Letters To The Presidents

From time to time it is not unusual for members of the public, both young and old, to write letters to the president either to simply express an opinion or to request favors or assistance. The sitting presidents over the years have received thousands of such correspondence. Everyday people, as well as more famous people, have done this. Here below are excerpts from some interesting examples over the years:

To: President Richard Nixon
From: Elvis Presley
Date: December 21, 1970
Re: War on drugs

"I have done an in depth study of drug abuse and communist brainwashing techniques and i'm right in the middle of the whole thing where i can and will do the most good. I'm glad to help just so long as it is kept very private."
This letter led to a rather famous meeting between Elvis Presley and President Nixon during which Mr. Presley brought a pair of matching hand guns as gifts for the president, which Mr. Nixon declined to accept. There is a photograph of the two men shaking hands at this meeting in the Oval Office when it occured. Copies of that photograph are the most requested item at the Nixon Presidential Library in California by souvenir seekers who visit there.


To: President Ronald Reagan
From: Andy Smith (7th grade student from South Carolina)
Date: April 17th 1984
Re: A request for federal funds to clean up his room

"I would like to request federal funds to hire a clean up crew. I am prepared to provide the initial funds if you will provide matching funds for this project."
In this letter to the President Andy said that his mother had declared his room a disaster area and the young boy was requesting federal help to clean it up.
President Reagan's light hearted response was a hand written reply in which he pointed out that his mother, the person who declared the disaster, would have to request the assistance and also in light of the fact that the Reagan Administration was calling for more volunteerism at the time that he thought it would be a good idea if he cleaned up the mess himself.


To: President Franklin Roosevelt
From: Fidel Castro (at the time a 12 year old boy living in Havana)
Date: November 6th, 1940
Re: A request for ten dollars ---The letter was written in broken english

"I dont know very english but know as much as write to you. I am 12 years old. If you like give me a ten dollar bill green american in the letter because never i have not seen a ten dollar bill green american and i would like to have one of them."
There is no known written response to this letter on the part of President Roosevelt to the young Fidel Castro regarding his request.