Today is Presidents Day, a commercial distortion of an actual legal holiday, which is George Washington's Birthday. Washington's birthday was celebrated on February 22 for most of American history, until the infamous Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 (effective in 1971) moved several federal holidays to Mondays in order to create three-day weekends for federal employees. (Washington's actual birthdate was February 11, 1731, in the British Empire which at the time still followed the Julian calendar, but it was already February 22, 1732, in most of the rest of the Western world, which had adopted the Gregorian calendar.)
Ken Burns' 2025 series The American Revolution recounts how a German in Pennsylvania labeled General Washington der Landesvater ("the Father of the country") The title stuck. First as commanding General of the Continental Army, then as first President of the United States under the Constitution, Washington has lived on as the Father of our country. Or, better yet, as future Chief Justice John Marshall celebrated him, "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen." As importantly, Ken Burns' series also calls him "the indispensable man," which indeed he was - both as commanding General of the Continental Army and then as our first President.
Washington had his weaknesses. He lost more battles than he won. And. of course, he was a wealthy, slave-owning land speculator. Recognizing all that, the consensus remains that Washignton was truly indispensable both to the success of the revolution itself and then as President indispensable to the early success of the constitutional order.
Whatever his military or other limitations, Washington was able to hold the Continent Army together, not small accomplishment given the rebels' lack of resources. He demonstrated genuine leadership is having his entire army inoculated against smallpox. And he notably displayed a commitment to religious toleration, which was far from universal among his compatriots. For example, in his September 14, 1775, orders to Benedict Arnold in preparation for the (ultimately unsuccessful) invasion of Canada, Washington insisted that Arnold (who was otherwise inclined) respect the Catholic faith of the Canadians, warning Arnold to avoid "disrespect or contempt" for the Canadians' religion, arguing that, while fighting for liberty, they must not violate the rights of conscience of others. Likewise, as President, Washington would demonstrate his respect for his Catholic and Jewish fellow citizens.
Of course, Washington's most important act as revolutionary war leader was his surrender of his commission back to the Continent Congress once the war was won. On December 23, 1783, George Washington voluntarily resigned his commission as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army to Congress of the Confederation then meeting in Annapolis. This action, resisting what would prove irresistible a few years later to Napoleon, established the precedent of civilian control over the American military. Having eschewed potential monarchical power, Washington contentedly returned to private life at Mount Vernon.Upon hearing what Washington had done, King George III famously remarked to painter Benjamin West, "If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world".
As the first Chief Executive under the new federal constitution fro 1789 to 1797, everything Washington did set precedent for future presidents. Again, his most important precedent was his free decision to depart, not to become a President for life. On March 4, 1797, as the new nation's first ex-president, Washington walked from the Presidents House in Philadelphia to where Congress was meeting to attend - as a private citizen - the inauguration of his successor. Washington's presence highlighted the constitutional legitimacy of the inauguration of our second president - and every president since.
Washington's way of being president provided needed dignity to the new office - a dignity not all his successors have been as willing to maintain. His voluntary departure established the precedent of the peaceful transfer of power, a principle essential to free constitutional government, the practice of which principle all his successors but one have recognized as their essential final responsibility in office.
Now, maybe more than ever in our history, is Washington's example indispensable.
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