The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

April 1, 2017

President Donald J. Trump Proclaims April 1, 2017, as Politicians' Day: A National Day of Celebration of Policy-Making to Usher in a Modern Era of Good Feelings and National Unity

POLITICIANS' DAY:  A NATIONAL DAY OF CELEBRATION OF
POLICY MAKING TO USHER IN A MODERN ERA OF GOOD FEELINGS AND NATIONAL UNITY, 2017

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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

This year marks the 200th anniversary of President James Monroe's Administration and the Era of Good Feelings.  The Era of Good Feelings marked a period in the political history of the United States that reflected a sense of national purpose and a desire for unity among Americans in the aftermath of the War of 1812. The era saw the collapse of the Federalist Party and an end to the bitter partisan disputes between it and the dominant Democratic-Republican Party during the First Party System. 

President James Monroe strove to downplay partisan affiliation in making his nominations, with the ultimate goal of national unity and eliminating parties altogether from national politics. The period is so closely associated with Monroe's presidency (1817–1825) and his administrative goals that his name and the era are virtually synonymous. 

The term Era of Good Feelings was coined by Benjamin Russell, in the Boston Federalist newspaper, Columbian Centinel, on July 12, 1817, following Monroe's visit to Boston, Massachusetts, as part of his good-will tour of America.   The term was often derisively conveyed with irony or skepticism by the fake press of the day, as the history of the era was claimed to be one which the political atmosphere was strained and divisive, especially among factions within the Monroe administration and the then-Republican Party.  Following in President Monroe's footsteps, on July 12 of this year, I, Donald J. Trump, will begin my goodwill tour in Boston, where I intend to meet with the editors of the Boston Globe to begin my quest to end the two party system in the United States in order to bring unity to our country and to Make America Great Again.

On this Politicians' Day, we recognize those politicians who struggle daily with the scourge of partisan politics and the temptation to serve themselves before serving the American people.  All addictions are tough to beat, but the toughest of all is that which politicians fight daily – the addiction to senseless bickering and an unjustified and indeed delusional feeling of superiority.  We need to give the politicians tough love in the form of their own national day of celebration in order to help them through this devastating madness of partisan politics.  The only path to national unity is the elimination of ideological stubbornness and political correctness.  Once our politicians have been rehabilitated – and that day will be a huge part of the rehabilitation -- will we replace our current two party system with a single party of national unity. 

The American people want our politicians to know they are loved, honored and respected for their efforts to usher in a period of national unity and good feelings.  It is only fitting we honor politicians in this year, the two hundredth anniversary of the Era of Good Feelings to encourage them in their difficult struggle to serve the American people and rid the nation of our political parties.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 1, 2017, as Politicians' Day:  A National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy.  I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand seventeen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-first.

DONALD J. TRUMP