For the greater part of our nation's history, the only way to get a message to the President and the White House was to send it by mail. Technology has made new ways of communicating possible. In the 1880s, the White House began receiving phone calls. In 1994, WhiteHouse.gov introduced a way for the public to submit messages online.

These days, no matter where you are or what time of day it is, it's possible to connect instantaneously, in real time, to people all over the world. One of our jobs at the White House is to keep up with these new ways of communication.

That's why today, for the first time ever, you'll be able to send a note to President Obama simply by messaging the White House on Facebook, the same way you message your friends.

Getting a word in with the president has always been one of the White House's most popular citizen services. As President Obama himself has pointed out, "Abraham Lincoln was able to have regular office hours where people would come and wait outside his office, which was over in the residence." Face-to-face time is a little harder to come by these days, but technology makes it possible for anyone with an internet connection to send a message to the President and his Administration.

The White House's Messenger bot, a first of its kind for any government the world over, will make it as easy as messaging your closest friends.

So, head on over to the White House's Facebook page and click "Message" to get in touch with the President.

Thanks,

Jason

Jason Goldman
Chief Digital Officer
The White House

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