DATE:      July 7, 1998
TO:          president@whitehouse.gov
FROM:     Brian Padjen <bpadjen@ameritech.net>
RE:          Government Kid's Pages

After sending you my comments regarding the CIA Kid's Page, I reviewed the other government kid's pages, read what you and Vice-President Gore are trying to accomplish with these kid's pages, and reconsidered my original position.  While I still think the CIA Kid's Page is a bit over the edge, I do believe as a whole such pages could be useful to kids and adults alike. Here are some of my own suggestions for further Kid's Pages.

• The Great Depression Kid's Page
• The WW I Kid's Page
• The WW II Kid's Page
• The Korean War Kid's Page
• The McCarthy Era Kid's Page
• The Bay of Pigs Kid's Page
• The Warren Commission Kid's Page
• The Vietnam War Kid's Page
• The Watergate Kid's Page
• The Iran-Contra Kid's Page
• The Whitewater Kid's Page

Thank you.

Subject:     Re: Inbound-White_House_WWW_MAIL => PRESIDENT

Thank you for writing to President Clinton via electronic mail.  Since June 1993, the President has received over 2.3 million messages from people across the country and around the world.  Online communication has become a tool to bring government and the people closer together.

Because so many of you write, the President cannot personally review each message, though he does receive samples of his incoming correspondence.  The White House Correspondence staff  helps him read and respond to the mail.  All responses are mailed via the U.S. Postal Service. This is the only electronic message you will receive from whitehouse.gov.  No other message purporting to be from the President or his staff with an address at whitehouse.gov is authentic.  If you have received such a message, you have received a "spoof."

We appreciate your interest in the work of the Administration.

Sincerely,

Stephen K. Horn

DATE:       July 7, 1998
TO:           Webmaster
FROM:     <bpadjen@ameritech.net>
RE:          Government Kid's Pages

Dear White House Web Team,

I've sent a message to the President regarding the CIA Kid's Page.  I'm feeling rather uncomfortable about a government entity propagandizing covert operations and presenting it to young minds as if what they do is equivalent to Pee Wee's Playhouse.  I'm wondering, between you and me, if you felt the same when you designed the CIA Kid's Page.  Did you feel just a bit uneasy?  Or maybe you giggled?  I'm curious.

Look forward to your response.

The Web Team does not answer or forward e-mail, but all messages pertaining to the technical operation and usability of the White House web site are read. For comments on political and policy issues or for other messages or requests to the White House, please contact the offices of the President, Vice-President, First Lady, or Mrs. Gore through the links at the top of the page.

DATE:      July 8, 1998
TO:          vice.president@whitehouse.gov
FROM:     <bpadjen@ameritech.net>
RE:          Link Exchange
 

I have reviewed the White House website and am impressed with the design and content.  Would you be interested in a link exchange?

Subject:    Re: Inbound-White_House_WWW_MAIL => VICE_PRESIDENT

Date:    Wed, 8 Jul 1998 01:13:52 -0400 (EDT)
From:    autoresponder@WhiteHouse.gov
To:     Brian Padjen <bpadjen@ameritech.net>

Dear Friend:

Thank you for writing to Vice President Gore via electronic mail.  Since coming on-line, vice.president@whitehouse.gov has received thousands of messages from people all over the world.  Although the volume of mail prevents the Vice President from personally reviewing each message, be assured that your concerns, ideas, and suggestions have been read carefully, and a detailed report of the mail is provided to the Vice President on a regular basis. Your message will be brought to his attention as part of that report.  We currently are working toward a system that will allow us to respond more specifically to your messages. In order to do so, your help will be needed to ensure that we can read and record your message clearly.  Please try to write short and concise messages, address only one issue per message, and send only one copy of your message. You will receive one automated response per day.

