WASHINGTON (AP) – Ronald Reagan He probably didn’t know he was starting a tradition when he wrote a note He congratulated his successor and left him in the Oval Office desk drawer after two terms as president.
He did this for George HW Bush, his successor and vice president for eight years. Bush did the same for Bill Clinton, who left a message for Bush’s son George W. The younger Bush left written words for Barack Obama, who later put pen to paper for Donald Trump.
Curiously, Trump continued this rite of presidential farewell by writing a letter to Joe Biden, even as he distanced himself from other traditions such as attending Biden’s inauguration.
History and politics are now intertwined, putting President Biden in the unique position of writing a letter — if he wants — to Trump, his successor, and the predecessor who left him a message.
“This is the first time that a president who received a letter from an outgoing president may write a letter to the same person who is the incoming president,” said Mark Updegrove, president and CEO of the LBJ Foundation.
When Trump takes office on Monday, he will be the first president to serve non-consecutive terms since then Grover Cleveland in the behind schedule 19th century, when the tradition of writing letters did not yet exist.
“So this is a highly unusual situation because there are so many things happening in modern Washington with Donald John Trump,” Updegrove said in an interview.
How the tradition of note-writing began
Reagan was inspired to write to George H. W. Bush, who had become a friend during their eight-year partnership, Updegrove said.
He chose a sheet of whimsical stationery, illustrated by cartoonist Sandra Boynton, featuring an elephant — also the Republican Party mascot — surrounded by turkeys and the phrase “Don’t let the turkeys get you down.”
“Dear George,” the 40th president wrote in January 1989, opening the two-paragraph note. “You will have moments when you want to use this special stationery. Well, do it.”
Reagan writes that he greatly values the memories they share and “wishes you all the best.” He concluded with “I’ll miss our Thursday dinner” and signed “Ron.”
The tradition was strengthened, Updegrove said, when the elder Bush relinquished the presidency after one term while Bill Clinton denied him a second in the 1992 election.
Bush wished Clinton “good luck here” at the White House in his note. He warned of challenging times that would be made even more challenging by criticism that Clinton considers unfair, and he advised the man who defeated him “not to let the critics discourage you or throw you off course.”
“Your success is now the success of our country. I am firmly here for you,” Bush wrote.
“I think it’s just a very bipartisan, true reflection of the character of George HW Bush,” said Matthew Costello, education officer for the White House Historical Association, during an online broadcast on inauguration traditions.
Letters from Clinton to Obama
At the end of his two terms in office, Clinton told the younger Bush that the modern president was embarking on “the greatest adventure with the greatest honor that can befall an American citizen” and wished him “success and good luck.”
“The burdens you now carry are great, but are often exaggerated. “The pure joy of doing what you believe is right is indescribable,” Clinton wrote.
Eight years later, Bush congratulated Obama on the start of a “fantastic chapter in your life” but warned of challenging moments ahead, with critics who will “rage” and “friends” who will disappoint.
“But you will have an Almighty God to comfort you, a family to love you, and a country to draw you, including me,” George W. Bush wrote.
Obama, who campaigned vigorously against Trump in 2016, congratulated him on his “remarkable success” and offered some thoughts on his eight years in office.
He told Trump that they were both blessed, that American leadership in the world was “truly indispensable,” that they were the “guardians” of democratic institutions and traditions, and that family and friends would accompany him through the “inevitable difficult periods.” would .”
“Millions have placed their hopes in you, and all of us, regardless of our party, should hope for greater prosperity and security during your time in office,” Obama wrote.
Trump’s letter to Biden
What did it say? Hardly anyone knows because the letter was not made public.
Biden showed the note to some of his staff after his inauguration in 2021 but did not let anyone read it. Others described Trump’s note as long and handwritten, and Biden was said to be surprised at how gracious he found the letter given the animosity between the political rivals.
Asked about the note later that day, Biden said it was a “very generous letter” but that he considered it private and said he wouldn’t talk about it until he had a chance to speak with Trump.
Trump said he thought it was up to Biden to share the letter.
“That was nice news,” he said during an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” in September 2023, adding: “I took a lot of time to think about it.”
Will Biden reciprocate?
He is expected to respect political traditions and institutions. But White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre left open the possibility that this might not be the case.
“It will be a matter for the president,” Jean-Pierre told reporters this week. “That’s a good question. I’m curious too.”
Letter writing is not required, but is based “on precedent and whether or not people want to maintain a tradition,” Costello said.
He said he was confident Biden would attend.
Previous notes didn’t always say “congratulations”
Some previous outgoing presidents wrote letters to their successors, but not on Inauguration Day and not always with congratulations in mind, Costello said.
Earlier notes often included invitations to visit or dine at the White House or to share information, which President John Adams did in a February 1801 letter informing modern President Thomas Jefferson about transportation options.
“To save you the trouble and expense of purchasing horses and carriages which will not be necessary, I must inform you that I will leave in the stables of the United States seven horses and two carriages with harness, the property of the United States are states,” Adams wrote. “These may not be right for you, but they will certainly save you a significant amount of money as they are part of the presidential budget,” Adams wrote.
“I have the honor to thank you with great respect, sir. & grumble servants.”
