How to Address the President in a Letter

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Proper etiquette and guidelines for writing a letter to the president or of the United States

Reviewed by Tami Claytor

Last Updated: December 4, 2024 Fact Checked

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• Using the Proper Forms for your letter
|
• Addressing the Envelope
|
• Letter to President Template
|
• Q&A
|
• Tips

|Show more |Show less

Writing a letter to the president is a great way to express your opinion. Don't be intimidated by writing to such an important person. It’s really easy to make sure that you address them properly. Simply use “Mr. President” in both the greeting and the body of the letter. On the envelope, you can use the title, “The President.” You can use the same wording whether you are sending a traditional letter or writing an email. Don’t forget to include your own information if you’re hoping for a response!

Addressing a Letter to the President

• Start your letter with a formal salutation, like "Dear Mr. President." Continue to address the president as "Mr. President" throughout the letter.
• Close the letter in a respectful way. For instance, write, "Respectfully," "Sincerely," or "Regards."
• Address the envelope to The President, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20500.
• Be sure to include a return address so you can receive a response!

Steps

Letter to President Template

Sample Letter to President Template

Section 1 of 2:

Using the Proper Forms for your letter

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1. 1
   Write a formal salutation. Start the letter by showing respect for the office holder. You can begin by writing, “Dear Mr. President,”.

   • These guidelines are based on writing to the president of the United States.
   • When a woman is elected, you can substitute “Madame President” for “Mr. President.”
2. 2
   Use “Mr. President” in the body of the letter. Don’t refer to the president by their given name. That is considered too informal. If you want to address them throughout the letter, continue to use “Mr. President.”

   • For example, you might write, “Mr. President, it is really important to me that you address climate change.”
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3. 3
   Use a complimentary close. The traditional way to close a formal letter like this is to sign off by saying, “Most respectfully,”. Skip a couple of lines and then type your name underneath the closing.

   • Sign your name above your typed name.
   • You could also use the classic "Sincerely" if you prefer.
4. 4
   Type the letter so that it can be easily read. A hand-written letter might feel more personal to you, but the White House requests typewritten letters. If you have access to a computer and printer, type your letter so that the president can easily read it.

   • If you do hand write your letter, use a pen and write as neatly as possible.
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Section 2 of 2:

Addressing the Envelope

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1. 1
   Write “The President” in the address. It’s really easy to address the envelope! Just use the formal wording “The President.” It goes right above the address.the
2. 2
   Include the full address of the White House. Make sure to include the same basics that you would include for any other address. Include the street address, city, and postal code. It will look like this:

   • The President, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20500
3. 3
   Add your return address on the envelope. Unfortunately, the president doesn’t have time to reply to most correspondence. But if you want to leave the possibility open, write your return address in the top left corner of the envelope.

   • You can also include your return address on the top of your letter.
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Community Q&A

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• Question

  Can I do it in England, or are only Americans allowed to do it?

  

  Community Answer

  Anybody can write a letter to the President of the United States, though concerns of domestic citizens will be of a higher priority.

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• Question

  How to start a letter to the president?

  

  Carter Anderson

  Community Answer

  Starting a letter can be quite challenging, but it would be nice to say something like "Dear: Mr. President, I know you are busy but I want to ask you some quick questions." Then you can ask your query, such as "I want to know what being a president is like."

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  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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  Not Helpful 2 Helpful 11
• Question

  I am afraid that the mail carrier will open my letter and throw it or burn it. What do I do?

  

  R2_d2000

  Top Answerer

  You probably should not worry too much about it. It is a crime to destroy letters in possession of the Post Office, and most mail carriers are trustworthy. But if you truly are concerned, then you can follow the steps in Method 3 of How to Contact the President of the United States to send a message to the president electronically.

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  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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Tips

• Consider sending an e-mail instead of a letter. The White House says this is the preferred method of communication.
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• Make sure to include enough postage on your letter!
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