On October 20, 1994, President Clinton and Vice President Gore acted to improve the accessibility of government information by opening a service called "Welcome to the White House: An Interactive Citizens' Handbook" on the Internet.  This new World Wide Web service provides a single point of access to all electronic government information on the Internet.  By using a free Web-browsing software program such as Mosaic or Cello, the user can access a multimedia interface to information from the White House and the Executive Branch of government, including White House documents, a virtual tour of the White House, and detailed information about Cabinet-level and independent agencies.  This interface includes photographs, audio, and "hotlinks" to other government Web sites and services.  You should check with your service provider for instructions on how to browse the Web.  "Welcome to the White House" can be accessed at:

               http://www.whitehouse.gov

Though the new Web server provides access to White House documents and publications, we will continue to provide these by e-mail.  To receive instructions, please send a message to the following address (**do not "reply" to the memo you are now reading**):

               publications@whitehouse.gov

In the body of your message, type "Send Info" (without quotes); no other text should be included, specifically message headers or signature lines (.sig  files).  The instructions will be sent to you automatically.

Also, we now have a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) document that, among other things, lists certain other sources of government information.  (The FAQ file is approximately 35K in size; you should check with your service provider to ensure that you can receive files of this size.)  This FAQ address is an autoresponder only; any comment sent to this address will not be acknowledged.  In order to obtain this, you should send an e-mail message to:

               faq@whitehouse.gov

All of us at the White House are excited about the progress that has been made with this historic project, and we look forward to future developments.  Your continued interest and participation are very important to us.

Sincerely,

Bill Mason

Director of Correspondence for the Vice President

[You will only receive one automated response per day]

DATE:      July 7, 1998
TO:          Webmaster
FROM:     <bpadjen@ameritech.net>
RE:         Otto R. Sponder

Dear White House Web Team

Who is Otto R. Sponder?  He responds to all of the e-mail messages I write.  I appreciate his personal responses, even if he is a bit repetitious.  I would like you to thank him on my behalf for the prompt replies to my messages.

Thanks, Otto!

The Web Team does not answer or forward e-mail . . . . blah, blah, blah

Thank you, Brian Padjen, for your message

   to:  The Web Team

Your message was successfully accepted and is being forwarded. 

DATE:      July 8, 1998
TO:          first.lady@whitehouse.gov
FROM:     <bpadjen@ameritech.net>
RE:          CIA Kid's Page

Dear Mrs. Clinton,

How are you?  I bet you're exhausted from that trip to China. I won't take much of your time.  I've written to your husband, the President, and to Vice President Gore about this subject.  While I think the initiative to involve our young people in government vis a vis Internet access is a good idea, I am a bit disturbed by the CIA Kid's Page. It lends itself to the perception of propagandizing covert operations.  This bothers me because I want our kids to think critically. I am sure you do, too. Could you see what you can do about getting that particular page removed?  I would greatly appreciate it.

By the way, the autoresponder says the President has received 2.3 million e-mail messages to date. Is this accurate? Does the President EVER answer his own e-mail? Who is Otto R. Sponder?

Thank you for your time.

DATE:      July 8, 1998
TO:          mrs.gore@whitehouse.gov
FROM:     <bpadjen@ameritech.net>
RE:          CIA Kid's Page

Dear Mrs. Gore,

You are my last hope. I have not received a response from the President, the First Lady, nor your husband, the Vice President.  My request is simple: please remove the CIA Kid's Page.

I know you care deeply for our children, and, therefore, I think you would agree the CIA Kid's Page promotes a blatant exploitation of our children through conventional CIA tactics such as disinformation and plausible deniability. Don't get me wrong: it's a well constructed page. But, like you, I care deeply for our children--and our children's children.

Oh, before I forget, I don't think you can accurately credit your husband with coining the phrase "information superhighway." He did popularize the phrase. But I believe his original statement was "information tollway."

Thank you for your time.

DATE:      July 8, 1998
TO:          Webmaster
FROM:     <bpadjen@ameritech.net>
RE:          Plans for Next Administration

Dear White House Web Team,

What do you think will happen to these web pages when the next administration takes office?  Will all your work go down the drain.  Or will you have to revise the pages to reflect that administration's point of view and tone.

