Thomas Paine had a great influence in the hearts of early Americans, especially the soldiers serving under General George Washington. George expected obedience and loyalty from his troops. He wanted them to quit the use of foul language, to show respect to others, and to do their duty. The soldiers grew to love their leader.
Thomas Paine wrote a couple of highly touted booklets that raised the spirits of the colonists, especially Washington’s troops, who would soon fight the battle of Trenton.
In his elder years John Adams and Thomas Jefferson rekindled their friendship. They carried on a correspondence that covered every known topic. They were both very learned gentlemen and together they had accomplished more than anyone could have expected. Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence without books or reference materials. John Adams carried the day at the convention by his forceful power of speaking.
They continued their association in letters and wished they could actually spend some quality time together, but never were able to. John Adams’ wisdom on this friendship is contained in these words of his: “Old minds are like old horses; you must exercise them if you wish to keep them in working order.”
Benjamin Franklin created his “Project for Moral Perfection” in order to become as perfect as he could in his chosen principles.
George Washington was taught at the request of his father in Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour.
Thomas Jefferson sometimes recited the Lord’s 10 Commandments out behind the barn to help his school go faster.
John Adams’ father wanted him to become a minister and that’s the main reason he was sent to The College of New Jersey to study.
Patrick Henry had a tradition of spending each evening with his family to read scriptures together.
Dolley Madison, who was married to James Madison, was raised a Quaker. She gave up her religion when her father was banished from the Quaker religion when he filed for bankruptcy as his starch making business failed. Dolley couldn’t get over that.
She was vivacious and outgoing and made a difference, a huge difference in the life of James Madison. The problem was that she usually said anything that popped into her head. Sometimes that wasn’t ‘politically correct’, even then.
Dolley called her husband ‘Jemmy’, as a term of endearment. Jemmy, a usually serious man, used to laugh at Dolley when she would just blurt something out. James kept much to himself, and he warned Dolley “In politics, think before you speak, and if you intend to say what you really mean, then think twice!”
When I took Constitutional Law (a required course) in law school, I had been looking forward to it. Of all my classes in law school, this was the most disappointing. We never once read, or were required to read, the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, The Declaration of Independence, or the Federalist Papers.
We learned in our Contracts class, that to understand a contract you had to look into the “four corners” of the document to understand the basic premise. That apparently isn’t the case with the most important document in the establishment of the nation, the Constitution.
Perhaps you were able to attend one of the Mesa, Arizona, George Washington Birthday Celebrations. I was the organizer, the planner, the idea man, and the chief fundraiser and donor. They were held for four years in a row on Presidents Day Monday. The attendance increased each year until the crowd of 2,500 was simply too much for our location. The Mesa School District offered to let me continue the event at any of the Mesa schools. However, I declined. I knew that would ruin the neighborhood feeling of the annual event.
Persuading others to your point of view requires patience and endurance. Franklin assumed that people change their minds only slowly and indirectly. Ben would say: “If you don’t win the bargain today, go after it again tomorrow.” Here are some of the tips Franklin recommends for initiating persuasion:
1. Be clear, in your own mind, about exactly what you’re after.
2. Do your homework, so that you are fully prepared to discuss every aspect and respond to every question or comment.
3. Be persistent. Don’t expect to “win” the first time. Your first job is just to start the other person thinking.
4. Make friends of the person you are bargaining with. Put your bargain in terms of that person’s needs, wants, advantages, and benefits.
5. Keep you sense of humor!
The original Founding Fathers didn’t seem to move around too much. You know, sell their homes and find another. George Washington loved Mount Vernon so much that he wanted to return there instead of serving another term as President.
Thomas Jefferson loved Monticello and continued rebuilding and remodeling all his life. James Madison, his close friend, likewise loved Montpelier. That’s where he grew up, lived after marriage and after he served as President. That’s where he eventually passed away.
I’ve read a lot about our Founding Fathers. They were men of great faith, and great action on that faith. I read the following quote and it reminded me of our Founding Fathers, especially George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and James Madison. Yes, and others. Here’s the quote:
“God blesses us according to our faith. Faith is the source of living with divine purpose and eternal perspective. Faith is a practical principle that inspires diligence. It is a vital, living force manifest in our positive attitude and desire to willingly do everything that God and Jesus Christ ask of us. It takes us to our knees to implore the Lord for guidance and to arise and act with confidence to achieve things consistent with His will.” (Ulisses Soares, Ensign magazine, May, 2017, page 34.)
In the Constitution, the Founding Fathers set out a plan for the ruling of the new nation. That plan included procedures should the leaders be guilty of high crimes or misdemeanors. They could be impeached. Yes, even the Supreme Court Justices were (in theory) subject to this.
Do you recall how it is born out in history? Vice President to Richard Nixon, Sprio Agnew, resigned after bribery allegations were brought against him. Nixon appointed Gerald Ford to become the new Vice President, replacing Agnew.