Letter to President-elect Barack Obama
Nov. 10, 2008
Dear President-elect Obama:
On behalf of our members, staff and program directors, we offer our enthusiastic and heartfelt congratulations to you and Vice President-elect Joe Biden on your momentous achievement. You inspired millions of new public citizens across our nation – people young and old of all races and creeds who breathed life into the ideal of American democracy by passionately engaging in this election.
We share in the country’s tremendous pride at the extraordinary accomplishment your election represents – a testament to our common belief that America is a land of limitless opportunity, where hard work and steadfast purpose give each and every one of us an opportunity to fulfill our dreams.
We also would like to take this opportunity to extend our warmest wishes to your wife, Michelle, and to your daughters, Sasha and Malia. We are proud and honored to have them as our nation’s First Family.
As you have said so many times during your campaign, we are at a defining moment in our nation’s history. The challenges before us are daunting, both in their magnitude and in their urgency. Yet, it has been a long time since we have been so encouraged in the direction of our government and its promise to address the issues most important to the American people.
The voters have spoken clearly, and with no room for doubt. They have embraced the call for change that was the cornerstone of your campaign. As an organization committed to good government, public health and civil justice, we relish this change. We know there is much work to be done to reverse the harmful and shortsighted decisions of the current administration but, as the words from your victory speech in Chicago continue to resonate throughout the world, we are both inspired and hopeful.
There surely will come times when we disagree, but at this critical juncture in our history, we are united in common goals and a renewed sense of purpose. We are now entering our 38th year in Washington, D.C., and hope you call upon us for advice on appointments and matters of policy. We look forward to working with you to reclaim government for the people.
Very truly yours,
Joan Claybrook
President