Washington's Birthday

[davedove]

So it is only from the 2nd half of the 20th Century until today that stepping down after 2 terms is a requirement of the law.

So it was President Washington's voluntary decision to leave power after only 2 terms that was truly revolutionary and taught both our own nation and democratic nations around the world the lesson that leaders should have to leave office after a certain number of years. It is that realization that he did something of virtue without being required to do so which makes the act eve more virtuous and heroic.

You are correct about Washington, in that what he did was completely voluntary. He probably could have been voted back into office until he died. So it was even more notable that he stepped down. (Now if we could just get some other politicians to think like that.:rolleyes: )

[macwilkin]

That is also why he refused to allow the first Congresses to apply titles such as Your Excellency to the President and instead chose to be addressed simply as Mr. President.

Actually, Washington preferred the title "Your Excellency" -- He was quite the patrician. I remember a story from my American history class in undergrad that our professor told of someone slapping GW on the back at a party, and getting a icy stare in return.

In fact, there's a new book out, "His Excellency, George Washington", which looks pretty good, although my favourite Washington book is "George Washington and the American Military Tradition" by Don Higginbotham. Had to read it for Military History and it was a great read.

And, I have to disagree with the statement that all Presidents refused to serve more than two terms; whilst it's true that none did, that doesn't mean it crossed their minds. When Teddy Roosevelt was elected in his own right in 1904, he said that he would not run for a third term, but would consider his time as President after the murder of McKinley as his "first term" -- he later said that this was his greatest mistake of his life.

Sorry to turn this into a civics lesson! :mrgreen:

Todd