Essay sur George Washington

CTWE #1 What the office of the presidency owes to Washington

When Studying the American presidency, it is almost impossible to discuss anything without mentioning or alluding to Georges Washington. Indeed, Washington represents so much of our cultural understanding of the presidency it becomes now prerequisite to study him and his presidency before engaging in the study of American presidents. A legend, almost mythical legend that has set the standard of what it is like to be president of the United States. This paper will work towards explaining the impact he had on the American presidency.

        How important must one be to have their legacy venerated and passed down to future generations? Well, the greatness of Washington resides in his selfless attitude of putting the solidarity of the Union above all. This begins even prior to his presidency as he fought and led the American people throughout the American revolution against the British. At the end of the war, the then Army General, already had the opportunity to seize and proclaim himself “king of the American”. He refused to seize this opportunity in December 1783 by retiring and therefore ensure that the people wouldn’t be governed by militaristic power. His model wasn’t Jules Cesar but in fact, Cincinnatus. This apparent simple choice will have a greater impact to his overall legacy or as W.W. Abbot puts it in his Washington papers (1999), “This act of retirement was perhaps the single most important action of his career.” His gesture, which amazed both Americans and Europeans, helped legitimize the newly-formed American republic as it gave the American people a symbolic and ideal figure they needed to define themselves. No wonder why he got unanimously elected, twice!

Already we have noticed the grandeur and the aura of this legendary character prior to his presidency. However, the legacy he has left the American presidency with resides within the precedents he set as the first president of the United States. A Scholar was quoted by Steven Knott over at the miller Center (2017) saying, “His actions, more than those of any other Founding Father, became a part of the ‘unwritten Constitution’.” as to demonstrate the extent of Washington’s presidential decisions and its perpetuity throughout the Republic’s history.

        Washington, as head to executive, quickly realized he would need subordinates to assist him in this newly assigned position. Consequently, he was in charged to form and structure the office of the presidency; hence followed the creation of the first departments like the Departments of State, Wars, and Treasury and other personal advisors like Madison. All these appointments, not only set the precedent for senatorial confirmation, also laid the ground for the general structure of what we now know as the white house.

There are plenty of Washington’s actions that could be interpreted as precedents. However, these small isolated precedents can be joined together to outline his impartial view of the presidency. Indeed, Washington exercised his power with a neutrality ideal that very few could mimic. As of today, the concept of the presidency remains very institutional because of this notion non-partisanship he promulgated. In his farewell address, he specifically detailed the inherent evil within factions; as he wrote: “The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism.”

Moreover, on this aspect, he gave the standard that the president should be above the political differences by applying his veto power only for constitutional breach and not his particular preferences for a law. By doing so, he not only indirectly gave the presidency the power of Judicial review but also reiterated the primordiality of an impartial president serving for the good of his people.

Washington also provided the American legacy with some key ideological visions in order to “establish and maintain a secure, stable, and prosperous republic.” His contributions to the presidency also impacted the general framework for political interactions. An obvious example was his decision to only serve two terms which will be established on as an unspoken rule for more than a century (prior to FDR). His final retirement from his position helped shape the American conscience as to the difference between a king and a president. Washington had the burdensome honor of defining the style of the presidency and the guidelines of US policy. He could have easily transformed the republic into a monarchical regime. Furthermore, his isolationist ideology towards foreign policy also had an impact on future American diplomatic relations. Indeed, for most of its history, the U.S. continued to expand international trade without ever getting cuffed treaties or militaristic alliances. He foresaw the fragility of the newly born state and would not risk going to war on matters that did not directly impact America’s interests. It is in that perspective that he formally announced the proclamation of neutrality in 1793 (Avalon-project, 1793) and later warned, in his farewell address (Mont Vernon, 1796), about the dangers of permanent alliances with the U.S. and foreign countries.

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