Institute of Contemporary History

The book examines the issue of letters sent by Czechoslovak citizens to the president and his office between 1968 and 1989. The author draws on many years of research and emphasizes not only the broader economic, political, and social context of the analyzed phenomena, but also offers the reader dozens of compelling stories, some of which are amusing, while others depict the harsh reality of the abuse of power and injustice. The content of tens of thousands of preserved letters also testifies to the persistent perception of the authority of the presidential office in the consciousness of Czechoslovak society in the 20th century across political regimes. The book outlines a number of chronic social problems—housing policy, social security, travel abroad, education, and labor relations—whose solutions were limited by the directive economy and the ruling party’s monopoly on power.