Dear Fifth Graders,
The package you sent (with me inside it) arrived at the Old Executive Office Building next door to the White House before Christmas. This building was built in the 1870s. It served as the War Department in those days, because the Pentagon hadn't even been built yet. Now it houses the offices of the White House staff, all the people who work hard everyday to serve the President, Vice President and the American people. Photo 609 shows me enjoying the sunshine on the staircase entering this historic old building.
One day I got to visit the West Wing, where the President and Vice President have their offices. I got so excited I climbed a tree! From my perch (Photo 608) I saw a lot of important people who came to see the President. I saw the President of Poland, the King of Jordan, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and many more.
Then I visited the Vice President's office. He let me sit at his desk (Photo 604), which is an antique desk used by several presidents and vice presidents. It was cool! What's so special about this desk is that the floor of the center drawer was signed by these men as they left office. If you look carefully, you can find signatures of Presidents Taft, Eisenhower, Wilson, Harding, Truman, Hoover, Kennedy, and Johnson, and Vice Presidents Rockefeller, Mondale and Gore. I guess Vice President Cheney will sign the drawer before he leaves office, too.
So thanks for sending me to Washington. I had a good time but I did miss Wyoming. I'll see you soon.
Teddy
Looking out of a tree at the entrance to the West Wing of the White House
The old Defense Building next door to the White House
Sitting in Vice President Cheney's Desk
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