You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington

by Alexis Coe

BEFORE WASHINGTON BECAME PRESIDENT AFTER WASHINGTON BECAME PRESIDENT FINAL RELATIONSHIP STATUS John Adams “I glory in the character of Washington because I know him to be an exemplification of the American character.”1 “Too illiterate, unlearned, unread for his station and reputation.”2 Friends Thomas Jefferson “In War we have produced a Washington, whose memory will be adored while liberty shall have votaries, whose name will triumph over time, and will in future ages assume its station among the most celebrated worthies of the world.”3 “His colloquial talents were not above mediocrity, possessing neither copiousness of ideas, nor fluency of words. in public when called on for a sudden opinion, he was unready, short, and embarrassed.”4 Estranged Thomas Paine “I shall never suffer a hint of dishonor or even a deficiency of respect to you to pass unnoticed.”5 “And as to you, Sir, treacherous in private friendship (for so you have been to me, and that in the day of danger) and a hypocrite in public life, the world will be puzzled to decide whether you are an apostate or an impostor; whether you have abandoned good principles, or whether you ever had any.”6 Estranged James Madison “The conduct of Washington does equal honor to his prudence and to his virtue.”7 “[Washington’s conduct is] improper & indelicate.”8 Estranged James Monroe “I have a boundless confidence in him, nor have I any reason to believe he will ever furnish occasion for withdrawing it.”9 “[T]he labours of y[...