doi:10.7916/vyzw-he34Oral history interview with Angela M. Spear, 2021Spear, Angelaoral historiesmixed materialPresidents--United StatesPresidents--Correspondence.--United StatesGlobal Financial Crisis, 2008-2009--United StatesCommon Core State Standards (Education)Religion and politics--United StatesSpear, AngelaObama, BarackChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsAngela Spear reflects on her experience of the years of the Obama presidency, and discusses the letter that she wrote to the president on behalf of her daughter and the response they received from Obama. Spear describes her upbringing in Spokane, Washington, and journey to Meridian, Idaho, where she lives with her husband and three children. She outlines the political culture of the area, the political and policy issues with which she is most engaged, and her impressions of Barack Obama from the 2008 campaign and throughout his presidency. Spear also tells the story of her daughter's return from elementary school one day shortly after Obama's election in 2008 with negative impressions of the new president, and the discussions they shared that led to Spear writing to the president in the White House on her daughter's behalf. Also discussed are the impact of the financial crisis and recession in Meridian; the implementation of the Common Core State Standards Initiative; and the significance of Mitt Romney's Republican presidential nomination in 2012 for the reception of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the United States, such as Spear and her family