PBS News Hour

The history and tradition of presidential transition letters

Monday’s change of Oval Office occupants is a ritual full of traditions and customs. One of the more modern ones began in 1989, when Ronald Reagan left a note for George H.W. Bush on stationery with a whimsical bit of advice. John Yang speaks with Lindsay Chervinsky, executive director of the George Washington Presidential Library, to learn more about this tradition.

The history and tradition of presidential transition letters

4m 20s

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