Orem boy gets return letter from President Obama


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OREM — An 8-year-old Orem boy was in for a big surprise recently, when his crayon-penned letter to President Obama was returned with more detail and care than he could have ever imagined.

Jacob Wegener began his quest for correspondence with the White House with a simple goal in mind — to spend less time in school. He’s not exactly the biggest fan of academics, you see.

“I like to go to recess and swing on the swings,” Wegener said when asked what his favorite subject in school was.

Rather than bemoan his circumstances like many others his age, though, Jacob set to work trying to fix the problem.

“I remember Jake coming to me a few weeks ago,” said his mother Lisa Wegener. “Saying, ‘Hey mom, I’m going to send a letter to the president.’ ”

He was serious. Jacob wrote a plea for diminished school hours — he asked for daily study periods to be reduced from six hours to three.

Initially, Lisa was worried the letter would never leave the Wegener mailbox. It was addressed in crayon to simply, “The White House,” with no stamps anywhere to be found on the envelope. But after spending days in the mailbox, it was suddenly gone — Lisa isn’t sure if it was the letter carrier or someone else, but the letter found its destination somehow.


A lot of people don't believe that our government's listening. Whether it is or not … he believes that it does.

–Lisa Wegener, Jacob's mother


And in an even larger surprise, Jacob heard back. Pictures of the Obama dogs were enclosed, along with a personal message and the president’s signature.

“Hearing from thoughtful, engaged students like you gives me great hope for the future,” was among the thoughts contained.

The experience of receiving a letter from such a station was exciting enough, but Lisa is glad it taught Jacob a valuable lesson in the process.

“A lot of people don’t believe that our government’s listening,” Lisa said. “Whether it is or not … he believes that it does.”

Contributing: Ben Dowsett

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