InGeorge Washington's Expense Account-- the best-selling expense account in history -- Kitman shows how Washington brilliantly turned his noble gesture of refusing payment for his services as commander in chief of the Continental Army into an opportunity to indulge his insatiable lust for fine food and drink, extravagant clothing, and lavish accommodations. In a close analysis of the document that financed our Revolution, Kitman uncovers more scandals than you can shake a Nixon Cabinet member at -- and serves each up with verve and wit.
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14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very Humorous Read of American History,
By Carl E. Smith (audscarl@aol.com) (Fern Park, FL) - See all my reviews
This review is from: George Washington's Expense Account (Paperback)
Marvin Kitman has done a masterful job of giving us a different outlook on the Revolutionary War. When George Washington was made General of the Armies, congress offered him a salary but Washington nobly declined and instead requested that they only pay his expenses. The actual journal of his expenses are included in this book and then many journal entries are humorously interrupted by Kitman. Needless to say at war's end, the country would have been better off paying Washington a salary. Congress didn't make the same mistake when Washington became president and made the same offer. This book is easy and light reading and shows how ,in Kitman's words, George Washington became the father of the American expense account.
6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
entertaining bookkeeping,
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This review is from: George Washington's Expense Account (Paperback)
Was George Washington first in war; first in peace; and first in discovering the joys of an unlimited expense account? Hint: Generals earned $166 per month. At the end of 8 years of war George Washington presented an expense account of $499,261.51. That was when a dollar was a continental. Washington included interest for money he loaned himself and depreciation. He later offered to work only for expenses as president and got a salary in stead.
10 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Worthless as a Continental,
By Tony (Moorpark, CA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: George Washington's Expense Account (Paperback)
Did anyone ever hear the term "Worthless as a Continental". It refers to the Continental Dollar, which was, at that time, so inflated it was practically worthless. What may have sounded like a lavish feast would have cost unbelievable amounts of this worthless currency. If they had McDonald's back then, a Big Mac probably would have cost at least a $100.00. A horse cost thousands of dollars. Many merchants wouldn't even except it. You needed bushel baskets full of the stuff to buy anything of importance. When Washington submitted his expense account to Congress, the problem still existed. It wasn't until Washington was President and Alexander Hamilton fixed this problem that the dollar was worth anything.
The American Revolution lasted eight years, the equivalent of two presidential terms! Given the value of the Continental, using it for that length of time would definitely create one hell of a bill. I'm just surprised the expense account wasn't bigger. The author must be one of those "Deconstructionists" that like to paint all of American History as a cynical lie. This is recommended reading to those who revel in anti-American mythology and half truths.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
Accounts, G. Washington - with the United States, Commencing June 1775, and ending. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
expense account writers, expense account writing, expense account crowd, hippie army, expense account shows, doz eggs, orderly books, patriot army, lawful money Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
General Washington, New York, George Washington, Mount Vernon, Valley Forge, New Jersey, Revolutionary War, Continental Army, American Revolution, Household Expences, Major Gibbs, Mary Gibbons, West Point, Fort Lee, King George, Long Island, New England, Staten Island, Benedict Arnold, Boston Harbor, General Greene, Rhode Island, United States, Washington's Writings, Charles Lee New!
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Accounts, G. Washington - with the United States, Commencing June 1775, and ending. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
expense account writers, expense account writing, expense account crowd, hippie army, expense account shows, doz eggs, orderly books, patriot army, lawful money Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
General Washington, New York, George Washington, Mount Vernon, Valley Forge, New Jersey, Revolutionary War, Continental Army, American Revolution, Household Expences, Major Gibbs, Mary Gibbons, West Point, Fort Lee, King George, Long Island, New England, Staten Island, Benedict Arnold, Boston Harbor, General Greene, Rhode Island, United States, Washington's Writings, Charles Lee New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 30
books:
See all 30 books this book cites
4
books
cite this book:
- The Private Soldier Under Washington by Charles Knowles Bolton in Front Matter, page 144, and page 231
- The Crisis Papers (Masterworks of Literature Series) by Charles J. Norman on page 215, and page 216
- History Of Printing In America: With a Biography of Printers & an Account of Newspapers by Isiah Thomas on page 162
- Scholars on Parade by Davida Lockmiller in Front Matter
- Pearl Harbor by H. P. Willmott on page 246
See all 30 books this book cites
- The Making of the Prefident 1789: The Unauthorized Campaign Biography by Marvin Kitman in Front Matter, Index, and Back Cover
- George Washington and the Origins of the American Presidency by William D. Pederson on page 90
- The Age of Federalism: The Early American Republic, 1788-1800 by Stanley Elkins in Back Matter
- The Age of Federalism - The Early American Republic, 1788 - 1800 by Stanley Elkins in Back Matter
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