Dear Young Friend

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