 Today, I want to share with you an old story I heard many years ago about presidential politics. I'm going to have to paraphrase it, and I hope my memory can do it justice. It was not about any particular president, but seems to me, appropriate to today's situation. It speaks to the patience of the American people.
On inauguration day, the newly elected President is speaking with the outgoing Chief Executive who had just weathered a wild and contentious single term. The weary ex-President says: "I'd like to give you some advice. I have left for you, in the top right drawer of the Oval Office desk, three envelopes containing three letters."
"When big challenges to your administration come, as they surely will, and when you have critics at every corner and don't know what to do" he continued, "open one of the envelopes and follow the instructions inside."
It wasn’t' long before the new President was forced to defend his administration and its handling of important issues. Embattled and no longer knowing what to do, he went to the drawer, withdrew the envelope marked #1 and opened it. Inside, the letter was short and to the point. "Blame the previous administration" it said and he did just that. The public cut him some slack and the criticism died down.
A little further into his term, the new President was again under fire, and was again desperate to save his administration from the scrap heap of history. He went to the desk and withdrew the second envelope. Inside, the letter said simply: "Blame the system." Once again the critics were silenced, and the President moved forward.
Inevitably, the President found his administration in turmoil again. Friend and foe alike were joining together in a chorus of criticism, and the public was vocal in their displeasure. The new President however wasn't concerned. After all, he had the answer to his problems in that desk drawer, within the envelope marked #3.
Confident that the solution to his latest round of problems was at hand, the President opened the last envelope and read the contents. It said simply: "Write three letters."
The moral of the story is this: Mr. President, the American people are reasonable, understanding and patient. Their patience is however not infinite, and at some point in time, you have to step up, and own your administration and the effect it is having on this Country and its citizens. The words "I", "me" and "we" so prevalent during your campaign, need to return to your vocabulary now that you are President, not only in the context of accomplishment but also in the assignment of responsibility.
Frankly, the way things have gone during the first year of your administration, you might also need to sit down and write three letters.
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