Customer Reviews

George Washington (The American Presidents Series)

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4 star:		(3)
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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I admit I am a sucker for history, and especially American History and biographies. In the last few years there have been a plethora of books about our founding fathers, and Professor Burns and Dunn's work is right up there with the best. If there is a flaw it lies in the brevity. But the writing is sharp, almost like a well developed college lecture series, and though I have read longer, more detailed biographies of Washington, this was the most entertaining and easy to digest. I also highly recommend Professor Burns previous books on Franklin Roosevelt if you have a mind to immerse yourself in a very thorough history of a very troubled time and a very heroic, and human statesman.

I too am surprised that this series of short works on the American Presidents is getting what seems to me to be too little attention. While not every book in the series is of the same quality, several, and in particular this one on Washington, are gems. Not a general biography, this is an analysis of Washington's presidency and what we get of his early life is here only to further that analysis. Despite this relatively narrow focus, it is a book all who want to understand our political system as it exists today should read. Dense but very well written, I give it four stars only because I leave five for the greatest works of English literature and we aren't offered four and a half. Nevertheless, I recommend it highly.

This is one of the latest of the American Presidents Series of short biographies, presented by Arthur Shelesinger, Jr. I remain puzzled by the lack of strong public interest in these books while lengthier tomes make the best sellers lists. Regardless, I find these books to be an excellent complimentary resource that allow a reader to learn much more about presidents for whose name may have only have been memorized for a middle school civics class.

Much has been written about Washington in the past, and he seems to be enjoying a resurgence of interest. Some of these biographies are more hagiographic than the last, while others are critical especially of his contrary views on slavery.

The authors of this book, Burns & Dunn, choose to try and focus on Washington's character, and philosophy, instead of chronicling each aspect of his life. They discuss his military career up to the revolution and give short mention of his generalship. But, what they miss in the revolution, they expound on in his post-war career as the president of the Constitutional convention, and as President.

They provide beliefs of his that are relevant in today's executive branch, but more as an example of his judgments that were not followed. For example, "In all situations, including emergencies, Washington demanded calm examination and `a deliberate plan.' No action, he repeated to the secretary of war, should be undertaken without absolutely reliable facts and information." (pp. 63-64). Also, Washington the southerner, not Lincoln the northerner, set the precedent for taking armed action against internal insurrection without the specific approval of the Constitution. This is an historical fact that is ignored by too many of the current population.

Washington failed to live up to his famous maxims in many situations, as the book makes note, including short changing his former troops in the Ohio territory. But, what he did accomplish in defining the role of the chief executive officer is a legacy that is too much taken for granted when rating the great former presidents. This book only shows that character is a difficult judgment to make. It's like trying to define beauty or love. I was taught that there was only one perfect person in this world's history, and he was crucified.

George Washington has a deservedly iconic, larger than life, stature among Americans; and yet his own reserve and aloofness, combined with the 18th Century world in which he lived, make him difficult for most Americans today to understand. With President's Day approaching and our country in the midst of a presidential election, I wanted to revisit Washington. This biography by James MacGregor Burns and Susan Dunn, part of the "American Presidents" series, tells a great deal in short compass about Washington and why he remains important. The study avoids the tendency to place Washington upon a pedestal, and it also avoids the more modern, and much more regrettable, tendency to deflate.

Washington (1732 --1799) was born to the landed aristocracy of Virginia. He served in the French and Indian Wars (1754 -- 1758), as a delegate to the first Continental Congress, as the Commander in Chief during the American Revolution (1775- -- 1781) and as the president of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia (1787), among other accomplishments, before becoming the first President of the United States (1789 --1796). In the early chapters of this book, Burns and Dunn trace the character traits of Washington that fitted him for leadership, together with some of his flaws. They paint a portrait of a Washington driven by ambition and concern for his reputation, but also a person of character, intelligence, and sound judgment. More than once in his life, Washington professed himself reluctant, notwithstanding his ambition, to assume or to expand upon powers he readily could have assumed. Washington did indeed temper his ambition and drive with restraint.

The central theme of this book is how Washington proceeded to set the tone of the American Presidency. The authors draw a number of valuable distinctions. The first is between the ceremonial function of the American President -- as representative of the American people and above the political fray -- and the President's political function. As a result of the respect in which he was held, Washington unified the United States under his leadership and, as the authors state, enhanced the position of the Presidency by his occupation of it rather than, as with his successors, having his own reputation enhanced by virtue of becoming the President. This was an invaluable accomplishment to perform for the new nation.

