How to Get a Birthday Card from the President

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: September 15, 2021 Tested

Milestone birthdays require appropriate fanfare, and the White House agrees. Veterans over the age of 70 and US citizens over 80 can request a birthday card from the president. You can submit a request in honor of someone else through email, phone, or by mail, but you must request it 6 to 8 weeks in advance of the birthday being celebrated.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Requesting by Email

1
Navigate in your web browser to the White House homepage. In the upper right hand corner of the homepage, you'll see the words "Get in Touch." Click this to open the White House contact page: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/.^{[1]
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Trustworthy Source
The White House
Official website for the Executive Branch of the U.S. government
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- Changes in administration, like a new president coming into office, sometimes result in changes to the design of the homepage.
- If you cannot locate the "Get in Touch" link, search the page for a similar link or one for submitting comments online.
2
Input the necessary information. Once you land on the contact page, you'll have to fill out a form. In the "message type" dropdown box, select "Reflections for the President." Then insert your full name, email address, phone number, and home address in the appropriate fields.^{[2]
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Trustworthy Source
The White House
Official website for the Executive Branch of the U.S. government
Go to source}

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3
Complete the comment box. Write a brief message explaining that you are requesting a presidential greeting. Include the name of the person receiving the card, their date of birth, whether or not they are a veteran, and their home address.^{[3]
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- To ensure there is enough time for the president to send this letter, you should request your birthday card 6 to 10 weeks before the date of the birthday.
4
Fill out the security question and track the status of the card. Follow the directions provided to fill out the security question, then click “Submit.” Following this, you should receive an email confirmation that your request has been processed.
- Call the official White House comment phone line at (202)456-1111 to check the status of your birthday card.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Requesting by Mail

1
Address your envelope. You'll be sending your letter to the Greetings Office at the White House. Remember to include your name and return address in case the letter needs to be sent back. Address your letter to:
- The White House
  Attn: Greetings Office
  1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
  Washington, D.C. 20500 ^{[5]
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2
Clarify specifics. Gender, for example, is important to specify with names that can be both masculine and feminine. Although this may feel like you're being painfully specific, keep in mind that the honoree likely has no personal relationship to the president. Include:
- The address of the honoree
- The age of the honoree (at least 70 for veterans and 80 for US citizens)
- The veteran status of the honoree
- The date of birth of the honoree (month, day, and year)
- The requestor (your) name and phone number
3
Send your letter to the White House. Sign the letter at its end. Fold it and insert it into the addressed envelope. Affix the proper amount of postage, or take the letter to the post office and pay for postage there.
- Letters should be sent 6 to 8 weeks before the person’s birthday. The earlier you send in your request, the more likely it'll reach the honoree in time.^{[6]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Requesting by Phone

1
Gather information about the person and their birthday. You'll need to know the full name of the honoree, their date of birth, and home address. You should also verify whether the honoree is a veteran or not.
2
Call the White House comments line. This line can be reached at (202)456-1414. When you reach the switchboard, ask for the Greetings Department. Wait patiently until you are connected with the Greetings Department.
- In some cases, you may have to wait some time before an operator is available to take your call.
3
Follow the directions of the recording. The recording should explain the requirements for receiving a letter from the Greetings Department. After that, submit your request in the fashion described by the recording. Include:
- Your name, address, and phone number
- The date of birth, name, and address of the honoree
4
Make an online or snail mail request if necessary. If you've had difficulty making a phone request for a birthday card from the president, you may have better luck with an online or snail mail request. Just like the other methods for requesting a birthday card, be sure to make the call 6 to 8 weeks before the birthday.

Community Q&A

Question

Can you get a greeting for a 50th birthday?

Community Answer

Quote from WhiteHouse.gov: "Birthday greetings are available for civilians celebrating their 80th (or greater) birthday, and veterans celebrating their 70th (or greater) birthday. Please make your request at least 6 weeks in advance of the birthday."
Question

I sent a request for my husband's 75th birthday - he is also a veteran (29 years United states air force), but I have not yet received an answer. What should I do?

Community Answer

If you haven't received your presidential greeting yet, call the official White House comment phone line at (202)456-1111 to check the status of your birthday card.
Question

My request was months ago. Will the greeting still be sent out?

Community Answer

If your birthday has long passed, it is unlikely. Next time, make the request a couple months in advance. Make sure that you are either a veteran over the age of 70 or a U.S. citizen over the age of 80. Otherwise, you do not qualify.