Reporter's Note: Many Americans do not have jobs, which is terrible. Part of my job is to write a letter each day to the president, which is also not always a picnic…but I’m grateful for the work.

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Tom Foreman | Bio
AC360° Correspondent

Dear Mr. President,

So just yesterday I mentioned how much I’ve needed to congratulate you lately, and now comes yet another cause for a pat on the back. The unemployment rate went down. This was not something I expected, nor apparently was it looming in the chicken bones tossed by any of the economic Yodas that seem to hover around Ali Velshi at tea and muffin time.

People always say that we never cover good news. Well, you and I both know this is certainly good and it will undoubtedly be covered all weekend. When Americans are hurting for work, and even a few manage to escape the pinch, that’s something every one of us can feel happy about. I have to think that even for someone still in the unemployment line it is encouraging; a distant glimmer at the end of a long, dark tunnel. Kind of like hearing a preacher say, “And in conclusion,” after a tedious sermon. You know that you are not in the clear yet, but there is hope

I don’t want to get carried away. The change is small enough that it could easily be reversed, and frankly I think there are significant reasons to think we could see another bad report soon enough. A single jog in the positive direction is not a trend. But it is certainly a starting place. This was a good week for you, just in case you haven’t noticed: North Korea let those two Americans comes home; you seemed to work in perfect harmony with Bill and Hillary Clinton (seriously, that raised some eyebrows in media land,) your Supreme Court pick was confirmed; and now the job situation is showing positive numbers for the first time in a year.

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