adding to the emotional appeal of the words they write. Seeing each president’s handwriting and pen scribbles humanizes such a key moment in democracy.
The final, though possibly most impactful presidential letter, is the farewell address. The presidential farewell address is the last speech the outgoing president gives to the American people before they leave office, and the incoming president takes their place. Though not stamped and sealed, the presidential farewell address can be considered a letter, because, like the title implies, it directly addresses the American people. The farewell address allows the outgoing president to reflect on their time in office, what they have learned, and the legacy they hope to leave. Furthermore, it promotes unity by going beyond politics and controversy, speaking to the emotions of the American people and what they’ve experienced. In President Truman’s farewell address speech on January 15, 1953, Truman states “In speaking to you tonight, I have no revelations to make- no political statements- no policy announcements- I want to say ‘goodbye’ and ‘thanks for your help’” (Harry Truman, 1953). In his speech, President Truman makes it a point to go beyond politics and policy, and instead, talk to the American people in a direct and natural manner. For his last address to the American people, President Truman attempts to speak to the emotions of Americans. Another impactful farewell address was that of President Eisenhower on January 17, 1961. In his speech, Eisenhower states “We now stand ten years past the midpoint of a century that has witnessed four major wars among great nations- Despite these holocausts, America today is the strongest, the most influential and most productive nation in the world” (Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1961). By speaking about America’s accomplishments, President Eisenhower attempts to unify the country, inciting patriotism in the American people. Additionally, by speaking about what the American people have gone through, like four major wars, President Eisenhower further attempts to unify the country and appeal to the emotions of the American people.
The three significant presidential letters: letters to the president, transition letters, and the farewell address, each play a substantial role in American democracy. Letters to the president give a voice to the oppressed and the struggling, making sure everyone is heard; transition letters support the peaceful transition of power, with each president stepping down graciously and respectfully; and the farewell address unifies the country and promotes patriotism. All three of these presidential letters uniquely serve democracy, upholding the beliefs and values that define America. Without these letters and the ideas they represent, the United States would not be where it is today.
Works Cited
National Archives and Records Administration. (n.d.). Hello my name is Mari and I’m 8 years old, I live in Flint, Michigan… National Archives and Records Administration. https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/letter/hello-my-name-mari-and-im-8-years-old-i-live-flint-michigan
Civil rights: Citizens’ letters on the Little Rock Crisis. Civil Rights: Citizens’ Letters on the Little Rock Crisis | Eisenhower Presidential Library. (n.d.). https://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/research/online-documents/civil-rights-citizens-letters-little-rock-crisis
Civil Rights Act of 1957. Civil Rights Act of 1957 | Eisenhower Presidential Library. (n.d.). https://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/research/online-documents/civil-rights-act-1957#:~:text=In%201957%2C%20President%20Eisenhower%20sent,civil%20rights%20legislation%20since%20Reconstruction.
Kalman, A. (2021, May 4). The letters that outgoing presidents wrote to their successors. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/11/letters-presidents-their-successors/617089/
Transition letters. George W. Bush Library. (n.d.). https://www.georgewbushlibrary.gov/research/topic-guides/transition-letters
A&E Television Networks. (n.d.). A history of the Presidential Farewell Address. History.com. https://www.history.com/news/a-history-of-the-presidential-farewell-address
The president’s farewell address to the American people. The President’s Farewell Address to the American People | The American Presidency Project. (1953, January 15). https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/the-presidents-farewell-address-the-american-people
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