Honorable Lowell P. Weicker Jr. from Connecticut

2/21/2017

Honorable Lowell P. Weicker  Jr.

PO BOX 877

OLD LYME, CT 06371

Dear Honorable Weicker,

My name is Matthew Winick from Ann Arbor, Michigan with a strong interest in learning history including public policy. In these subjects, I like to learn the need to advance on Civil Rights to reduce discrimination, protect the environment from pollution, and many others.  Honorable Weicker, I’m writing you a letter is because I find your work as U.S. Senator from Connecticut and as 85^th Governor of Connecticut to be very inspiring to me.

When you served as U.S. Senator from Connecticut in 1971-1989, I was very proud on how you were a moderate Republican on different issues when your own party would get too extreme.  I liked on how you were a strong supporter of protecting women, minorities, and people with disabilities from being discriminated in education and public places.  Also on Civil Rights, I was very proud on how you advocated for people with disabilities’ rights, expressed the need for equal rights amendment to protect women from being discriminated based on gender, and supported funds to help women including minorities businesses to help them compete in the economy.   On the environment, I was very proud on how you pushed for funds for superfunds to help clean up toxic chemicals in rivers with water resources including national parks and supported renewable energy projects to help reduce oil with gas.  Another thing that I liked about your work in the U.S. Senate was on how you worked with President Gerald Ford and President Jimmy Carter to find ways to make Civil Rights stronger, being bipartisanship with Democratic Ted Kennedy from Massachusetts on finding ways to protect the environment along with improving Civil Rights legislation, and having the courage to lead to stop a constitutional amendment which would have allowed for prayer in public schools by President Reagan. When you served as Governor of Connecticut in 1991-1995, I was proud on how you made a courage that was unpopular decision that was to create a state income tax to help improve the economy and to get the state from financial trouble. As Governor of Connecticut, I really liked your approach on education like expand funds for special education programs to help students with disabilities get educational resources they need to help them learn, push for laws to combat against bullying in schools to make them a safe environment for people to learn with social activities, and expand on environmental science education to help teach people about the need to protect the environment.  Another thing that I liked about your role as Governor of Connecticut was how you continue to be a strong supporter of expanding Civil Rights, advocate for people with disabilities’ rights, and support protecting the environment. After you left your role in politics, I liked on how you continue to share your story about what it was like being a moderate Republican in tough political obstacles, advocate for Civil Rights with people with disabilities’ rights, express the need to protect the environment from pollution, and cross party lines to endorse Democratic Barrack Obama when he ran for President for 2008 Presidential election because I liked on how you agreed with him on the need to make Civil Rights stronger along with protect the environment.

Honorable Weicker, I have Autism with a learning disability. Having a disability is hard for me because I have trouble comprehending on learning different subjects, sometimes I struggle to communicate my thoughts, and get teased.  Your commitment to be a strong supporter of Civil Rights and be a true advocate for people with disabilities’ rights really inspires me to work hard on my disability. I wanted to say congratulations on receiving the JFK Profiles in Courage award for making a decision that was unpopular in order to help your state with financial troubles and you deserve it because you have great judgment when times are hard for people including the economy.  On the internet, I enjoy watching youtube videos of interview featuring you on explaining your experience in the U.S. Senate including the role as Governor and read articles explaining the need for the GOP to be moderates instead of being too extreme including the need for Civil Rights to be stronger, better environmental protection, and many others.  Your role as U.S. Senator from Connecticut and as Governor of Connecticut motivates me to continue my interest in learning history with public policy.  My future goal is to continue to learn history, learn how people in different areas can make a great impact on society, watch documentaries to help expand my understanding of a topic, and visit historical sites or museums to help engage me in learning.

I strongly believe that you really made a great difference for our country and I’m proud on how you had the courage to stand up to your own Republican Party when they got too extreme or use bigotry.  Also I’m very grateful on how you worked really hard to make Civil Rights stronger, advocate for people with disabilities’ rights, protect the environment, and many others.  Honorable Weicker, you have inspired me to work hard on my disability, continue to my interest in learning history, and read your articles to help me learn more about your work.  You are a true role model  for me and for this country with great principles.  Thanks for taking the time to read my letter, having the courage to have good principles when political parties aren’t advocates for them, and inspiring me.  I wish you well to continue to advocate for great ideas and here is a picture of me as a gift to you for inspiring me .

Sincerely,

Matthew B. Winick