(cont'd from yesterday's post)
America's independence was won and the peace treaty signed by 1783. The Commander-in-Chief, loved and respected by his troops, was a towering hero. Some wanted to crown him as the new king of America but he wouldn't allow it, since the point of the war had been to enable the people to rule themselves.
England's King George heard that The General intended to resign his command and retire to private life on his farm. Knowing that power is almost impossible to resist, he commented: "If he does that, he is the greatest man on earth."
But Washington did it, and enjoyed his private farming life for a short time. After the country was re-organized, after the Constitution was written, he was the obvious and popular candidate for our first president. He set the precedent to serve in that position for only two terms (1789-1787).
Stories and legends sprang up about him, but Abigail Adams had it right when she said after his death, "Simple truth is his best, his greatest eulogy."
I highly recommend Washington: A Life, by historian Ron Chernow
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