Celebrating our Presidents

by Dr. Don Kuehle, United Methodist, Retired, Jackson, Missouri

February is the month when we observe Presidents’ Day, honoring George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Both were great men, respected and revered leaders. They dealt well with the issues and crises of their day.

What if Washington or Lincoln were President today? How would they handle today’s issues? How would they deal with the pressure of the Press? Would their private lives be made more public than warranted?

George Washington was born on Feb. 22, 1732 in Pope’s Creek, Va. He was a soldier in the French and Indian Wars of the 1750s. In 1775, John Adams stood before the Continental Congress and nominated Washington as Commander-In-Chief of the Continental Army; John Hancock was angry because he wasn’t chosen. Washington took a rag-tag group of men and molded them into a formidable force. Following the defeat of the British, many wanted to crown Washington “King-of-the-Colonies.” He graciously declined. Instead, he was elected first President of a fledgling nation.

During his two terms in office, Washington lived in New York; from there he supervised the construction of the Presidential Mansion in the District of Columbia, although he never lived there. Washington was responsible for establishing the Departments of State, Treasury, and War.

The Bill of Rights became law during his presidency. Washington was a member of the Federalist Party. Of all the presidents, only he and James Monroe ran for the presidency unopposed.

George Washington was a land owner, farmer, fireman, soldier, and statesman. He was a religious man, with high moral standards. He was humble and unassuming; yet, he could also be disciplined and stern. He was fair and honest in his dealings with people. He was respected and revered by supporters and opponents alike.

As our nation’s first President, Washington laid the foundation for a great nation-to-be. He formed the straggling colonies into a unified country.

When he spoke, people knew that he spoke the truth; legend personifies him as a person who never told a lie. Washington was not afraid to admit his mistakes and errors; he asked forgiveness or extended an apology, when necessary, to mend broken relationships. He placed the good of the nation ahead of any personal gain. Washington died on Dec. 14, 1799 at his home in Mount Vernon, Va. Great man! Great President!

An unknown poet left this inscription at Washington’s home at Mount Vernon: “Washington, the brave, the wise, the good,

Supreme in war, in council, and in peace,

Valiant without ambition, discreet without fear,

Confident without presumption.

In disaster, calm; in success, moderate; in all, himself.

The hero, the patriot, the Christian,

The father of nations, the friend of mankind,

Who, when he had won all, renounced all,

And sought in the bosom of his family and of nature, retirement,

And in the hope of religion, immortality.”

A great tribute to a great man and a great President! If only we had leaders like him today. If only we, ourselves, could be the kind of person Washington was! Why not? We can, if we so choose!