Trump to kill ‘departure note’ tradition?

WASHINGTON: Presidential traditions are usually known for their solemnity and carry the weight of future historical significance. This one began with cartoon turkeys and a reference to lunch.

As he was preparing to leave the White House in January 1989, President Ronald Reagan wanted to leave a note for his successor, George H.W. Bush, and reached for a pad emblazoned with a cartoon by humorist Sandra Boynton under the phrase, "Don't Let the Turkeys Get You Down." It featured a collection of turkeys scaling a prone elephant, the symbol of both men's Republican Party.

"Dear George, You'll have moments when you'll want to use this particular stationary. Well, go to it," Reagan scrawled.

He noted treasuring "the memories we share" and said he'd be praying for the new president before concluding, "I'll miss our Thursday lunches. Ron." Thus was born the tradition of departing presidents leaving a handwritten note in the Oval Office for their successors.

The missives' contents start off as confidential, but are often eventually made public by archivists, references in presidential memoirs or via social media after journalists and others filed requests to obtain them.