Washington: A Life

Washington, A Life by Ron Chernow should be required reading by all of us, including our children. For most of us, the images we have in our heads of the founding fathers were formed a lifetime ago when we were children. Today our children are forming those same images in their minds, based on boring textbooks and teachers that have only a borderline knowledge of Washington, or that matter an interest. Had I been fortunate enough to have had a book like this several decades ago, my understanding and interest in Washington would have been remarkably different than the lifeless, waxwork image that most of us have.Chernow makes George Washington come alive, and how grateful we should be for this. Every few years a new book comes out on our country's first President, each one is pronounced the definitive one, and yet next year there is another one. What differentiates Chernow from all of the rest is his capacity to convey a living human being with an emotional life, something no other author has been able to do so far.First, let's discuss the mechanics of the book. Without the footnotes and index, we are looking at 817 pages printed with a small font. It's a big heavy book, but remember that many Washington biographies encompass several volumes, usually 3 or 4. Chernow was very reliant on the papers of the George Washington Project at the University of Virginia. This involves more than 130,000 relevant documents.First composed by John C. Fitzpatrick in the 1930's and 1940's, the papers occupy 39 volumes of letters written by George Washington. In recent years, this work has been expanded to 60 volumes, which now includes letters addressed to Washington as well as writings of his friends, family, and others who lived during his lifetime.One of the amazing statements I took out of the book was Chernow's comment that we now know more about George Washington than his own friends, family or contemporaries did. The book itself is divided into six distinct parts. They are:Part I - The FrontiersmanPart II - The PlanterPart III - The GeneralPart IV - The StatesmanPart V - Acting the PresidencyPart VI - The LegendI am going to describe an instance briefly from each section to give you a feel for how interesting this book is. Chapter 4 of Part I is called the Bloodbath. In it Chernow describes vividly how Colonel Washington trained 160 green recruits to take on more than 1000 French soldiers with 360 boats and 18 pieces of artillery during the French and Indian War. This occurred in May of 1754.It is obvious that America's founder lost control of his troops who engaged in scalping, and other acts which the future President found to be degrading. Washington himself had to lie to his troops and tell them that additional soldiers were on their way to reinforce their position. He would regret the actions that took place in this encounter for the rest of his life.In Part II, chapter 17 Washington finds himself living in Cambridge Massachusetts adjacent to Harvard University, and regrets never having attended college. He lives in the house of John Vassall and encounters a young slave named Darby Vassall. Washington decides to take young Darby into his service and changes his mind, when the young man says, "What would my wages be." What most of us would find to be humor, Washington found to be insulting.During this period of his life, Washington is described by different people in the following terms, venerated, truly noble and majestic, vast ease, dignity, always buffed and polished. He always had an elegant sword strapped to his side, and had silver spurs attached to his boots. When asked how he would pick an officer, his reply was that he must be a true gentleman, with a genuine sense of humor, and the reputation of being able to rise.In Part III the General deals with the revolutionary war. Chapter 28 is about the Long Retreat. Washington is so disappointed when General Benjamin Lincoln must surrender Charleston, South Carolina along with 2,571 men with 343 artillery pieces plus 6000 muskets. Normally soldiers are allowed to surrender with dignity and march out with their colors, but not this time. To shame the Americans, we were required to lay down our arms in silence. The choice was than given to become a prisoner of war or return home after a solemn oath to refrain from further fighting.This part also includes the Benedict Arnold affair. If you think you know the story, believe me, you don't. Arnold comes through as an extraordinary American. Words to describe him include, fearless, racing on horseback to spur on his men, most enterprising, and dangerous as a warrior. Arnold had horses shot out from under him, and kept going. One of his legs was basically blown off, and still he would not stop fighting, refusing amputation; he was able to carry on. The first President of our country is totally enamored of Benedict Arnold.Arnold on the other hand felt betrayed by our country. Far superior to the generals he reported to, other generals took credit for the victories that Arnold won, and paid for with his body, in pain and parts. Officials in Pennsylvania officials falsely accused Arnold of exploiting his position for personal gain. The General demanded an immediate trial by court martial. Arnold felt that George Washington did not come to his defense, and this led to the ultimate betrayal. It is Arnold's betrayal that has erased all the major battles he won on behalf of this country - sound familiar.In Part IV, the Statesman, we see George Washington as perhaps the first American celebrity. He is the most famous person in our new country, a position he is completely uncomfortable with. His brother dead, he takes his children into his home, and raises them as his own. If you want to understand Washington, listen to what Nelly and Washy, the two children say to describe the General. He (Washington) never spoke of a single act of his life, during the war. He was a remote figure.Part V is Acting the Presidency. Chernow used a term that makes no sense unless you read the book. The concept is not creating the Presidency, but Acting the Presidency. Washington felt and knew when he became President that every act would be scrutinized. His fear was that of all the branches of government, only the Presidency possessed the power and potential to slip into monarchy, and subvert the Republican form of government. He would avoid this slippage at all costs. Chernow also explores the concept that many things which appear to be of little importance have the ability to have durable consequences.Bringing it all together, I believe from this day forward, we will now have a definitive, reliable, and wonderfully readable story of the life of our most important American. Creating what we call America was a very difficult task, but it was left to Washington to lead a war to create it, to win the Presidency to create the model for everything that would come afterwards, and set by example how each succeeding President should and would conduct himself.We have no idea what America would look like if George Washington did not exist? We don't know if America would have been at all, so much rested on his shoulders. Two-thirds of the colonists sided with the British initially. We do know this however. There were only two times in thousands of years of history when a perfect solution to the formation of a government took place. One was under Caesar Augustus, while the other was under George Washington. Now we have the definitive biography to tell us the whole story. Thank you Mr. Chernow and thank you for reading this review.Richard C. Stoyeck

An outstanding book about the "great and good" (but not perfect) George Washington. It's very hard to imagine that there's a better single book about George Washington's life. Thankfully, this book is not a hagiography. Instead, Chernow provides a fair and balanced portrait of an amazing (but imperfect) human being who, through discipline, tenacity, and some luck, became (and still is) the greatest American that has ever existed. The fact that George Washington was a demanding taskmaster, occasionally lost his temper, and had a horrible blind spot when it came to the evils of slavery confirms that Washington (like the country he founded) was, like all humans (and countries) flawed. Washington's flaws only serve to refute the unfortunate (and inaccurate) mythology that Washington was a godlike figure in American history. The fact that Washington was an imperfect human being only makes his life's story more amazing. As Abigail Adams said about Washington (and as quoted by Chernow), "Simple truth is his best, his greatest eulogy."

