Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Re: The White House--An Open Letter to the President-elect

Dear President-elect Donald J. Trump,

Mr. Trump, I would like to urge you to reside full-time in the White House during your tenure as president. When you take the oath of office, you will no longer be citizen Trump, businessman Trump, Manhattanite Trump. You, Sir, will be highest ranking public servant in the United States. 

The White House is the public’s house for the person who holds the office of the presidency. Symbolically and practically, it is where you will conduct much of the public’s national business. As you know, the public, under your leadership, stretches from San Juan to Huntsville to Pueblo to Hilo.

That Americans come from across this nation to that building as tourists or in times of crisis sets the tenor for what the White House represents—the place where the president resides, the place where the president does the great work that needs to be done.

That historic building, which is more than its construction materials, gives weight to your decisions, and by the work you will do, you will give weight to the legacy of that national symbol. And so, Mr. Trump, only the White House is appropriate for your full-time home as you serve your fellow citizens during your term as president.

If I may add one more thought, on the day of your inauguration, about 10,000 babies will be born in the U.S. To take a moment for an obvious point, the newest citizens among us do not choose their family, their gender, their race, their socio-economic status, their geographic location, nor their president.

About half, maybe a bit more, will be considered part of the minority population in the U.S. They perhaps more than any other citizens, Sir, are in your care. May you keep all those children—all 10,000—in your heart and mind as you lead this country as its 45th president. And those children who will follow each and every day.

Best wishes to you and your family as you undertake this task.

Sincerely,

Scott Kaple


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