Ron Chernow. Washington: A Life.
New York: Penguin Press, 2010.
As reviewed by Ted Odenwald
The fresco in the eye of the U.S. Capitol rotunda depicts the “apotheosis of Washington,” the ascension into the heavens of the “Father of our country.” For two centuries Americans have idolized, lionized, mythicized, and even deified the Revolutionary War hero and first U.S. president. In this recent biography, Ron Chernow brings the mythical Washington to earth-to reveal the man himself through thorough investigation of letters, contemporary observations, and commentaries. The author searches for patterns of behavior, and for the effects which these patterns had on Washington’s decision-making and leadership abilities. The result is a work of praise and admiration, tempered by glimpses into the more vulnerable aspects of his character.
George Washington was clearly the right man at the right time for his country-even before it became a country. He was forced to mature early as “family misfortunes thrust him into the top echelon of Virginia society.” In the French and Indian War, he gained valuable experience, eventually becoming the supreme commander of all of Virginia’s forces-and he was just 23 years old. His achievements belied his age: “…his seriousness of purpose made him stand out in any crowd.” Surviving massacres and defeats, he demonstrated that he was resilient, courageous, and tough.
Though he was wary of revealing his emotions, he did appear to have been driven by pride and ambition. Because of his surveying excursions into western Virginia and in the “western territories,” he alertly acquired valuable lands when they were available for sale. When British leaders continually passed him over for promotions in their ranks, he refused to take pay so that he could be free to return at will to Mount Vernon to oversee his investments. In fact, “…the British Empire had committed a major blunder by spurning the talents of such a natural leader….The proud Washington had been forced to bow and scrape for a regular commission, and it irked him that he had to grovel for recognition.” His personal pique with the British for a series of “petty indignities” led him to much grander aspirations within the colonies. He won in elections to Virginia’s House of Burgesses and to the First Continental Congress, where he was observed to be a “figure of sound judgment,” seemingly calm and phlegmatic. But apparently he was angry and bitter, “blasting the British as ‘diabolical contrivers….” He was reluctant to reveal his emotions for “he always feared that he was being watched from afar, and made sure his conduct could stand up to the most severe critical standards.”
At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, the Second Continental Congress appointed Washington Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. Representatives believed him to have the perfect temperament for leadership. They also viewed him as a “linchpin” between the contentious Northern and Southern colonies, having a “superior presence, infinitely [good] judgment-political cunning and unmatched gravitas.” Washington, however, was reluctant to accept the high position in spite of his desire to have power, because he realized that he lacked the experience in large-scale tactical planning. “For the rest of his life, [he] remained the prisoner of roles which forced him into secrecy and evasion, accentuating an already reticent personality.”
On the battlefield, Washington met with only moderate success. In fact, some of his battles were disasters; he lost New York in a calamity, during which, in shock and suicidal outrage, he had to be coaxed off the battlefield when his troops retreated in a chaotic mass. His biggest accomplishment during the war came as a result of his rock-solid, poised demeanor; he was able to hold together a poorly equipped, malnourished, undermanned, and frequently unpaid army. He even single-handedly averted a rebellion by his officers, who were protesting inadequate support from Congress and the individual colonies.
Washington was the individual who kept the Continental Army together; he was “the spiritual and managerial genius of the whole enterprise.” It was these qualities that made him the obvious nominee for the presidency: he accepted the honor-but reluctantly; he was in deep trouble economically, being land-rich but cash-poor; he could not reconcile his distaste for the institution of slavery with his dependence upon it to maintain his estate; for years he also suffered several recurrent health problems including malaria, dysentery, and pneumonia. Additionally, he was a reluctant public speaker, probably because of his sensitivity concerning his dental situation; he wore a spring-controlled denture device which tended to shift in his mouth. [Contrary to legends that he had wooden false teeth, he in fact had several teeth purchased from slaves and others carved from whalebone inserted into his dentures.]
Washington’s presidential legacy was impressive; he basically forged the powerful office of the Presidency as well as the executive branch. He recruited some of the greatest minds in the country to run the various departments of the new government, setting “…a benchmark for fairness, efficiency, and integrity that future administrations would aspire to match.” While there were strong opposing factions in the government, particularly the Federalists and the Republicans, Washington cleverly insured that no one’s opinions would be suppressed. “To his everlasting credit, he showed that the American political system could manage tensions without abridging civil liberties.” Given all of these accomplishments, it is easy to understand why Americans would view Washington as a larger-than-life warrior and leader.
Ted Odenwald and his wife, Shirley have lived in Oakland for 40 years. He taught HS English at Glen Rock High School for all of those years plus one more. Now he is enjoying time spent with his family, singing in the North Jersey Chorus and quenching his wanderlust. Ted is also the Worship Leader at the Ramapo Valley Baptist Church in Oakland.