Barack Obama Autograph Letter Signed as President

Superb ALS as president, signed “Barack Obama,” written on both sides of a 6.5 x 4.25 White House stationery card, no date. Handwritten letter to "Mr. Ritter," in full: "I received your letter, and appreciate your concerns about the toxic political environment right now. I do have to challenge you, though, on the notion that any citizen that disagrees with me has been 'targeted and ridiculed,' or that I have 'made fun' of tea-baggers. I think a fair reading is that I have gone out of my way to listen to legitimate criticism, and defend strongly the rights of everyone to speak their mind—including those who routinely call me 'socialist' or worse. I sincerely believe that the health care reform bill was the right thing to do for the country. It certainly wasn't the smart 'political thing!' And I hope that in the months to come, you will keep an open mind and evaluate it based not on the political attacks but on what it does or doesn't do to improve people's lives." In very fine condition. Accompanied by the blank original White House envelope.

President Obama thoughtfully responds to a fifth-grade teacher from Texas, who had written to express his dismay over the Affordable Health Care Act and lament the toxic state of the nation's politics. Though he admits that passing health care reform was not the "smart 'political thing'" to do, Obama expresses hope that it will improve people's lives on both sides of the aisle. A significant autograph letter embodying the struggles and triumphs of the Obama era.