When President Obama took office, he asked his staff to send him 10 letters from constituents to read every night. These letters—hand-picked from the thousands of emails and handwritten notes that the White House receives every day—represent the stories and concerns of Americans across the country. The President reads a new batch of letters every night, and he’s often visited letter writers in their hometowns and spoken about how these messages have inspired him and his policies.
Take a look through some of the letters sent to the President throughout his Administration. You can browse year by year or look for letters on specific topics.