Bruce’s Reviews > Washington: A Life > Status Update

"Washington's Indian policy was a tragedy of noble intentions.… [I]n his 'Address to the Cherokee Nation,' which attempted to define a way for Americans and Native Americans to coexist in harmony... he again advised the Indians to abandon traditional hunting and gathering and to imitate the civilization of white settlers by farming and ranching... [using] Mount Vernon as a model." -->

"After parading by the President's House [the future White House, as yet unfinished], the gathering settled down to celebrate by dining on the barbecued remains of a five-hundred-pound ox." C'mon, Chernow. Let's not get all fancy. They enjoyed good ol' fashioned ribs! Anyone for some Rocklands?

This is also where conspiracy theories regarding the founders as illuminati (through participation in Masonic rituals) takes off, but the author argues that Washington saw them entirely for their civic merit as a community-building, "happiness-promoting" organization. Anyway, social clubs are just fun, aren't they?

W didn't just champion the creation of the federal district, he oversaw its development and personally spread cement over the cornerstone of the Capitol building. Washington literally built Washington.

One drawback of having the temporary capitol in Philly (for southerners) were local laws which freed slaves resident for more than 6 months at a time. "Not taking any chances, Washington decided to shuttle his slaves back to Mount Vernon for brief stays before their six-month time limits expired... resort[ing] to various ruses so they would not know why they were being sent home temporarily." Where's the trust?

For Washington's first term, Chernow is rehashing events (and possibly much of the same text) he covered in greater detail elsewhere. Here he repeats the thigh surgery scene from p. 283 of Hamilton, Dr. John Bard hacking into the president while exclaiming, "Cut away... Deep--deeper--deeper still. Don't be afraid. You will see how well he bears it!" Just as good the second time around.

Unsought pomp & circumstance on the way to inauguration as Trenton "erected a magnificent floral arch in his honor with the words 'December 26, 1776' sewn from leaves and flowers. Another flowery sentence proclaimed, 'The Defenders of the Mothers will also Defend the Daughters.' As he rode closer, thirteen young girls, robed in spotless white, walked forward with flower-filled baskets, scattering petals at his feet."

Good question: "Even as Rochambeau humored Washington and initialed a document saying that New York held top priority, he secretly relayed word to de Grasse that he should think about sailing to Chesapeake Bay instead.... In the coming weeks R. pretended to lend credence to W's plans, while focusing his real attention on quite a different strategy. Why did W botch this major strategic call?"

Small wonder W outlived his robust ancestors/siblings: "During that Morristown winter [of the Revolutionary War] Washington stressed the importance of clean clothing and sanitary quarters and a nutritious diet with vegetables and salads." He also had all new soldiers regularly inoculated for smallpox.

Washington the pol at 29: "He urged the sheriff who oversaw the election [for House of Burgesses]... to favor his candidacy with a blatantly unfair tactic. Because there was no secret ballot and people openly voiced their votes, it was hugely advantageous for candidates if the first voters favored them, stimulating a bandwagon effect." 14 of the first 15 people to announce votes were Washington partisans. Landslide!