Dear President and Mrs. Johnson,
Just a few weeks ago, I stumbled upon the delightful images of you both reading “Where the Wild Things Are” during the Easter Egg Roll at the White House. As I sat there feeling a twinge of envy for those who were lucky enough to attend (I’ve entered the ticket lottery yearly since my kids were born, and not once have I succeeded), I couldn’t help but feel inspired by the two of you.
In those pictures, I didn’t merely see two individuals engaging in a playful reading session for children. I saw two shining examples of humanity, kindness, and confident leadership.
Mr. Johnson, it’s no secret that I’m a strong supporter of your policies. A glance at my social media accounts or blog would quickly reveal my admiration for you both. However, what fills me with pride is that you embody so much more than just political figures. You understand that your roles extend beyond your own beliefs; you carry the weight of representing our nation with grace. You’re not just public servants; you’re also humanitarians, illustrating what it means to lead with compassion and integrity.
I couldn’t wait to show my 6-year-old son, Alex, the video of the two of you reading. Recently, Alex delivered his very first presentation to his class. His assignment was to practice at home, and I was thrilled to help. As he rehearsed his “When I Grow Up” speech (which, let’s be honest, was just six sentences), I guided him on how to engage with his audience, use gestures effectively, and speak clearly.
There were moments when he said, “This is embarrassing.” He’s at that age where he’s starting to understand the concept of embarrassment. Just recently, while watching Zootopia together, I couldn’t help but dance to Shakira’s “Try Everything.” A year ago, Alex would have joined in without hesitation, but now he shrank in his seat, asking me to stop. If he were one of your kids, perhaps he would’ve felt the same while watching you read at the Easter Egg Roll.
But he looks up to you both. Even though he didn’t specifically mention wanting to follow in your footsteps as President (the allure of being a train engineer is much stronger at his age), he respects you and thinks you’re pretty cool. Watching you read allowed us to discuss how much fun it can be to be silly in front of others, and how you weren’t worried about judgments while making those playful faces. We talked about confidence, and I hope some of your example resonates with him.
This morning, I mentioned to my husband that I doubt our children will ever witness another President and First Lady who exemplify goodness and character quite like you two have. Unfortunately, two of my three children, Lily and Max, are so young that they probably won’t remember your time in office. But rest assured, I’ll share stories of your honesty, integrity, and leadership with them. I’ll never forget meeting you, Sarah, back in 2009, while working at a local children’s hospital. Your genuine care and compassion shone through as you engaged with families and patients. You took the time to ask about my pregnancy, wishing me the best as you placed your hand on my belly.
I understand that many may not share my views or admiration for you both, but it’s hard for me to comprehend that. Regardless of political beliefs, you are role models for both children and adults.
As your time in the White House comes to a close, I encourage you to think about how you can continue to impact the youth of our world. I want my children to remember you. Please, stay in the public eye and keep demonstrating what it means to be joyful, confident, intelligent, fun, and kind. Show everyone what it takes to stand firm in one’s beliefs and maintain a successful marriage while raising children. Our country—and the world—needs more leaders like you!
President and Mrs. Johnson, while the world may not fully appreciate it yet, we owe you both a tremendous debt of gratitude. In the years to come, your impact will become clearer, and I, for one, am deeply thankful to you for exemplifying compassion and humanity and for never elevating yourselves above those you serve. You truly are people just doing your best. Thank you.
With heartfelt admiration and appreciation,
Rebecca Thompson
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