U.S. to celebrate birthday of its first monumental figure
On February 22nd, next Wednesday, our nation will celebrate the 280th birthday of George Washington, our first president, for his life as a great man and the contributions he made at our nation’s founding.
Several of his policies ensured our country’s continuance and safety.
These included a financial plan that eliminated debt from the Revolutionary War, and a foreign policy agenda that ingeniously included treaties with no one.He knew that involvement in European affairs meant treading dangerous waters for a new country with little military structure.
But policy aside, the most impressive impact he had on our country was tradition.
Washington knew his actions were likely to establish precedent for decades or even centuries to come, and he factored that into his conduct.
He believed our presidents should serve in a limited role. He strived to keep the presidency from resembling European royalty.
“Mr. President” became the official title of the post instead of Your Majesty, and regarding this Washington famously quipped, “I did not defeat George the Third to become George the First.”
Most incredible was his decision to step down after two terms in office.
This was a tradition upheld by each second term incumbent president following him until Franklin Delano Roosevelt ran and was elected to a third term in 1940.
The tradition was amended into the Constitution in 1951.
Our first Commander in Chief’s actions and decisions in his eight-year presidency preserved our democracy, and helped ensure today’s freedoms.
Our government recognizes many national holidays, and all should have importance to us.
But the one toward the end of February, celebrating the birth of our first inaugurated executive chief, deserves the utmost respect and attention.
You can follow Colin Criss on Twitter @ADKCurrent
