DEAR
MADAM
OR
MR.
PRESIDENT
WORDS OF ADVICE FROM NINE THINKERS
THE TRADITION STARTED with a cartoon elephant and some turkeys. On Jan. 20, 1989, before leaving the Oval Office for the last time, Ronald Reagan put pen to paper with some advice for his vice president and successor, George H.W. Bush. “You’ll have moments when you want to use this particular stationery,” Reagan wrote on a notepad illustrated by children’s book author Sandra Boynton. The caption? “Don’t let the turkeys get you down.”
As with so many elements of political life in the United States, Reagan’s influence is still felt, as U.S. presidents continue to leave their successors handwritten missives. Most recently, Joe Biden described Donald Trump’s as “shockingly gracious.” Whether Biden returns the favor next January or will be writing to his own deputy Kamala Harris is beyond the ken of FP’s editors. Instead, we asked nine thinkers from around the world what they would say in a letter to the next U.S. president.
Whichever candidate is victorious in November’s pres idential election, he or she will face long-term challenges stemming from a shifting world order in which the United States is no longer the sole hegemon. With its international role very much up for debate, and the ramifications of that debate far-reaching, some of our contributors chose to address Americans directly. These letter writers would likely disagree with some of each other’s advice, but we hope the next president heeds it all. There are no tur keys here—not until Thanksgiving, anyway.—Amelia Lester, deputy editor.