tribute to presidents past
Friday, February 16, 2007 at 01:44PM President’s Day is on Monday, so I wanted to post my favorite stories about some of my favorite people before I left town today since we won’t be back until late that night. Most of these stories come from an amazing book titled Founding Fathers: Uncommon Heroes. I think it should have a place in every home.
First would have to be George Washington. There are so many reasons why I admire this man, so many stories to tell that choosing one is difficult. But I love these that illustrate his humility. Unfortunately, humility is the antithesis of what we sometimes consider the political norm. All too often we picture men vying for power and position.
George Washington was an exact opposite of that image. Never was there a man who liked the idea of public acclaim less. After leading a successful campaign in the French and Indian War, he was elected to the House of Burgesses. When he took his seat, the Speaker of the House thanked him publicly for his services to his country. Washington [always polite!] rose to reply, but he was so unable to talk about himself, that he stood before the House stammering and stuttering. The speaker finally said, “Sit down, Mr. Washington; your modesty equals your valor, and that surpasses the power of any language I possess.”
Washington’s charisma continually won respect and obedience. In fact, in the midst of the chaos that quilted the country after defeating the British but before establishing a firm idea of what good government meant, Washington’s devoted soldiers and military officers thought it best to take over the government, storm congress by force is necessary, and set their beloved general up as king. Washington reacted by saying, “…no occurrence in the course of the war has given me more painful sensations than your information of there being such ideas existing in the army…and which I must view with abhorrence and reprehend with severity…I am much at a loss to conceive what part of my conduct could have given encouragement to an address which to me seems big with the greatest mischiefs which can befall my country…You could not have found a person to whom your schemes are more disagreeable”.
John Adams, our second president, was a man of unparalleled conviction (sometimes a reason he really wasn't well-liked by others). He fervently believed that America should be free, and was never afraid to stick to his beliefs to bring that freedom to fruition.
This was evident after “Boston Massacre” of 1770. Quick review of what happened: a riot began when a number of drunken, angry Bostonians threatened some soldiers with clubs and sticks. The British officer in charge brought several soldiers to his assistance. The crowd grew to about 400 and was pressing close to the soldiers. The soldiers fired into the crowd, killing five Americans. Speechmakers of the day invented the name “Boston massacre.” Nine soldiers were jailed and charged with murder. The country was fired up. No lawyer in Boston dared to touch their case.
Adams knew that the British had fired in self-defense. He also knew that without adequate counsel, they would surely be executed. Even though he detested the British occupation, John Adams consented to represent the soldiers in court. Friends warned Adams that the case would destroy him. But his sense of justice compelled him to take it on despite the ridicule, censure and much sarcasm that came his way. He won complete acquittal for the soldiers and because of his strong convictions gained the reputation for being a man of true character and a lawyer with the highest principles.
"One day, as President Thomas Jefferson was riding along one of the highways leading into Washington, he overtook a stranger who was making his way toward the city on foot. He drew up his horse and greeted the man, as was his custom. The traveler returned his greeting, and they immediately launched into a political discussion. (People talked as freely about politics back then as we do about the weather now.)
Not realizing whom he was addressing, the man indulged in some unkind remarks about the President, referring to several indecent and slanderous accusations which his political opponents had recently printed in the newspapers. Jefferson’s first impulse was to bid the fellow a good day and ride on, but he was held by his amusement at the situation. After listening a few more minutes, he asked the stranger whether he knew the President personally.
“No,” said the man, “nor do I wish to.”
“But do you think it fair,” Jefferson asked, “to repeat such stories about a man whom you dare not face?”
“I will never shrink from meeting Mr. Jefferson should he ever come my way.”
“Will you go to his house tomorrow at ten o’clock and be introduced to him, if I promise
to meet you there at that hour?”
He agreed after a moment’s thought. Jefferson then excused himself, touched his hat to the traveler, and rode away toward Washington.
When the man appeared at the Executive Mansion the next morning, a servant answered the door and escorted him down a hall to President Jefferson’s office. As he came face to face with the President, he suddenly realized what had happened. Greatly embarrassed, but with gentlemanly bearing, he managed to say, “I have called, Mr. Jefferson, to apologize for having said to a stranger”—
“Hard things of an imaginary being who is no relation of mine,” interrupted Jefferson. He gave the man his hand and a warm, good-natured smile.
The red-faced visitor turned out to be a merchant of high standing from Kentucky, and Jefferson insisted that he stay for dinner so they could become better acquainted. He did stay, and was quickly won over to the President he had unknowingly insulted the day before.
From that day forward the merchant and his family were “fiery Jeffersonians.” Like so many other Americans, they quickly acquired a sincere affection for this tall, soft-spoken statesman from Virginia—and a deep commitment to the principles of freedom that he advocated."
We don’t hear as much about James Madison, the 4th President, but he was impassioned about freedom. First a picture of this man…he was only 5 feet 6 inches tall and never weighed much more than 100 pounds. In fact, before they were married, Dolly wrote to a friend, calling him “the Great little Madison.”
“He sometimes got so excited when speaking about the Constitution that he finally asked a friend to tug at his coat tails if he became too wrought up. Once, after talking himself to the point of exhaustion, Madison reproved his friend, ‘Why didn’t you pull me when you heard me going on like that?’ The friend replied, ‘I would rather have laid a finger on the lightening!’” Lightening and thunder out of this small man! He was thrilled at the concept of freedom and it was evident in every part of his small frame. Madison also knew that only a righteous people can have true freedom. He openly claimed that “The aim of every political constitution is, or ought to be…to obtain for rulers men who possess most wisdom to discern, and most virtue to pursue, the common good of society.”
A Presidents Day thank you to these lives of conviction & faith that paved the way for our lives of Freedom.
Reader Comments (13)
though it is a popular print, I love the one of G.W. kneeling by his horse & that story - it is hanging in hubs office at home. -ciao
I think these men were incredible people to be able to lead our country and help us gain our freedom.
i am finally posting about the great mail you sent me. thanks so much!