海角大神

There鈥檚 a lot of pomp, ceremony, and tradition on Inauguration Day 鈥� speeches, prayers, parades, and swearing-in ceremonies 鈥� even in the scaled-down version we saw Wednesday in Washington.

These are, of course, designed to honor and reinforce America鈥檚 democratic transition of power.

But there鈥檚 a quiet, simple gesture that may be just as important. It鈥檚 a handwritten note left in the Oval Office by the outgoing president for his successor.聽

In 2009, George W. Bush wrote, in part, to Barack Obama: 鈥淭he critics will rage. Your 鈥榝riends鈥� will disappoint you. But, you will have an Almighty God to comfort you, a family who loves you, and a country that is pulling for you, including me.鈥�

In The Atlantic, Alex Kalman . Most are written on White House letterhead. But Ronald Reagan鈥檚 note to George H.W. Bush in 1989 offered a touch of humor: It included a Sandra Boynton sketch of half a dozen turkeys perched on a prostrate elephant and the advice, 鈥淒on鈥檛 let the turkeys get you down.鈥澛�

President Donald Trump challenged many democratic traditions, including refusing to concede or attend the inauguration ceremony. But the White House says he left a note for the new president.

These cursive batons are humble, personal expressions of grace befitting those who hold this high office. And they鈥檙e poignant examples for nations 鈥� and families 鈥� riven by political differences.