Read the Letter Obama Left for Trump
Story highlights
- "This is a unique role, without a clear blueprint for success," Obama wrote
- The words reveal a conciliatory outgoing commander in main
(CNN)During his last moments in the Oval Office, President Barack Obama folded into thirds a handwritten letter to Donald Trump, slid it into an envelope, and in neat majuscule letters addressed it to "Mr. President."
Now, the contents of that letter of the alphabet -- the last directly communication between the 44th and 45th presidents -- have emerged for the outset time after CNN obtained a copy.
Full letter of the alphabet
Love Mr. President -
Congratulations on a remarkable run. Millions accept placed their hopes in yous, and all of us, regardless of party, should hope for expanded prosperity and security during your tenure.
This is a unique office, without a clear design for success, so I don't know that any communication from me will be particularly helpful. Withal, allow me offer a few reflections from the by viii years.
Start, nosotros've both been blessed, in dissimilar means, with bang-up expert fortune. Not everyone is so lucky. It's up to us to do everything we can (to) build more ladders of success for every child and family unit that's willing to piece of work hard.
Second, American leadership in this world really is indispensable. It's up to us, through action and instance, to sustain the international gild that'south expanded steadily since the cease of the Common cold State of war, and upon which our ain wealth and safety depend.
Third, we are just temporary occupants of this office. That makes us guardians of those democratic institutions and traditions -- like rule of constabulary, separation of powers, equal protection and civil liberties -- that our forebears fought and bled for. Regardless of the push and pull of daily politics, it's upwards to us to go out those instruments of our democracy at least as potent as nosotros found them.
And finally, have time, in the rush of events and responsibilities, for friends and family. They'll go you through the inevitable rough patches.
Michelle and I wish you and Melania the very best as you commence on this groovy hazard, and know that we stand up ready to help in any means which we can.
Good luck and Godspeed,
BO
Four pieces of advice
The words reveal a conciliatory outgoing commander in chief with four items of communication for his successor, whose fitness for the job he'd spent the previous months openly questioning.
"Congratulations on a remarkable run," Obama wrote in his opening line. "Millions have placed their hopes in you, and all of us, regardless of political party, should promise for expanded prosperity and security during your tenure."
Written out longhand on White Business firm stationery and slipped into the top drawer of the Resolute Desk, the 275-discussion alphabetic character captures an outgoing president eager to instill in Trump the vast responsibilities and uncertain parameters of the job.
Obama, when writing the letter, didn't disembalm the content even to his closest aides. Since then, still, Trump has shown the letter to visitors in the Oval Role or his private White House residence. CNN obtained a copy from someone Trump showed it to.
"This is a unique role, without a articulate pattern for success, so I don't know that any advice from me will be particularly helpful," Obama wrote. "Withal, let me offer a few reflections from the past eight years."
Obama reminds Trump, a billionaire man of affairs, that they've both been "blessed, in different ways, with great good fortune."
"Not everyone is so lucky," Obama said. "It'south up to us to do everything we can (to) build more than ladders of success for every child and family that'south willing to work difficult."
He advises Trump that American leadership is "indispensable" and encourages him "through activeness and case" to sustain postal service-Cold War international order.
And he offers a alert against eroding the tenets of democracy in the name of political gain.
"We are only temporary occupants of this role," Obama wrote. "That makes us guardians of those democratic institutions and traditions -- like rule of constabulary, separation of powers, equal protection and civil liberties -- that our forebears fought and bled for."
"Regardless of the push and pull of daily politics, it's upwardly to us to exit those instruments of our democracy at least equally strong as we found them," he said.
That passage, read seven months after Trump took office, appears prescient. Trump has been accused of flouting dominion of law in his broadsides confronting federal judges and his own attorney full general. His exact assaults on Congress have led to charges that he's disregarding the constitutionally enshrined separate but equal branches of regime.
Trump, nonetheless, is said to cherish Obama's missive. Upon reading it on Inauguration Mean solar day, he attempted to place a telephone call to the former president expressing his gratitude, according to both a current White House official and a former Obama adjutant. His predecessor was traveling west to California with his family, and couldn't accept the call.
When ane of Obama's aides reached back out to the White Firm to render the phone call, the new president'due south staffers said Trump just wanted to say give thanks you for the note -- and wanted Obama to get the message. The men never connected directly.
"Information technology was long. Information technology was complex. It was thoughtful," Trump said of the letter the calendar week subsequently taking office in an interview with ABC News. "And information technology took time to practise it, and I appreciated it."
During the interview, Trump showed the news crew the letter, pulling it from its envelope. He wouldn't read information technology out loud.
In writing Trump the letter of the alphabet, Obama was continuing a long tradition prepare past past presidents. He received his own handwritten note from George Westward. Bush-league on the day of his inauguration counseling him of uncertain days alee.
"In that location will be trying moments. The critics will rage. Your 'friends' will disappoint you lot," Bush wrote. "But, y'all volition have an Almighty God to condolement you, a family unit who loves you, and a country that is pulling for you, including me."
Eight years earlier, Bill Clinton offered an optimistic view of the job.
"The burdens you now shoulder are slap-up but oft exaggerated," he wrote Bush in 2000. "The sheer joy of doing what you believe is correct is inexpressible."
And in 1992, George H.Due west. Bush wrote Clinton that "your success now is our state'due south success."
"I am rooting hard for y'all," he concluded. "Good luck."
Obama'southward letter is nigh twice equally long equally his predecessors' and includes more specific pieces of advice. But like Clinton and both Bushes, he offers a view of the job that accounts both for its thrill only also its ability to apprehensive.
"Have time, in the blitz of events and responsibilities, for friends and family," Obama wrote. "They'll go you through the inevitable rough patches."
Since reading the letter of the alphabet for the showtime time, Trump hasn't spoken or seen Obama. Instead he's frequently criticized the former president, rolled back significant elements of Obama's agenda, and privately obsessed nearly comparisons betwixt himself and the man he replaced.
Obama, meanwhile, has weighed in selectively on Trump since leaving role. He criticized decisions to withdraw from the Paris climate accord and repeal Obamacare, but did not direct address Trump'south equivocal comments about white supremacists in Virginia, fifty-fifty equally others reacted with withering criticism.
Before all that, however, Obama wrote that he was willing to remain in touch.
"Michelle and I wish you and Melania the very all-time as you commence on this great adventure, and know that we stand up ready to help in any means which we tin can," he wrote in his sign-off.
"Skilful luck and Godspeed."
Source: https://www.cnn.com/2017/09/03/politics/obama-trump-letter-inauguration-day/index.html
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