A White House release states:

...The mission of the program is to make the White House accessible to future leaders around the nation and to prepare those devoted to public service for future leadership opportunities. Interns work in one of several White House departments, including the Domestic Policy Council, the National Economic Council, the Office of Cabinet Affairs, the Office of Communications, the Office of Digital Strategy, the Office of the First Lady, the Office of Legislative Affairs, the Office of Management and Administration, the Office of Political Strategy and Outreach, the Office of Presidential Correspondence, the Presidential Personnel Office, the Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs, the Office of Scheduling and Advance, the Office of the Vice President, the Office of the White House Counsel, and the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships.

[Scroll down for further.]

On his Facebook page, Mr. Arango indicates that he studies "Political science with a concentration in Political Economy."

In a July 3, 2015 comment on his Facebook page, Mr. Arango noted that his LB home was within the 90813 zip code [an area between 7th St. and PCH from Cherry Ave westward across Central Long Beach to the city's westside] and wrote:

With the recent surge of shootings, murders, and crimes in Long Beach, specifically within a very close distance from my home(even within my own apartment complex just a few days ago) I can say that coming back home hasn't been easy. Leaving the privileged and safe environment of an Ivy League institution to come back home to the 90813 zip code has proven to be more challenging than moving out to Penn.

Though I try to see myself as a bridge between two worlds, it is difficult to do so and rather tend to see myself as someone stuck between two worlds. To my friends who will be spending tomorrow celebrating around the area, stay safe and use your common sense. To my friends back at Penn, please be conscious of the diverse backgrounds that your academic peers come from.

To all my Long Beach residents, grassroots movements to stop violence can have an enormous impact on a city, a main reason why I work with a nonprofit in the city that tries to curb gang violence through sports and mentorship. Our city can do better but it's contingent on our own efforts, not just the police's efforts, to help curb the violence.

Advertisement

Advertisement

On March 10, 2015, Mr. Anango commented on the controversy over an open letter signed by 47 U.S. Senators addressed to "leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran" in which the Senators wrote that any nuclear deal without legislative approval could be reversed by the next president "with the stroke of a pen." Mr. Arango wrote:

I don't usually post anything political due to fear of reprisal and disdain from my peers who disagree, but this is just too much. I am simply astonished and deeply saddened by the amount of vitriolic backlash the GOP's letter has received.

I don't exclusively identify with the Republican party or agree with all or many of their views/actions but this letter takes a firm stance for our nation and against threats, both internal and external. Are we naive enough to think that any nation in this world wants nuclear capabilities for "peaceful" purposes?

The first premise and rule you are taught in the study of International Relations is the world as an anarchic system where states are out for themselves which in turn creates a security dilemma. Only a 5 year old would be naive enough to think these other countries have our interest in mind. Are we naive enough to think appeasement works? We saw how that turned out with the axis powers and Hitler.

20 years from now we may look back dumbfounded at our generation asking ourselves what we were thinking as we stood by and literally gave our enemies the capabilities to threaten our national security.

While this letter was not the best method to achieve a better deal, it demonstrates the necessity for one and an uncompromising stance to protect our country.This backlash shows how American patriotism and statesmanship has fallen to a level that causes me to question whether or not this country is worth fighting for anymore, please help strengthen and restore my faith in this nation that I call home. Please do not let our generation be the generation that allowed America to crumble at its feet.

Advertisement

Advertisement

His comments drew Facebook responses, to which he replied:

[T]hough this has happened in the past on part of both parties I entirely agree that the letter made us seem weak and that it should not have been sent due to its divisive nature, like I stated earlier, this letter was not the best method to achieve a better deal.

My main issue was the backlash against it as it focused too much on the domestic political issue with spite against the party, even calling the senators unpatriotic for taking a stance against what they viewed as an internal threat and in something that they believed was in America's national interest (again I don't think the letter was the method they should have done it through) rather than tackling the actual problem of Iran at hand which what I think we should really be focusing on and uniting as a country rather being divided, but that's just my two cents, just clearing up some points, not here to facebook debate people haha

Advertisement

Advertisement