Traditionally, starting with Ronald Reagan, when a United States president steps down from office at the end of his term, he leaves a letter behind for his successor. For President Reagan, it was a note that accompanied a scribbled message to his successor, George H.W. Bush, that simply read:
“Don’t let the turkeys get you down.”
Four years later, Bush continued that tradition by leaving a letter on the desk in the Oval Office for Bill Clinton. In a collection of Bush’s other writings, the letter was mentioned, as stating:
“I leave a note on the desk for Bill Clinton. It looks a little lonely sitting there. I don’t want it to be overly dramatic, but I did want him to know that I would be rooting for him.”
James Cameron recently tweeted this picture of the letter left for Bill:
George H.W. Bush left this magnanimous, bipartisan & dignified note for Bill Clinton on January 20, 1993. pic.twitter.com/G5EqnY8fuN
— James Cameron (@CameronJJJ) June 9, 2016
This tradition has continued from Clinton to George W. Bush, and most recently to President Obama.
There is a great curiosity as to what the letter will say that is left for Obama’s successor.
Featured Image by Beverly Via Flickr/CC by 2.0.
