In Review: A Look Back at Eight Years Through Letters to the President

As chosen by the President’s correspondence team

“Every day I’m lucky to receive thousands of acts of hope — every time somebody sits down and picks up a pen, and writes to me and shares their story…I want you all to know that I’m listening.” — President Obama

It would be impossible to fully capture the breadth, depth, and vibrancy of the mail that has reached 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue throughout President Obama’s time in office. People reached out to share their stories, their concerns, and their hopes for themselves and for America. Messages came in through the Internet, on notebook paper, on insurance bills, on the back of family photos — even one written on the package of a military ration. They’ve helped the President and the Administration see and hear outside the bubble of Washington, D.C., and they have meant a lot to President Obama personally.

In fact, President Obama has read 10 letters a day since 2009. “It ends up being a powerful motivator for me,” he has said.

This Presidency has always been about making life better for the American people, and the story of the past eight years is theirs to tell. Some letters have really captured the progress we’ve seen, so we thought we’d share a few of them with you. Take a look: