US President Joe Biden received a letter from Donald Trump when he took over the White House in 2021 and is preparing to leave a letter for Trump himself when he leaves.
US President Joe Biden officially left office on January 20 and transferred power to his successor, who is also his predecessor, Donald Trump. Before leaving the White House in 2021, Mr. Trump left a congratulatory letter for Mr. Biden, as is the tradition of American leaders, although he ignored other traditions such as not attending his successor's inauguration.
Mr Biden could become the first president to both receive and write a letter to the same person.
President Joe Biden may leave a letter for his successor and predecessor Donald Trump
Mr. Reagan initiated
The tradition of US Presidents writing handwritten letters to their successors began with President Ronald Reagan, according to AP. After eight years in office (1981-1989), Mr. Reagan wrote a congratulatory letter to his successor and deputy, Mr. George H.W. Bush (President Bush Sr.).
"Dear George, there will come a time when you will want to use this special stationery. Just do it, don't be shy," Mr. Reagan told Mr. Bush about writing a letter to his successor. In the letter, Mr. Reagan advised Mr. Bush not to be discouraged by difficulties. "I will miss our Thursday lunches," Mr. Reagan wrote and signed Ron.
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When he left office four years later, Mr. Bush also left a letter to Bill Clinton, wishing his successor a happy time in the White House and not to be discouraged by criticism. "Your success is now our country's success. I support you very much," Mr. Bush wrote.
This became a practice that took place under subsequent presidents, including Clinton, George W. Bush (Bush Jr.), Barack Obama, Trump and Biden.
Letters from US Presidents to their successors
Rare situation
Mr Trump’s 2021 letter to Mr Biden has not been released. Some who read it said it was a long handwritten letter and Mr Biden was surprised by the politeness and generosity of its content despite their political differences.
Mr Trump once said that it was a lovely letter and that he had spent a lot of time thinking about it. It is not clear whether Mr Biden will write a letter to Mr Trump or not, but researchers on US presidential traditions believe that Mr Biden will continue this practice.
“This is a very rare situation, like so many other things in modern Washington with Donald John Trump,” said Mark Updegrove, CEO of the LBJ Foundation (the legacy of the late President Lyndon B. Johnson), about Biden writing to the same person who left him a letter.
Mr. Trump is the second president in US history to serve two non-consecutive terms. The first was Mr. Grover Cleveland, who served from 1885-1889 and 1893-1897.
Some outgoing presidents have written letters to their successors, but not on inauguration day and not always to congratulate them, but to invite them to dinner or to give them news, said Matthew Costello, senior education officer at the White House Historical Association. In February 1801, President John Adams wrote to President-elect Thomas Jefferson to inform him of his travel plans.
"To save you the trouble and expense of purchasing horses and carriages, which are unnecessary, I must inform you that I will leave to the American stables seven horses and two bridled carriages belonging to the United States. They may not suit you, but will certainly save you considerable expense, as they belong to the President's family," Adams wrote.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/phia-sau-buc-thu-tay-tong-thong-my-de-lai-cho-nguoi-ke-nhiem-185250120101357364.htm
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