George Washington’s Perseverance

GeorgeWashingtonWashington was well known for sticking to a task that he had undertaken. He couldn’t be shaken from doing his duty, or fulfilling his promise.

After he had fought in the French and Indian War, served in the Virginia House of Burgesses, Served as Commander in Chief of the United Colonial Armies until he won the War, served as President of the Constitutional Convention, was unanimously elected, not once but twice as the President of the new United States of America, he finally wanted to return home to Mount Vernon to live out his life. The country wanted him to serve a third term as President, but he finally declined a job! He truly had served enough!! read more

The Tact of the Founding Fathers

“So be sure when you step,
step with care and great TACT.
And remember that life’s
A great balancing act.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will indeed!
–Dr. Seuss

Abraham_Lincoln_2“Tact is the ability to see others as they see themselves.”
–Abraham Lincoln

“So you’ve got a problem? That’s good. Why? Because repeated victories over your problems are the rungs on your ladder to success With each victory you grow in wisdom, stature, and experience. You become a bigger, better, more successful person each time you meet a problem and tackle and conquer it with a positive mental attitude.”
–W. Clement Stone read more

Thomas Jefferson’s Birthday!

ThomasJeffersonThomas Jefferson should truly be remembered and honored today. What did he accomplish? I’ll just mention a few here. He graduated from William and Mary College and then studied law for 5 years under George Wythe, the first law professor in Virginia.

By then he was already an accomplished violinist and dancer. He fell in love with and married another musician, Martha Wayles Skelton. He had already begun construction on Montecello, so they moved in to the one room that was finished there. He worked on building and remodeling for the next 40 years. (If you haven’t been there, you should go to visit and to observe the detail and the beauty of his mansion on the hill. read more

Our Two Honest Presidents

GeorgeWashington“Oh, he’s a politician, you can’t believe anything he says!”

That’s what I heard the other day standing near a couple talking about the upcoming elections. It made me stop and think. Is that really what it has come to?

The story about George Washington and the cherry tree used to be taught in schools to help youngsters learn about honesty. Now it’s often pooh-poohed as a made up tale. The bloom is off the cherry tree—or at least it’s story.

Parson Weems, a regular at George Washington’s dinner table, wrote the story after George had passed away. It may be based
in fact. Parson may have heard it from George himself. (I’m not going to tell the story here, so for more on that tale, go to Founding Fathers—Uncommon Heroes, pages 39-41, if you’d like to read more about it). read more

Patrick Henry–Character Counts

PatrickHenryI can remember in detail a story which was told to me several years ago. A good friend had a son, Ken, who was working for a large grocery store in his area. He was a good high school student as well as worker. One evening my friend was waiting in his car to give his son a ride home after work. The store manager appeared at his car window. He rolled it down. The manager introduced himself and asked if her were Ken’s dad.

He readily admitted he was, not quite knowing what to expect. The manager thrust his hand into the car and shaking hands said: “Congratulations for having such a fine son and such an exceptional worker. read more

Ben Franklin’s Advice re Argument

Ben FranklinBenjamin Franklin was one of the most successful diplomats in our nations early history. He was so good at making friends, and helping them to agree on lending money to the colonies that we won the Revolutionary War.

He made few speeches at the Constitutional Convention, but those he did make led to the approval of the final document. He learned to make friends even out of those who would want to argue.

He once put it this way: “The way to convince another is to state your case moderately and accurately. Then scratch your head, or shake it a little and say that is the way it seems to you, but of course you may be mistaken about it. This causes your listener to receive what you have to say, and as like as not turn about and try to convince you of it since you are in doubt. But if you go at him in a tone of positiveness and arrogance, you only make an opponent of him.” read more

Benjamin Franklin’s Warning

Ben FranklinMost people who have a little interest in American history have read Benjamin Franklin’s words which seemed to bring about a final consensus and agreement on the basics of our Constitution. I believe I have even repeated them here on this blog at some time or another. (If you can’t remember them or want to have them again go to the book “FoundingFathers–Uncommon Heroes”. What Ben said is there on page 33. If you don’t have the book yet, for heaven sakes, get it right now. Click here.) read more

Citizens Amend the Constitution

constitutionThere is something I just can’t understand—at all! Yesterday in my blog I gave some little bit of background about our U.S. Constitution. I mentioned that our Constitution has been amended only 17 times since the original Bill of Rights was adopted. Seventeen times since December 15, 1791. That’s more than 225 years.

But two of those amendments came in 1913. What happened in 1913 that allowed those two amendments to be approved? Woodrow Wilson was president and started the “progressive” movement. Which shortly died out for a while, but it’s back now—with a vengeance. Just look, we have our first openly socialist candidate. read more

The U. S. Constitution and Its Amendments

constitutionThere has been much talk in the recent political arena about protecting the Constitution. There hasn’t been much talk about the Constitution itself and what it says or means. I sometimes wonder how much politicians, Senators, Representatives, Judges and even citizens really know about the Constitution. But it does make for a good sound bite.

When I think about the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1987, I am amazed that it even got ratified. There was much debate and disagreement. The room at Independence Hall was locked and the windows closed so the people wouldn’t see the contention in the debates. (Think of the televised debates today!) read more

James Madison’s War

JamesMadisonWe discussed the War of 1812 just a few blogs ago. This was sometimes referred to as Madison’s war. It occurred during Madison’s second term as President, and the U.S. won, again. We later adopted the Star Spangled Banner as our national anthym. I hope you enjoyed the information.

Also during Madison’s second term a new word emerged in our vocabulary. Elbridge Gerry was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and was Madison’s Vice President. Gerry helped Congress redistrict, or carve up the voting districts of a State to help insure the proper candidate would be elected. His opponents all complained. They pointed out that the new districts weren’t symmetrical. They had the shapes of slithering salamanders. Yuck! read more