Do you prefer writing web pages for Democrats or Republicans? Or Independents?  Is it possible you could post potential pages depending on who might be elected. I would be interested particularly in seeing either a Pat Buchanan version or a Ross Perot version.  (I think one would require fewer graphics, while the other would be loaded with charts and graphs.)

Just wondering.

The Web Team does not answer or forward e-mail. . . . I know, I know!

Thank you, Brian Padjen, for your message

to: The Web Team

Your message was successfully accepted and is being forwarded.

DATE:      July 8, 1998
TO:          mrs.gore@whitehouse.gov
FROM:     <bpadjen@ameritech.net>
RE:          Mrs. Gore's Photograph

I noticed that of the four of you, yours is the only black and white photograph. Is this by design? What meaning, if any, can be ascribed this? I mean, don't you think you should have a color photograph? You could be the next First Lady, after all.

What are your thoughts?

Thank you once again.

Thank you, Brian Padjen, for your message

to: Mrs. Gore

Your message was successfully accepted and is being forwarded to the White House. If you entered a valid E-mail address, you will receive an electronic acknowledgment of receipt via E-mail from the White House when it arrives, but there will be no further electronic response. If you have supplied a mail address, a reply will be sent to you via U.S. mail.

DATE:      July 9, 1998
TO:          Webmaster
FROM:     <bpadjen@ameritech.net>
RE:          Misspelling

I thought you would want to know that the word "ackonwledgment" is misspelled. May I suggest some ways to alleviate problems such as these:

1) use a dictionary

2) ask a friend

3) Spell Check

4) Hire a Director of E-Mail Spelling

The Web Team does not answer or forward e-mail. . . .

Thank you, Brian Padjen, for your message

to: The Web Team

Your message was successfully accepted and is being forwarded.

DATE:      July 9, 1998
TO:          president@whitehouse.gov
FROM:     Brian Padjen <bpadjen@ameritech.net>
RE:          Authentic Personal Letter From the President

I'm wondering if you would be willing to send my an actual personal letter to me, signed by you.  I mean, one you actuallly composed yourself and signed (not stamped). If you are willing to do so, would you be kind enough to include the following paragraph in your letter:

"Brian, you are a true patriot.  Your model citizenship holds up to the highest standards of the principles of this great country.  Your continued efforts as a citizen have been greatly appreciated by myself, Al, Hillary, and Tipper. Keep up the good work."

It would mean a lot to me.

Thank you.

Thank you, Brian Padjen, for your message

   to:  The President

Your message was successfully accepted and is being forwarded to the White House. If you entered a valid email address, you will receive an electronic -----> acknowledgement <----- of receipt via email from the White House when it arrives, but there will be no further electronic response. If you have supplied a mail address, a reply will be sent to you via U.S. mail.

Subject:           Re: Inbound-White_House_WWW_MAIL => PRESIDENT
Date:           Thu, 9 Jul 1998 08:32:22 -0400 (EDT)
From:           autoresponder@WhiteHouse.gov
To:           Brian Padjen <bpadjen@ameritech.net>

Thank you for writing to President Clinton via electronic mail.  Since June 1993, the President has received over 2.3 million messages from people across the country and around the world. Online communication has become a tool. . . . (Lots of "tools" running around the Whitehouse.)

Hello. I'm Hillary Rodham Clinton, and I want to welcome you to my home page on the World Wide Web. The Internet is a wonderful tool that not only enables you to access information about the White House, but also gives us an opportunity to hear your ideas and better serve you."

"Welcome to my Internet Home Page. Within you will find information on issues about which I care deeply including my work to protect and preserve the environment, help revitalize America's communities, reinvent the federal government to make it work better and cost less, support and strengthen families through annual policy conferences, and promote the development and use of technology. Enjoy your visit, and don't forget to take a look at one of my favorite spots -- the cartoon gallery."

DATE:      July 10, 1998
TO:          Webmaster
FROM:     <bpadjen@ameritech.net
RE:          Goofy Looking GIF

I don't know what you guys think, but this is a goofy looking pic.

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