When George Washington was elected in 1789 as our first president, he was aware he would be setting a precedent for presidents who would follow. He chose the title, “Mr. President,” over the more majestic names proposed by the Senate. For his inauguration, he had his tailor make him a simple suit of brown broadcloth. He at first refused a salary of $25,000 a year even though he faced financial troubles from advancing $450,000 to the Continental Congress during the Revolution, and he had deferred his salary as commander in chief of the Continental Army. He finally accepted a salary as president to avoid setting a precedent where the presidency would be limited only to independently wealthy individuals. At the end of the Revolutionary Way, he resigned as commander in chief rather than seizing power. King George called him “the greatest character of the age” because of this.
As president of the Constitutional Convention, Washington promoted a strong national government. As president he worked to unify rival factions, implemented an effective tax system and created a national bank. He remained non-partisan. His farewell address was a primer on civic virtue, warning against partisanship and involvement in foreign wars.
Washington was an able administrator and set the standard for tolerance of opposition voices. He was an excellent delegator, talked regularly with department heads, and listened to their advice before making a final decision.
He was a vigorous promoter of tolerance for all regions. On Aug. 18, 1790, he addressed the congregants of Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, reinforcing the ideal of religious liberty, saying: “The government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens.”
An insight into Washinton’s character can be seen in his carefully preserved copybook in which he transcribed when he was 14 a set of moral principles or rules of conduct and decent behavior in company and conversation.
This article appears in Mar 9-16, 2017.