WASHINGTON — The tradition of outgoing presidents leaving letters for their successors likely began with Ronald Reagan, who tucked a note of congratulations for George H.W. Bush in the Oval Office desk drawer after his presidency. This gesture has since been mirrored by subsequent presidents, creating a unique ritual in American political history. Bush wrote a letter to Bill Clinton, who subsequently penned a message to George W. Bush. The younger Bush continued the custom by leaving a note for Barack Obama, who, in turn, reached out to Donald Trump.
Interestingly, Trump maintained this tradition by writing a letter to Joe Biden, even though he chose not to partake in some customary practices, such as attending Biden’s inauguration. Now, President Biden finds himself in a notable situation where he has the opportunity to respond with a letter of his own to Trump, the same individual who left a note for him upon exiting the White House.
Mark Updegrove, president and CEO of the LBJ Foundation, commented on this unprecedented scenario, noting, “This will mark the first time that a president who has received a letter from an outgoing president may well be writing a letter to the same person who’s the incoming president.” Trump’s entrance into the presidency on Monday marks a historic moment, as he is the first president to serve nonconsecutive terms since Grover Cleveland, who held office before this letter-writing custom was established.
Reagan’s origins of this practice stemmed from his friendship with Bush, according to Updegrove. The note, penned in January 1989 on whimsical stationery featuring an elephant and the humorous tagline “Don’t let the turkeys get you down,” conveyed Reagan’s cherished memories and well-wishes for his successor, closing with a heartfelt remark about missing their weekly lunches.
Bush further developed this tradition when he passed the presidency to Clinton. His note to Clinton encouraged him to focus on his duties and not be deterred by criticism, expressing hope for Clinton’s success as a reflection of the nation’s fortunes. Matthew Costello, chief education officer at the White House Historical Association, highlighted this note’s bipartisan spirit, representing Bush’s character.
As the years progressed, the letter exchanges continued from Clinton to Bush, then to Obama, with each note encapsulating warmth and wisdom regarding the challenges ahead of holding the presidency. Clinton described the presidential office as “the greatest adventure,” while Obama emphasized the importance of leadership and the support one would receive during trying times.
Trump’s letter to Biden remains private; its contents are not publicly known. Biden reportedly shared it only with a few staff members post-inauguration but decided against revealing its details. He characterized the letter as “very generous” but opted to keep it confidential until he could discuss its contents with Trump directly. In a September 2023 interview, Trump remarked that he believed it was Biden’s choice whether to disclose the letter.
Speculation surrounds whether Biden will respond in kind, given his appreciation for traditional values in politics. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that this decision rests entirely with Biden, which leaves room for potential deviation from tradition. As Costello mentioned, participation in this letter-writing exchange “is based on precedent and whether or not people want to keep a tradition going.”
While earlier presidents sometimes wrote to their successors, these letters were not tied to Inauguration Day and did not always carry a tone of congratulations. Historical letters often served practical purposes, such as John Adams’ communication to Thomas Jefferson about saving expenses on transportation by leaving behind presidential horses and carriages.
In conclusion, the tradition of presidential letter-writing, making its way through several administrations, reflects not only personal relationships but also the broader symbolism of cooperation and unity, irrespective of political divides.
