Category Archives: George Washington

George Washington’s Portrait Saved by Dolley

Posted on by October 20, 2015

Landsdowne paintingJames and Dolley Madison were residents of the President’s Mansion in Washington, D.C., in 1812. James was President of the United States of America, and Dolley was his wife and hostess.

I once asked a high school class I was speaking to, when the War of 1812 took place. They didn’t know. But you know. It was in 1812! During the war, the British were marching toward Washington, D.C. President Madison decided he needed to go to the “front” to see what was transpiring with the fighting. He didn’t really trust his generals that much. read more

George Washington’s Character

Posted on by October 19, 2015

GeorgeWashingtonAs a youth, George Washington learned some rules that helped him all his life. He was taught penmanship by his tutor who used “The Rules of Civility and Descent Behaviour in Company and Conversation” as dictated material that George would have to rewrite time, and time again in order to improve his penmanship. Doing this George also learned some manners, life principles in dealing with others, and how to make good conversation.

One of the rules that helped him not only in his youth, but also in his later years, and throughout his life, would be good to learn today. read more

Founding Fathers and Humility

Posted on by October 18, 2015

Scene_at_the_Signing_of_the_Constitution_of_the_United_StatesThis is a quote that reminds me of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and others of our Founding Fathers—Uncommon Heroes:

“Something Very Beautiful happens to a people when their world has fallen apart: A Humility. A Nobility. A Higher Intelligence Emerges at just the point when our knees hit the Floor.” –Marianne Williamson

The world had fallen apart for these men, and they came to the rescue with humility, nobility, and a belief in the support of a Higher Intelligence. Their knees often hit the floor. read more

John Adams defeats Thomas Jefferson, Then Visa Versa!

Posted on by October 13, 2015

JohnAdamsThomasJeffersonJohn Adams was a firm supporter of Thomas Jefferson’s draft of the Declaration of Independence in the Continental Congress of 1776. Tom then referred to Adams as the Colossus of the debates.

When George Washington declined to run for a third term as President of the United States, John Adams was elected as his replacement. Thomas Jefferson received the next highest number of electoral votes, and so became his Vice President.

John Adams revealed a bit of humorous jealousy when he wrote of what future historians would record about his time: read more

Christopher Columbus, George Washington, and Perseverance

Posted on by October 12, 2015

Christopher_Columbus_on_Santa_Maria_in_1492.Happy Columbus Day! Christopher Columbus and George Washington had many character traits in common. The most remarkable is Perseverance.

Columbus had an idea about reaching the East by sailing West. No one had successfully done that before. He was an expert sailor and mapmaker. He came up with his plan and presented it to the King of Portugal, the King and Queen of Spain—four times, the King of France, and he even sent his brother to England to present his plan.

He was on his way to present his plan once again to the King of France, when he was called back to the Majesties of Spain once again. They had just won their war in Grenada and now his plan sounded better to them. One more presentation and it was granted and approved. read more

Founding Fathers in the Right Place

Posted on by October 11, 2015

Speaking-2When I was in college, my girlfriend (now my wife) and I went to an open-air concert. It was presented by the late music composer and singer, John Hartford. It was a great concert!

One of his songs stuck with me and has had a real meaning in my life. The lyrics occasionally come into my mind with several experiences. I guess because I have been in the right place at the right time for special events in my life to occur.

It’s a fun song and the lyrics go like this:

“I would not be here if I hadn’t been there,
and I wouldn’t ‘a been there if I hadn’t just turned
on Wednesday the third in the late afternoon
got to talking with George who works out in the back
and only because he was getting off early
to go see a man at a Baker Street bookstore
with a rare first edition of Steamboats and Cotton
a book he would never have sought in the first place
had he not been inspired by a fifth grade replacement
school teacher in Kirkwood who was just picked at random . . . “ read more

U. S. History Patriotic Artwork

Posted on by October 2, 2015

When I retired and closed my law office a few years ago, I had to bring my office artwork home. That included about 8 or 10 beautiful patriotic oil paintings, reproductions, art posters, and even plaster busts of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. And a full sized American flag on a pole.

Our home already had its own artwork on nearly every available wall, and this artwork didn’t really lend itself all that well to a family residence. So all the artwork was just stacked up near a wall in the back room. I couldn’t stand to part with such lovely pieces which I had become so accustomed to at work. So what to do? It can’t continue to still just languish there where it is! read more

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson Teach Each Other

Posted on by September 29, 2015

History is full of fascinating facts! Here’s just one example:

Thomas Jefferson, from Virginia, and John Adams from Massachusetts, became fast friends during the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. It was here that Tom wrote the Declaration of Independence in only 17 days without book or pamphlet, while residing at the Graff House.

When Tom’s draft was presented to the Congress, Tom did not speak on its behalf, on behalf of his immortal document. Tom was not a very good public speaker. His voice was high and shrill and barely audible to a group. read more

James Madison and The U. S. Constitution, Then and Now

Posted on by September 28, 2015

constitutionAfter 16 weeks of unrelenting work, the U. S. Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787. It was truly a miracle! Those who attended the Convention worked hard, studied hard, listened hard to others, and even prayed hard. They knew what they were doing was important for the centuries.

James Madison, known as the Father of the Constitution, had remarkable success in bringing together the most influential and wise men in the colonies, including George Washington, who didn’t want to be there at first. read more

Thomas Jefferson’s Thoughts and The Declaration of Independence

Posted on by September 27, 2015

Jefferson said: “The glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than money.”

monticelloI guess that’s literally true. Tom had many great and warm thoughts, but he spent his money liberally. (Is that why the liberals like to spend money so fast—yours and mine?)

When he died, his family had to sell whatever they could of his to pay his debts. But Monticello has been restored to its glorious condition today. If you haven’t visited there yet, make it a point to do so. You can learn so much from just a visit to his home, see how he lived, and what he loved to design and to collect. And how dear he held his family in his thoughts. read more