People ask why a few of us presidential junkies would like to see Presidents’ Day changed back to Washington’s Birthday. The technical explanation has to do with a misguided law called HR 15951 that was passed in 1968 to make federal holidays less complicated. The real answer is simply this: George Washington is our greatest president, and too few American children know why.
George Washington earned the respect even of his former enemy, King George III, by doing something exceedingly rare in history: When he had the chance to increase personal power, he decreased it — not once, not twice, but repeatedly. During the American Revolution, Washington put service before self. His personal example was his greatest gift to the nation. It has often been said that the “Father of our country” was less eloquent than Jefferson; less educated than Madison; less experienced than Franklin; less talented than Hamilton. Yet all these leaders looked to Washington to lead them because they trusted him with power. He didn’t need power.
Washington knew that the bold American experiment in self government under the rule of law could survive only if leaders exercised self-restraint and accepted institutional limits on executive power. He believed that leading virtuously was more important than anything he could write or say. This is why Washington has been compared to two great republicans of Ancient Rome — Cincinnatus, who traded his sword for a plow, and Cato the Younger, who died defending the republic against the tyranny of Julius Caesar.
Consider all the times that Washington put service before self. In 1775, when he accepted command of the Continental Army, he promised Congress that he would resign his commission when the war was over. Once the British withdrew, he was true to his word, and surrendered command of an army fiercely loyal to him. In a moving scene before Congress on December 23, 1783 (then assembled in Annapolis, Maryland), Washington pledged loyalty to the civilian government he had served. He thereby established the principle that our nation’s military would always be under civilian rule.
Earlier in the 1780s, Washington had been approached twice by army officers who promised their support if he decided to seize civilian power. In one famous incident in 1782, Col. Lewis Nicola wrote a letter urging Washington to overthrow Congress and become America’s king. The commanding general scolded Nicola the very same day. In 1783, Washington caught wind of officers wanting to stage a coup d’état against Congress. The so-called Newburgh Conspirators were frustrated that Congress was not paying them what had been promised when the nation desperately needed their sacrifice. Washington would not be moved — that die would not be cast. On the Ides of March, he called the men together and sternly reprimanded them for losing faith in the idea of America. The new nation had a chance to succeed only if its leaders and military adhered to the rule of law.
When King George III heard that Washington would resign his commission to a powerless Congress, he told the painter Benjamin West: “If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world.”
Washington returned home to Mount Vernon in December 1783. Like Cincinnatus, he put down his sword and took up his plow, making him the most trusted man in America. Delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 selected him to be their president, knowing he would not abuse his position to aggrandize himself. And a grateful nation unanimously elected him president of the United States in 1789 and again in 1792, because they knew he would devote all his energies to serving the new nation.
Washington, when convinced that he had done all he could to help the country, retired after two terms as president. True to principle, he relinquished the power that was his for the taking. It was an example of selfless leadership that inspires Americans and the world to this day.
Why don’t more American children know that?
This essay first appeared here in February 2017.
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The featured image is a portrait of George Washington in 1795 by Gilbert Stuart, and is in the public domain, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Thank you for re-publishing this. I’ve never celebrated President’s Day because there are many I don’t wish to celebrate. Celebrations are very akin to reverence, and when used with a public position, a version of hagiography unfitting for a Republic. How easily we create gods! One future day we’ll have Emperor’s Day because a President in our future has done something so “terrific”, he or she will become Augustus. How easily we create gods of ourselves! We should honor humanity, not positions of power and suasion.
Excellent summary of George Washington.
Fine essay; I completely agree.
Where, oh where, are leaders like Washington today?
Don’t our times call for them?
“In contemplating the causes which may disturb our Union, it occurs as matter of serious concern that any ground should have been furnished for characterizing parties by geographical discriminations—Northern and Southern—Atlantic and Western; whence designing men may endeavor to excite a belief that there is a real difference of local interests and views.
One of the expedients of party to acquire influence within particular districts is to misrepresent the opinions and aims of other districts. You cannot shield yourselves too much against the jealousies and heart burnings which spring from these misrepresentations.”
– George Washington, 1796
The question of whether to celebrate George Washington’s Birthday or President’s Day is interesting and worthy of considerable discussion. I have no strong opinion on this matter but I do believe the holiday date should be changed to the Monday following the Supet Bowl.
If the stories in this article represent what young learners may not know about George Washington, what is it that they do know? Well, as they enter high school, students should have been introduced to ideas in his Farewell Address (according to Michigan’s state standards for social studies). I work with high school freshmen, and when we consider “wisdom” that has shaped human societies and civilizations, we include sections of the Farewell Address. What should students know from this address? Plenty. First, Washington encourages American leaders to give the Constitution a chance (it is new, yet it contains good guidance for a young nation). Second, Washington reminds Americans not to allow the military to get too strong. Third, government expenditures should not exceed revenue. Fourth, do not be beholding to political parties. Fifth, maintain religion and morality. And sixth, do not get mixed up in foreign affairs. As we read passages that connect to these ideas, I ask students to give our country a “report card grade” for each of these points. If George Washington were to appear today, how would he react to our (in)ability to adhere to his advice?
Excellent! Enlightening and inspiring.
There’s an essay titled “In Defense of President George Washington” in the Journal of Free Black Thought, which goes well with this one.
I am involved in a deep study of this man and I can tell you now that few understand how unique he was among the usual run of mankind. He suffered painful attacks from men he believed his friends, put up with all manner of calumny (especially in his second term as president) and still continued to serve when he really desired to return to his home and private life. As a man, he was unique. As a “politician” he was the ideal for all who see “government service” AS “service.” There will never be another one, but there have been a few who could be mentioned in the same sentence as Washington without being ashamed. But our present world is the antithesis of Washington and all he believed, so he will never again be a “hero” unless a great reawakening takes place.