The authors further distinguish between Washington as a transactional and as a transformational leader. As a transactional leader, Washington acted as an administrator in supervising the complex business of government, including the relationship of the Executive Branch with Congress and with foreign countries. As a transformational leader, Washington acted to create a strong presidency, within the limits established by the constitution, "as well as inspiring and cementing citizens' commitment to the federal government." (p. 64)

The authors also two main commitments underlying Washington's presidency: a commitment to reason, compromise, and judgment, as developed in the philosophy of the Enlightement, and a commitment to happiness as the end of government. Washington did not view happiness as synonymous with pleasure but rather as involving a well-ordered republic with laws that applied fairly and equally to everyone and which allowed everyone the opportunity to improve themselves and to flourish.

The book examines Washington's relationships with his brilliant colleagues, Hamilton, Jefferson, and James Madison and how, at his best, he listened to their frequently divergent views before deciding himself on a wise course of action. Washington's toleration and slowness to judgment receive deserved praise in this study. The authors also examine some of the less fortunate aspects of the Washington presidency, including its elitism, lack of understanding of those other than the rich and powerful, and its obsession with order and discipline. These factors, among others, would lead even in Washington's lifetime to the development of the party system that Washington had hoped to avoid. The authors also are critical of Washington's failure to publically address the issue of slavery and to his all to frequently demonstrated acquisitiveness and tendency to drive sharp bargains in his private life.

In our complicated, difficult political world, this book will remind the reader of the origins of our system of government. It will encourage reflection on the nature of leadership, both when brilliantly executed and when it fails, as exemplified in the Presidency of George Washington.

Robin Friedman

This book is cowritten by one of my favorite authors from my college days, decades ago. James MacGregor Burns wrote a classic about presidential and congressional politics entitled "The Deadlock of Democracy." That book was about the interaction between presidential and congressional parties and how they act as checks on one another. In this book, we see the formation of our political system. Beyond what the Constitution set forth, the nature of our federal system is, in great part, defined by what Washington made of the presidency. As the first chief executive and a highly popular figure, he was in position to define the presidency for the future administrations. He could have asserted much greater power than he did and he would have been (at least initially) largely unopposed. He was in position to sieze almost monarchal power but in significant ways, he did not. For example, he set the two term custom which held until FDR was elected to a third term. Also, he often deferred to Congress.

On the other hand, in both foreign affairs and financial affairs Washington utilized power when it was unclear from the Constitution, whether such power was intended. The authors point out such example as the taking of an official position of neutralitry in the conflict between Great Britain and France. The Constitution makes it clear that congress issues a declaratrion of war. However, does this also mean that a position neutrality must be declared by congress? Washington's actions made this a presidential power. Also, Washington appointed a cabinet of very able men and they, paticularly Alexander Hamilton as Secretary of the Treasury, consolidated significant power in the executive branch. Indeed, there is nothing in the Constitution regarding a cabinet so, Washington's creation this institution set a significant precedent.

In Washington's second term, an opposition party was taking form and this greatly disappointed him since he believed in consensus and felt that parties were harmful. The formation of parties was probably inevitable but Washington almost took it personally, as he hoped his leadership would lead to consensus and he saw the formation of parties as sort of a rejection. In fact, he was a great success since the actions that Washngton took set the precedents for future presidents. As the authors point out so well, "[w]hile future presidents would be respected because of the office they held, in Washington's case, the office would become respected because of the man." For that reason, Washington was a great president.

This book is part of the American Presidents series. As with all of these books, they are well wriiten and very informative about every stage of their lives not just the political. They also inlcude detail that I rarely see in other biographical books concerning the political machinations of their time.

After being inspired by a college class entitled "The American Presidency", I set out on a quest to read a book about each United States President in chronological order. However, this was not as easy a task as it may seem, considering the volumes written about each leader. I was also wary of getting too deep into partisan territory, instead just wanting a base of knowledge about each Prez. Luckily, I stumbled upon this "American Presidents Series" and was not disappointed.

The book offered everything I could have asked for, and even a bit more. Authors James MacGregor Burns and Susan Dunn painted a very informative portrait of our first great leader, George Washington, as well as re-constructing the political sphere and times that he operated within. Upon finishing the text, I came away feeling as if I knew not only Washington the man and politician, but also the status of America's capitol at the end of the 1700s. Perhaps a partisan hand was in play at times (although I would say that not doing so is pretty much impossible in a text), but I could not detect it.

I will continue with confidence in my quest to educate myself about American's highest office, with this series being my guide along the way.

