“George Washington was the Father of our Country.  He led troops, and fought beside them in our war of independence.  He then took the job as the First President of The United States.  You would think that after all he’d been through, that he might be a little proud or arrogant.  But he was far from that.  His wishes for us were amazing.  His insights were amazing.  He actually laid out a plan for foreign policy that was truly inspirational.  I didn’t know that the capitol of the US was in New York, until the last few years.  I either slept through that in school or they didn’t teach it.  He took the very first oath of office ever taken on  the balcony of Federal Hall in New City.  He refused to be paid, until congress convinced him that he would set a precedent to make people believe that only rich men could hold the office of President.  It was he who insisted on being called Mr. President, instead of a more regal title.  He set a lot of precedent’s for this country.  He and others gave us our rights.  Whether you like it or not, he put God first in our founding and future.  It’s been said, that while taking the oath of office, he bent and kissed the Bible.  It’s been said that he was the first to say “So Help Me God”.   Many would have us believe that his faith in God is fake, and an invention of conservatives.  But it was real very real.  It has been said that he prayed frequently and even dedicated this new nation to God. But some would like to discredit that.  His views and policies he instituted are almost unrecognizable today.  A list of his most famous quotations from his farewell address:

The Constitution

“The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government.  But the Constitution which at any time exists, ‘till changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole people is sacredly obligatory upon all.”

Political Parties

“The common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of Part… agitates the Community with ill founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection.”

Checks and Balances In Government

“The habits of thinking in a free Country should inspire caution in those entrusted with its administration, to confine themselves within their respective Constitutional spheres; avoiding in the exercise of the Powers of one department to encroach upon another.”

Religion and Morality

“Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”

International Relations

“Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent Alliances, with any portion of the foreign world.”

“Boy, if you look at what he believed and what he instituted as policy, and listen to his hopes and prayers for our nation, and look at it today.  It’s almost unrecognizable.  How did we STRAY so far away.  We have elected officials who have no respect for our founding Father’s or our Founding documents.  Below is a little history of George Washington.  I thought it was appropriate to take a look at the very first President of our Great Nation.  We should all look at these things before each and every election, to see if the candidates even resemble what our Country was founded on.  But alas it’s too late.  And we’re stuck with to put it in the current presidents words, we’re stuck with a “Fundamentally Transformed America.”  I just hope we can live with that and it doesn’t turn out to be America’s farewell address.

George Washington (February 22, 1732 [O.S. February 11, 1731]^{[Note 1][Note 2]} – December 14, 1799) was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, serving as the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He also presided over the convention that drafted the Constitution, which replaced the Articles of Confederation. The Constitution established the position of President of the republic, which Washington was the first to hold.

Washington was elected President as the unanimous choice of the 69 electors in 1788, and he served two terms in office. He oversaw the creation of a strong, well-financed national government that maintained neutrality in the wars raging in Europe, suppressed rebellion, and won acceptance among Americans of all types. His leadership style established many forms and rituals of government that have been used since, such as using a cabinet system and delivering an inaugural address. Further, the peaceful transition from his presidency to the presidency of John Adams established a tradition that continues into the 21st century. Historically, Washington has been widely regarded as the “father of his country“.^[4]

The 1st United States Congress voted to pay Washington a salary of $25,000 a year—a large sum in 1789. Washington, already wealthy, declined the salary, since he valued his image as a selfless public servant. At the urging of Congress, however, he ultimately accepted the payment, to avoid setting a precedent whereby the presidency would be perceived as limited only to independently wealthy individuals who could serve without any salary.^[103] The president, aware that everything he did set a precedent, attended carefully to the pomp and ceremony of office, making sure that the titles and trappings were suitably republican and never emulated European royal courts. To that end, he preferred the title “Mr. President” to the more majestic names suggested.^[104]

Washington’s Farewell Address (issued as a public letter in 1796) was one of the most influential statements of republicanism. Drafted primarily by Washington himself, with help from Hamilton, it gives advice on the necessity and importance of national union, the value of the Constitution and the rule of law, the evils of political parties, and the proper virtues of a republican people. He called morality “a necessary spring of popular government”. He said, “Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”^[120]

Washington’s public political address warned against foreign influence in domestic affairs and American meddling in European affairs. He warned against bitter partisanship in domestic politics and called for men to move beyond partisanship and serve the common good. He warned against “permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world”,^[121] saying the United States must concentrate primarily on American interests. He counseled friendship and commerce with all nations, but warned against involvement in European wars and entering into long-term “entangling” alliances. The address quickly set American values regarding foreign affairs.

Credit to Wikipedia and The World Book Encyclopedia 1968

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