In the second issue of his e-weekly, President Chen Shui-bian (
In the issue, which was released yesterday, the president showed his fatherly side in a letter written to his only son, in which he said he would strive to be a good parent even though his has huge responsibilities as head of state.
"It isn't easy to be the child of a politician because of the public's inexorable scrutiny. By the same token, being your father, I will do my utmost to fulfill my duty, no matter what it takes, so I don't let [you and your sister] down," the president wrote.
The president's letter to Chen Chih-chung (
In the card, the younger Chen told his father it was not important whether his father would be a one-term or two-term president.
"The more important issue is whether [a president] can better serve his country, whether he can live up to the people's expectations, or whether he can leave a spiritual legacy that will be remembered by future generations," the younger Chen said.
President Chen said he carries the card to the office every day because it is a constant reminder that he can never fail to meet his son's expectations.
The president's family has undergone a number of changes lately. On Sept. 27, his daughter Chen Hsing-yu (陳幸妤) married a medical doctor and 10 days ago his son began his two-year military service.
He said the two events were significant for the family. Chen said he and his wife felt a tinge of sadness parting with their daughter, and honor seeing their son in the military.
The president also recalled the family's darkest hours when he was incarcerated for eight months in 1986.
He said the weekly letters written by his kindergarten son were his greatest comfort in prison.
While in jail, Chen said whenever his children and wife came to visit, he had to hold back his tears because he knew he had to be strong to alleviate their worries.
Those days of misery are in the past, the president said, and "what pleases us as parents the most is to see [our children] grow up and embark on their own lives."
In 1984, Chen faced slander changes for being the president of a democratic magazine. The following year, he lost his bid to run for Tainan County commissioner and his wife, Wu Shu-chen (
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