"The Greatest Man in the World"
by
Motte Brown
on Feb 18, 2008 at 3:13 PM
After the Revolutionary War, George Washington put down his sword and resigned his commission to Congress; just as he promised he would do. It was an act that forever secured civilian rule over America's military. When King George III heard of it he said, "If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world."
In today's National Review Online article, "It's Washington's Birthday, Not Presidents' Day," Gleaves Whitney, director of the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at Grand Valley State University, recounts how Washington repeatedly turned down chances to increase his personal power for the sake of the American experiment.
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.
Whitney writes that by putting down his sword and picking up his plow, Washington became the most trusted man in America. He said Washington's personal example of putting service before self was his greatest gift to America.
I was inspired this President's Day after reading Whitney's article. But it didn't last long. Because reading about Washington made me wonder if any of the current presidential candidates have the character to forsake personal aggrandizement for the sake of our nation.
1. Jacob Douvier had the following to say on Feb 18 at 3:40 PM:
Washington was hailed as the "New Cincinnatus" by his contemporaries. Here is the story of the original Cincinnatus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cincinnatus
2. Gene had the following to say on Feb 18 at 7:27 PM:
reading about Washington made me wonder if any of the current presidential candidates have the character to forsake personal aggrandizement for the sake of our nation.
I know you won't like this, but how about John McCain? His entire adult life has been in public service to his nation, and he's at times paid dearly for it. He could have cashed in decades ago but hasn't.
3. farmer Tom had the following to say on Feb 18 at 7:28 PM:
Motte
Because reading about Washington made me wonder if any of the current presidential candidates have the character to forsake personal aggrandizement for the sake of our nation.
There was one candidate this cycle who had that kind of personal character. Problem is, he wasn't flashy, didn't have good hair, wanted to return to the boundaries of the Constitution. That made him unpopular with both the right and the left. So we get charlatans instead, who will use the power of office for personal aggrandizement.
Oh that the American people would again elect men of Character, and Integrity who have demonstrated over a lifetime that they can be trusted to do what is right, even when it is unpopular.
4. Mike had the following to say on Feb 18 at 8:03 PM:
Excellent article in the National Review! I especially liked the comparisons to our other Founding Fathers. No, Washington did not have the "eloquence of Jefferson, education of Madison, experience of Franklin, or talent of Hamilton" but he had character. Jefferson, Franklin, and Hamilton all had significant lapses of character in their lives. Perhaps this is the foremost quality we should seek in our current presidential candidates?
5. Jethro had the following to say on Feb 18 at 11:26 PM:
Makes you yearn for the day when the President respected things like the rule of law and habeas corpus.
6. Lauren T. had the following to say on Feb 20 at 4:48 PM:
Even our most beloved former Presidents who are lauded for respecting the rule of law, etc., had their detractors. Jesus reminded people that a prophet is respected everywhere except in his own town; I wonder if it might not be true that great men are often recognized everywhere except in their own time.