I liked this book but it wasn't until the last 50 pages that I found it engrossing and compelling. Washington's second Presidential term was most interesting because of the crisis involved and Washington's approach and philosophy in dealing with them.
During the whiskey tax rebellion of 1794, Washington described the rebels as representing "a tyranny of the minority against the will of the majority, and that their only revolutionary principle was that 'every man can cut and carve for himself.'" (p. 224) Now doesn't that just make you think of the Proposition 8 debates and aftermath?
Washington truly was a remarkable man. He was very prophetic in his vision of what America was to become and quite honestly the only man of the period who could have successfully protected our nation during its infancy. I now need to read a book about Thomas Jefferson because his character takes quite a beating in both this book and in John Adams. Perhaps an autobiography is in order.
3 comments:
I love your book reviews. Now I just need to get busy reading some of them :0)I'm thinking when it get's warm I can read outside while Ben plays.
I really like this book too. I think my brain has forgotten much of it so I should read it again. The only part I don't want to read again is at the first when they encounter some indians during the French and Indian war. "shudder"
Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin to take a character beating in this book and in John Adams. I don't know that an autobiography would be the way to go thought.
I missed this blog somehow. That sounds very interesting. I need to read it too so I can have intelligent conversations with Joe about the Presidents of the U.S. Right now he is winning in the race for presidential knowledge.
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