Washington: A Life

by Ron Chernow

Many contemporaries professed to discern heavenly influence in Washington’s childless state—God’s tacit way of protecting America. As Gouverneur Morris stated in his eulogy for Washington, “AMERICANS! he had no child BUT YOU and HE WAS ALL YOUR OWN.”30

“Before there was a nation—before there was any symbol of that nation (a flag, a Constitution, a national seal)—there was Washington.”

“Moderate exercise and books occasionally, with the mind unbent, will be your best restoratives.”

Washington included his greyhound, which he had named Cornwallis.

Citing declining health, he said it would be “criminal therefore in me, although it should be the wish of my countrymen . . . to accept an office under this conviction.”