Dear Young Friend: The Letters of American Presidents to Children

Just a few of the words of presidential wisdom found in Dear Young Friend:

I rejoice that you have learnt to write,…for as this is done with a goosequill, you know the value of a goose. -Thomas Jefferson, to his granddaughter, Cornelia Randolph

As to the whiskers, having never worn any, do you not think people would call it a bit of silly affection if were to begin now? -Abraham Lincoln to Grace Bedell

If we are successful [in the election], it will not be handsome behavior for any of my family to exhibit exultation or talk boastingly, or be in vain about it. -Rutherford B. Hayes, to his son Ruddy

The other sixty cents are for my other six grandchildren. They are not born yet. -Theodore Roosevelt, to Marjorie Sterrett, who was collecting dimes to fund a battleship

The John Birchers are just Ku Klux without the nightshirts. -Harry Truman to David S. McCracken

If you really believe, you will see them. My [Irish] ‘little people’ are very small, wear tall black stovepipe hats, green