Museum receives letter from Biden

FREMONT — The Hayes Presidential Library & Museums recently received a letter from former President Joe Biden, which completes its collection of signed documents from every U.S. president. The letter is on display in the Presidents' Gallery of the Hayes Museum with Biden's inaugural medal in an exhibit of letters or signed documents and inaugural medals from the other presidents. "This letter from President Biden is a welcomed addition to our presidential manuscript collection," said Julie Mayle, Hayes Presidential's curator of manuscripts. "An integral part of the Hayes Presidential Library & Museums' mission is to interpret the American presidency, and this document certainly helps us achieve that goal." President Rutherford B. Hayes was very interested in history and collected presidential artifacts. He started the signed presidential document/letter collection. After he died, the Hayes family kept collecting presidential documents and letters in order to have a complete archive of all the presidents. Today Hayes Presidential continues that tradition and has spaces open for letters and medals from future presidents to be displayed in the Presidents' Gallery. Biden's letter addressed the museum visitors. "America is the only country in the world that is founded on an idea: That we are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives," Biden wrote. "We have never fully realized that founding promise, but we have never walked away from it either." Biden talked about how generations of presidents throughout U.S. history have worked to uphold the values of freedom and liberty. "As we pursue a more perfect Union, it is our duty to learn the lessons of the past so that we can understand the future we have yet to write," he wrote. "It was the highest honor of my life to serve as president. And after 50 years of public service, I still believe in the idea on which this Nation stands, a Nation where the strengths of our institutions and the character of our people matter and must endure. May you all continue to be the keeper of that flame." The letter was obtained with the help of Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, who represents the district that includes Hayes Presidential. Hayes Presidential staff members are very grateful to Congresswoman Kaptur and her staff for helping to obtain this letter. Hayes Presidential is America's first presidential library and the forerunner of the federal presidential library system. It is partially funded by the state of Ohio and affiliated with the Ohio History Connection. Hayes Presidential is located at Spiegel Grove at the corner of Hayes and Buckland avenues.