President Obama to meet letter writers in Kansas City

President Barack Obama, who is scheduled to arrive in Kansas City on Tuesday and speak on the economy Wednesday, also will use the visit to meet with people who have written him letters.

The chief executive has had similar meetings in recent months, using the time to underscore issues he is trying to press with the broader public.

Press secretary Josh Earnest, who was raised in the Kansas City area, called the visit a chance to “visit with those who have written him letters about the way that individuals … are benefiting from some of the policies the president’s putting forward, and how they could benefit from some of the policies the president is pushing on Congress to implement.”

Earnest said Obama would have the opportunity to interact with letter writers Tuesday night and Wednesday.

The White House released a video late Monday of Earnest calling four Kansas Citians who had written the president to invite them to dinner Tuesday night. They were identified only as Victor, Valerie, Mark and Becky.

"Are you serious? Oh my God," one of the women responded.

Victor had written to thank the president for a program that helped him repay a student loan. Valerie had sent wrote the president an email about the challenges she faces as a single mom and small business owner.

Mark was identified as a teacher of a high-school equivalency course, while Becky had written about the good work her neighborhood association was doing.

This story was originally published July 28, 2014 at 2:11 PM with the headline "President Obama to meet letter writers in Kansas City."