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The history and tradition of presidential transition letters

The history and tradition of presidents leaving personal notes for their successors

Aired 01/19/2025

PBS News Hour

The history and tradition of presidential transition letters

Clip: 1/19/2025 | 4m 20sVideo has Closed Captions

The history and tradition of presidents leaving personal notes for their successors

Monday’s change of Oval Office occupants is a ritual full of traditions and customs. One of the more modern ones began in 1989, when Ronald Reagan left a note for George H.W. Bush on stationery with a whimsical bit of advice. John Yang speaks with Lindsay Chervinsky, executive director of the George Washington Presidential Library, to learn more about this tradition.

Aired 01/19/2025

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