In its 200 plus years of existence the United States has had 2 great presidents. Last year I did a post on one of them; which can be read here. This year I've decided to pay tribute to our first president, George Washington.
If Lincoln saved the Union, it was Washington who birthed our nation. If not for Washington's actions during the War of Independence and his stewardship of the fragile country after the war, it is probably a safe bet that the country would have fallen apart decades before Lincoln. That's not to say that Washington had that easy of time keeping the fragile country together. From holding off redcoats to putting down revolts over whiskey taxes, it seems that at times the Union was kept together by sheer force of his will.
Was he perfect man? No. Like most men of his day he did keep slaves, and even though he himself recognized the evils of slavery and freed his slaves upon his death (actually upon the death of his widow) the fact that he actively took part of Americas great shame does put a stain on his legacy. It wouldn't be until America's next great president before the page of slavery could be turned.
But rather then fixating on Washington's faults, we remember his many accomplishments. Like establishing the tradition of the only running for two terms. FDR was the first to break that long held tradition, leading to the 22nd Amendment. This country was ready to make him king and he does what no other world leader in his position ever done, turn it done and step out of power. That alone is enough to make him one of America's two greatest presidents. That and his fight with Hans Sprungfeld was pretty awesome too. HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEORGE!!! You have embiggened our nation with your cromulent life.
Keep watching this space.
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