Almost seven weeks ago, I sent a note to the e-mail address of the Office of the President of the United States. I thought my father would appreciate receiving either a 70th birthday card or a holiday greeting from the President. Although I did not expect that the President himself would personally open his e-mail or even hand-sign a letter or a Christmas card, it didn't seem like too much to ask that the Office of the President recognize my small request. I was somewhat disheartened, and actually quite surprised, that this request was completely ignored by White House staff.
My father is a senior citizen who served in the U.S. Army, and I thought he deserved to receive a small note of recognition, or to be on the White House's Christmas list just this one time. I guess not.
The sad truth is that I tried this once before, a few years ago. Same result.
The text of my note to the President is below. I've deleted a bit of personal information to protect my dad's privacy, but otherwise the e-mail is exactly as I sent it on November 9.
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From: xxxxxx@gmail.com
To: comments@whitehouse.gov
Date: Nov 9, 2006 2:53 PM
Subj: a small request
Hello,
I am writing with a small request.
My father, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, will turn 70 later this month. He is the kind of American of whom you should be proud. Born in Brooklyn, New York, to a Greek immigrant family of humble means, my dad attended Cooper Union and received a mechanical engineering degree in 1961. His academic education was briefly interrupted by a two-year service in the U.S. Army, during which time he was stationed in Germany. He worked tirelessly for 35 years at the Princeton University Plasma Physics Laboratory, studying particle physics and researching alternative energy projects which could prove extraordinarily valuable in the coming years. He has also been married for 45 years and has raised two sons, both of whom are also working professionals and proud Americans.
I believe he would be thrilled to receive a birthday greeting from the White House on or about November 23, 2006, in order to honor his life and achievements. (I realize this is very soon. Alternatively, perhaps you could send him a Christmas card.)
He lives at 14 Xxxxx Lane, Xxxxx, XX 99999. Thank you.
Humbly yours,
Paul XxxxxxxMy father is a senior citizen who served in the U.S. Army, and I thought he deserved to receive a small note of recognition, or to be on the White House's Christmas list just this one time. I guess not.
The sad truth is that I tried this once before, a few years ago. Same result.
The text of my note to the President is below. I've deleted a bit of personal information to protect my dad's privacy, but otherwise the e-mail is exactly as I sent it on November 9.
*
From: xxxxxx@gmail.com
To: comments@whitehouse.gov
Date: Nov 9, 2006 2:53 PM
Subj: a small request
Hello,
I am writing with a small request.
My father, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, will turn 70 later this month. He is the kind of American of whom you should be proud. Born in Brooklyn, New York, to a Greek immigrant family of humble means, my dad attended Cooper Union and received a mechanical engineering degree in 1961. His academic education was briefly interrupted by a two-year service in the U.S. Army, during which time he was stationed in Germany. He worked tirelessly for 35 years at the Princeton University Plasma Physics Laboratory, studying particle physics and researching alternative energy projects which could prove extraordinarily valuable in the coming years. He has also been married for 45 years and has raised two sons, both of whom are also working professionals and proud Americans.
I believe he would be thrilled to receive a birthday greeting from the White House on or about November 23, 2006, in order to honor his life and achievements. (I realize this is very soon. Alternatively, perhaps you could send him a Christmas card.)
He lives at 14 Xxxxx Lane, Xxxxx, XX 99999. Thank you.
Humbly yours,
San Francisco, California