As the authors relate, Washington was human and open to the political menace of competing factions. He also was highly idealistic and wanted the best for his country. He may have had a ego, and thought his actions were the best for his nation. His administration as with his military command were made up of people who were more than capable. How else can you explain a administration with Adams, Pickering, Hamilton, and Jefferson competing for what they thought was best for their country.
Washington held these people together through some difficult crisises. The authors also remind us that Washington heard a lot of discouraging comments about his character during the eight years of his administration. Constant criticism was aimed at him. After eight years, it is no wonder he decided to retire to Mt. Vernon.

Washington may not have done any extraordinary things, but his actions ensured an American democracy for years to come. He guided the new republic to a standard in government and then retired when the time came.
His actions demonstrate his greatness. This book is fair read on the accomplishments of our first president.

This is one more work in The American Presidents series. The stage is set by one quotation from the Introduction by the series editor, Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. (Page xvii): "The greatest presidents in the scholars' rankings, Washington, Lincoln, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, were leaders who confronted and overcame the republic's greatest crises."

One fact that sets this book apart from others is co-author James MacGregor Burns, eminent political scientist and a leading authority on leadership. He examines George Washington, in part, from the perspective of leadership. To begin, Burns and co-author Susan Dunn lay out the obvious--but profound--point (Page 3): "His presidency. . .would be his ultimate achievement, for it would undergird every future president who would seek to offer strong and determined leadership." In a sense, Washington made up the presidency as he went along, painfully aware that he was setting precedent for future occupants of that office.

One of Burns' accomplishments was development of the concepts of transactional leadership versus transformational leadership. The authors apply both to Washington, noting, first, that he was an exemplar of transactional leadership--(Page 64) "managing, supervising, delegating, compromising, mastering the centrifugal forces in the government." In short, marshalling resources at his disposal and "getting things done" efficiently and effectively. In addition, it is argued, he was a transformational leader--(Page 64) "giving strong institutional shape to an enhanced philosophy of executive leadership as well as inspiring and cementing citizens' commitment to the federal government. Many examples are adduced throughout the volume to bolster the contention that Washington was effective at both aspects of leadership.

The book itself provides a reasonable background to Washington's life, including his checkered military career before the Revolution. He is also described as having towering ambition, which he strove to control and channel throughout his life. Then, his key role during the Revolutionary War and serving the country in a variety of ways after the ending of the war, including his simple presence at the Constitutional Convention, bringing credibility to that event.

Then, Washington's first term is described. One major strength of this was, overall, a terrific leadership team, including Alexander Hamilton at the Treasury Department, Thomas Jefferson at the State Department, Henry Knox (not so successful) at the War Department, and Edmund Randolph as Attorney General. He also, at this point, had a very good relationship with now Congressional leader James Madison. He used his cabinet to good effect, creating a form of collective leadership, in which he received advice from his Cabinet, discussed with them, and then withdrew to reflect and make his own decision. It is worth noting that John Adams, his Vice President, was NOT a part of the leadership team. Within a handful of years, differences began to emerge among political leaders (including a schism within his own Cabinet), presaging the rise of political party. This puzzled Washington who felt that through reason we could all come to agreement. It also began the challenges to Washington's authority by those who disagreed with him.

The second term featured the development of even greater partisan divisiveness (in Washington's eyes, anyhow). Policy battles became fiercer, wearying Washington, Nonetheless, if one look at the accomplishments during his two terms, one can only be impressed by what he and his team did.

The conclusion is a nuanced essay by the authors on Washington's moral leadership, his strengths and weaknesses on that dimensions. While there is much to admire, there are also some questions raised, such as his desire for land and wealth and his tacit support for slavery (even though he increasingly became ill disposed toward the "peculiar institution"). Nonetheless, the last line of the book says much (Page 157): "Transcending all this was the legacy for all Americans of Washington the man--the revolutionary hero, the founding president, and the First Citizen of the republic."

If you wish a more detailed work on Washington, one might examine Joseph Ellis' book "His Excellency: George Washington." However, for those who wish to learn more about our first president without going into lengthier expositions on him, this slender volume will prove rewarding.

This book, along with the others in the series, is a short biography of George Washington. There are plenty of other book about him that deal much more in depth, but this book makes for a good beginning.

He was a man of tremendous ambition that was concerned with climbing the social ladder. Indeed, he was one of the richest men in Virginia at the time. But the fact remains that after the end of the Revolutionary War he resigned his commison and went back to his Mount Vernon farm. Instead of taking advantage of his tremendous popularity at a time when he could have easily grabbed a lot of power from the young nation, he wished nothing more than to become a country farmer. That fact tells volumes about his character. How many men would have not taken advantage of the situation?

Not to put him on a pedestal, or portray him as a saint, this book tells of his ambition, his concern with climbing further into the social strata, and also tells of his love for the new-founded country. He was a great man, and totally human.

A good short introduction to George Washgington, and another great volume in the series!