From humor to humility – the letters presidents have left behind after leaving the Oval Office

Every four or eight years, as America's leadership changes, an almost invisible ritual takes place behind the closed doors of the Oval Office.

It is a rare case of "unfiltered" communication, which is intended to be honest, short and private, foreign media write, Telegraph reports.

Some presidents take the opportunity to "share something wise," others choose humor, but each one becomes a small and enduring part of the American tradition.

The outgoing president leaves a personal letter on the "Resolute Desk" — a legacy of American history used by nearly every president since 1880 — for the next head of state.

The tradition began in 1989, when Ronald Reagan left a note for his successor, George HW Bush.

Reagan simply wrote a short, warm message.

Since then, each president has left a farewell letter, handwritten and as varied as the individuals themselves, mixing advice, reflections on the burdens of the office, and sometimes, an unexpected sense of camaraderie.

Joe Biden is also expected to leave a letter for Donald Trump after he leaves on January 20, 2025.

A 'generous' letter from Trump

Trump chose not to follow many social traditions as he handed the presidential baton to Biden at the end of his first term in 2021.

But despite skipping Biden's inauguration, Trump left a letter for Biden.

In a rare public comment on the memo, Biden glossed over the specifics, calling it "private" and hinting that he could only share its contents after speaking with Trump.

In contrast, letters written by Presidents Reagan (1989), George HW Bush (1993), Bill Clinton (2001), George W. Bush (2009), and Barack Obama (2017) are now public.

Trump on Obama's letter

In his letter to Trump, Obama underscored the transitional nature of the Oval Office: "That makes us custodians of those democratic institutions and traditions ... it's up to us to leave those instruments of our democracy at least as strong as we found them."

Trump praised the letter as "beautiful" and "very well thought out", later thanking Obama for taking the time to write such a "long" message.

Not all presidential transitions have been as divisive as the Trump-Biden handoff.

The letter from @GeorgeHWBush to @billclinton showed true leadership. Pres. Reagan wrote a personal letter to President Bush for their transition pic.twitter.com/Kfi6AxprlS

— Bush Library (@Bush41Library) October 21, 2016

"You have just started a fantastic chapter in your life. Very few have had the honor of knowing the responsibility you now feel. Very few know the excitement of the moment and the challenges you will face", were the lines with which George W. Bush welcomed Obama to the Oval Office.

Many Obama officials would later credit the Bush team for executing a remarkably smooth transition, which stood out given the divergent politics of the two men.

In 2001, Bill Clinton wrote a letter to George W. Bush that reflected his optimism and admiration for the role: “You lead proud, decent and good people. And from this day, you are the President of all of us. I greet you and wish you success and much happiness".

Referring to a "time of profound and largely positive change", Clinton told the White House successor that the burden of the US presidency - while great - is often exaggerated.

"The sheer joy of doing what you believe is right is indescribable."

Despite the bitterness of losing his re-election bid, George HW Bush wrote to Clinton in 1993.

He chose to be magnanimous, writing: “Your success is now the success of our country. I will strongly support you," a comment hailed by historians as a rare artifact of political humility.

Meanwhile, in a moment of his signature humor, Reagan advised Bush to "stay away from overconfident colleagues who might prevent him from achieving his best." /Telegraph/