An extract from "Just
Between You and Me"
Children's Letters to Presidents
By Ellen Fried
Every year, the President of the United States receives thousands
of letters from people who write to share their thoughts on a
wide range of subjects. These correspondents extend congratulations,
offer praise, pose questions, make requests, share concerns, provide
suggestions, and level criticism.
Many of the letters come from children. Like other records of
the presidency, children's letters are preserved among NARA's
holdings, mostly in presidential libraries.
Why do children write to Presidents?
In some cases they have a favour to ask. In 1940, President Franklin
D. Roosevelt received a letter from a young student at the Colegio
de Dolores school in Santiago, Cuba.
"My good friend Roosevelt," was the surprisingly informal
salutation. "I am twelve years old. I am a boy but I think
very much." Apparently one of the things he thought about
was what he wanted from the U.S. President: "If you like,
give me a ten dollars bill green american, in the letter, because
never, I have not seen a ten dollars bill green american and I
would like to have one of them." The letter was signed with
a flourish: "Castro, Fidel Castro."
Young Castro's desire went unfulfilled; he did not receive any
U.S. currency from the President. His letter is now among NARA's
Department of State records.
Among NARA's holdings is another letter from a child who would
grow up to be famous. In this case, the child was writing to Roosevelt
not to ask for something, but to express thanks for something.
This letter, too, was written in 1940. Roosevelt, an avid stamp
collector, had sent a gift of stamps and a small album to the
nine-year-old son of a powerful Massachusetts family. The well-mannered
boy wrote back right away: "Dear Mr. President, I liked the
stamps you sent me very much and the little book is very useful.
I am just starting my collection and it would be great fun to
see yours which mother says you have had for a long time. . .
. Daddy, Mother, and all my brothers and sisters want to be remembered
to you." The letter is signed, "Bobby Kennedy."
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