The Presidency of George Washington

George Washington BookShelf

by Jack D. Warren

In the first specialized study of the Washington presidency published in a generation, the historian Jack D. Warren Jr. outlines the first president’s practical the establishment of the executive as an energetic and effective branch of government; the resolution of the new nation’s financial crisis; the opening of the trans-Appalachian West; the creation of Washington, D.C.; and the preservation of peace with the warring powers of Europe. In a time of intense partisanship, Warren explains, Washington worked constantly to strengthen the Union, gave his office a character that transcends politics, and set a standard of conduct for national leaders that has endured for more than two centuries. Washington shaped the powers of the presidency, former president George H. W. Bush says in his foreword, "yet never wavered from his promise to remain a servant of the people."

Genres: History

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[William Bahr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Character is Key for Liberty!

This 112-page well-written, well-researched book on George Washington’s presidency is one of the best of the hundreds of books on George Washington I’ve read so far. Definitely published by and probably commissioned by Mount Vernon, the book and its chapters cover the following:

Foreward [by President George H. W. Bush]
Acknowledgments
Prologue: A Reluctant Departure [from Mount Vernon]
Chapter I: The Eyes of Argus [“’My political conduct,’ Washington explained to his nephew Bushrod, ‘must be exceedingly circumspect and proof against just criticism, for the eyes of Argus are upon me, and no slip will pass unnoticed.’” Note: Argus was a many-eyed giant in Greek mythology. This chapter focuses on George Washington’s character.]
Chapter II: A Vision of Prosperity
Chapter III: A Continental Republic
Chapter IV: Washington’s City
Chapter V: The Challenge of Partisanship
Chapter VI: The National Interest
Epilogue: A Final Farewell

The book does an outstanding job of rendering a clear, concise, yet complete account of the eight years of Washington’s presidency. I was especially pleased that on page 74 there is a close-up photograph of the main key to the Bastille that Lafayette gave to Washington as “a tribute which I owe to you, as a son to my adoptive father, as an aide de camp to my general, as a missionary of liberty to its patriarch.” When Washington retired to Mount Vernon, he placed the key in the mansion's main passageway, the most public part of the house.

Bottom-line and as a fellow author, I highly recommend this book as an excellent addition to any library on George Washington.

[Jerry Landry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief, concise overview of Washington's presidency. A quite fair assessment of our first president and contained a few facts that I hadn't known prior.

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent history book. Nice easy read and full of information. Reading this made me want to learn more about our early presidents. Recommended

[Dave]

This is a quick, concise reading of Washington's presidential years. It covers all the big events of those 8 years and reflects the character and goals of the first US president. Interestingly, it was written in a style that makes it somewhat of a "page turner".

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to own this book, please.