Jennifer Cline of Monroe, Mich., never expected to receive a response to her three-page handwritten letter. The president's embossed stationery arrived three weeks later.
Sarah L. Voisin-The Washington Post
Jennifer Cline of Monroe, Mich., feels a kinship with the Obamas because they have two daughters and she has two sons: Jayden Cline, 2, and , Brenden Negus, 8.
Sarah L. Voisin-The Washington Post
Jennifer Cline summarized life with husband Jason by writing to Obama: "... in just a couple of years, we will be in a great spot." They are saving toward a house while she undergoes cancer treatment and attends community college.
Sarah L. Voisin-The Washington Post
Jason Cline with son Jayden, 2, works a night shift for an airline, a job that pays $14 an hour.
Sarah L. Voisin-The Washington Post
Jennifer and Jason Cline say goodbye to 8-year-old Brenden as he prepares to leave for school.
Sarah L. Voisin-The Washington Post
At Jennifer Cline's home, it's bath time for 2-year-old Jayden.
Sarah L. Voisin-The Washington Post
Jennifer Cline, with son Jayden, wrote to Obama: "In Michigan, Mr. President, jobs are very difficult to land."
Sarah L. Voisin-The Washington Post
Jennifer Cline, with son Jayden, remembers dropping her letter to the president into her own mailbox and wondering whether the White House has a mailbox, too.
Sarah L. Voisin-The Washington Post
On the day when Jennifer Cline went to retrieve the mail expecting nothing more than bills, she received a surprise bearing the presidential seal instead.
Sarah L. Voisin-The Washington Post
Jennifer Cline works on algebra homework from her nursing program. In her letter to the president, she thanked him for the Pell grant that allowed her to enroll in community college.
Sarah L. Voisin-The Washington Post
Jennifer Cline, with son Jayden, was inspired to write to the White House while watching a holiday special about the first family.
Sarah L. Voisin-The Washington Post
Jennifer Cline juggles being a mom to two boys, including 2-year-old Jayden, while attending a nursing program and undergoing cancer treatment. Her husband, Jason (on the couch), works a night shift to help make ends meet.
Sarah L. Voisin-The Washington Post
One of Jennifer Cline's sources of income is selling Mary Kay cosmetics. She is arriving for one party with a suitcase of products in tow.
Sarah L. Voisin-The Washington Post
At a Mary Kay party, Jennifer Cline, center, helps potential customer Amy Knope apply makeup. Also checking out the wares are, from left, Megan Houston, Wanda Hoffman, 2-year-old Aiden Houston and Gertie Younglove.
Sarah L. Voisin-The Washington Post
Jennifer Cline waits for the start of her psychology class. She is studying nursing at a community college.
Sarah L. Voisin-The Washington Post
Jennifer Cline, attending class, opted for community college when she secured a $2,600 Pell grant.
Sarah L. Voisin-The Washington Post
White House director of correspondence Mike Kelleher chats with Joani Walsh. Part of Kelleher's role is selecting 10 letters for the president that reflect which topics were important to that day's writers.
Marvin Joseph-The Washington Post
The president reads outside the Oval Office. His briefing book includes a purple folder that includes letters written to him, and he often looks at his correspondence first.
Pete Souza-White House
Letters to the president sometimes become part of public record as the speechwriting team will work their contents into his public remarks. Here, Obama reads a letter written by Natoma Canfield of Medina, Ohio, to a meeting of insurance company executives hosted by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.
Pete Souza-White House
At his desk in the Treaty Room Office in the White House residence, the president devotes his attention to his folder of personal correspondence.
Pete Souza-White House
For every 10 letters Obama reads, he responds to a select few. He uses postcard-size stationery bearing the presidential seal.
Pete Souza-White House
Protected by a large manila envelope and two pieces of cardboard, this handwritten note from the president's desk arrived in Monroe, Mich., for Jennifer Cline three weeks after she sent a letter to Washington.
Sarah L. Voisin-The Washington Post
Gallery Credits:
Producer, Photo Editor Stephen Cook
Text Editor Doris N. Truong