In his acknowledgments, author Ron Chernow writes: "George Washington's life has now been so minutely documented that we know far more about him than did his own friends, family, and contemporaries." After reading "Washington: A Life," it's not hard to see the veracity of this statement. By conducting copious research and visiting every relevant site from Yorktown to the site of the infamous Delaware River crossing, Mr. Chernow gives us one of the most comprehensive biographies on the nation's first president.Mr. Chernow masterfully portrays George Washington through his accomplishments, as well as who George Washington was as a man. After reading this book, readers will have a good idea what Washington's personality was like. For example, from the onset of the book, it's apparent that Washington was the quintessential gentleman--a characteristic that stayed with him throughout his entire life. His disdain for gambling, alcohol, and swearing is constantly reinforced throughout the book. "His swearing was so infrequent that people commented on it when it happened," Mr. Chernow writes. Perhaps the epitome of graciousness was Washington's conduct following Benedict Arnold's defection to the British. In a letter to Washington, "[Arnold] had the gall to ask the commander to forward his clothes and baggage, as if he had hastily absconded from a busy inn. The request was a commentary on Arnold's vulgar mind, but the punctilious Washington honored it."George Washington knew how to deliver a commanding presence. He was very meticulous with what he wore--another trait he retained his whole life. He ordered his clothes from London, specifying to English tailors his exact measurements to obtain the perfect fit. He made sure to always powder his hair and to look presentable in tailored clothing, even if the occasion were just passers-by stopping at his home at Mount Vernon. In addition to being commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, Washington knew how to look the part. Benjamin Rush, a Founding Father, said: "He has so much martial dignity in his deportment that you would distinguish him to be a general and a soldier from among ten thousand people. There is not a king in Europe that would not look like a valet de chambre by his side."Washington's family life was fitting for somebody of his legendary stature. In 1759, Washington married a wealthy widow named Martha Dandridge Custis, who would end up being a loyal lifetime companion. No children would result from this marriage, which "helped him to assume the title of Father of his Country. That he wasn't a biological father made it easier for him to be the allegorical father of the nation." Their childless marriage would also be an important trait for Washington following independence. When prominent leaders feared a reversion to monarchy, a President Washington "could have no interest in a hereditary crown." Mr. Chernow also speculates on the extent of Washington's dalliance with Sally Fairfax in his early life, as well as his close relationship with Elizabeth Powell in his later life.George Washington's ascent to his Olympian stature was mostly due to his role as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. With General Washington at the center of major campaigns during the war, military history buffs will find no shortage of action in reading about the war; mostly through the General's perspective. Illustrating his bravery and leadership, the General "showed no qualms about exposing himself to enemy fire." In one case, "the chivalrous Major Patrick Ferguson actually had Washington in his sights and could easily have killed him--he didn't know who it was--but refused to fire on a man with his back turned." Whether apocryphal or not, this would be characteristic of Washington's fearlessness in battle dating back to the French and Indian War, when he had two horses shot from under him and was grazed by numerous bullets.After the war, Washington reached celebrity status in the new nation. Towns would prepare extravagant celebrations when Washington would simply travel through them, with everyone eager to get a glimpse of the General. Travelers made the trek to Mount Vernon to meet the hero of the Revolution. Even with all the exhausting fanfare, Washington retained his gentleman's personality. Even with the influx of unsolicited letters, Washington "replied dutifully to all of them, even at the expense of his business." Although he preferred to avoid the celebrations and crowds, he always remained courteous to people.When the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention required a president, Washington was unmatched in his stature. With a unanimous vote of the Electoral College, Washington took office as the first President of the United States. Though relying on deep intellectuals like Alexander Hamilton to run financial issues at Treasury and Thomas Jefferson to oversee diplomatic issues at State, Washington alone was seen as the only unifying figure that could give legitimacy to the new constitutional experiment. Washington understood that every action he took as president was setting a precedent for posterity, a fact he considered carefully for every decision he made.Washington's presidency--though lambasted at times by the press--included important achievements such as the Residence Act of 1790, and the Judiciary Act of 1789; the former establishing the construction of the federal capital of Washington D.C., and the latter establishing the organization of the federal court system. Another revealing personality trait during Washington's presidency was his initiative in stopping the Whiskey Rebellion. "In sallying forth to command the troops," Mr. Chernow writes, "Washington, sixty-two, became the first and only American president ever to supervise troops in a combat situation."After reading about Washington's eventful life, it's no surprise he enjoys the status as the Father of his Country. From the Lieutenant Colonel who braved the front lines of the French and Indian War, to the General who led the Americans to victory in the Revolutionary War, to the President who set the standards of the high office for posterity, it's amazing that a great man like Washington really existed. Mr. Chernow's book brings Washington to life for people like us who will never get the chance to meet him, but are fascinated by the man and his accomplishments. I can't praise Mr. Chernow highly enough for sharing with us the story of this legendary American figure.