George Washington never really died. His soul hibernated, and came back on March 10, 1940. In order to avoid publicity, it changed his name.
His soul’s new name: Chuck Norris.
/mark
My FAVORITE president! George, we need you. Shoot, we could even use somebody with 1/1000th of your character and guts.
Too much to ask for.
***Washington removed his hand and silently, but sternly glared at him.***
I have read that GW preferred to give a gentlemanly bow to each other and not shake hands.
My favorite story about GW was about his conduct at Princeton. The British were attacking and the Patriot forced was wavering. Washinton rode and on his white horse and as a junior officer might, got them to form a line. He sat there not moving as bullets whized past him, and his men, encouraged by his example, sent volley and volley back at the Red Coats and repelled their attack. As he had proved earlier at Trenton, as tactical commander, he was superb. No movie director would dare stage this fight as it occured for fear of being laughed at.
A few bits about GW.
1) He was intensely aware of the dignity of the office of the President. This was why he would not shake hands nor affably greet others once elected. At the same time, he was also intensely aware of the risks of an “Imperial Presidency”; so it took intense lobbying by Hamilton to convince him to suppress the Whiskey Rebellion, needed to assert federal authority and keep the states from further division.
2) His greatest skill was as a spymaster, running a large network of agents, many of them women, with only one ever being captured (Nathan Hale). The list of these spies has never been released because even today it might prove deeply embarrassing to the British government and nobility.
3) As the commander of the Virginia Regiment in 1755 he led his unit in some vicious fighting against the Indians in the West. In 10 months units of his regiment fought 20 battles, suffering 1/3rd casualties while inflicting a lot more on their enemy.
From what I have read of Hamilton and Washington, this has the ring of truth to me.
Hamilton knew full well from being in close contact with Washington for so long, exactly how Washington was likely to react to a gesture such as being clapped on the shoulder. And Hamilton was apparently not beyond setting someone up like that.
Washington helped to save the colonies for Britian then he went home to his private life. A few years later he strpped forward and helped to bring this nation into being and then went home to his private life. Later he turned down a crown but did accept the burden of leadership to put this nation on a firm footing then he went home to his private life.
Very few people who gain such power actively seek to put it down as Washington did. Therein is his greatness and the evenhandness of his administration.
Washington was highly aware of his place and status in the Convention, and while he said little during its deliberations he knew what his presence meant. This clappy greeting was the eighteentth century equivalent to "stepping on Superman's cape!"