George Washington - Father of Our Country
He was imperfect - but a doer who demonstrated tremendous character in the face of tremendous challenges
Mis compañeros, amigos, y familiares,
Buenos días. It is time for some morning reading, reflecting, and writing.
What’s on my mind this morning:
Commitments, covenants, and oaths
Lessons from US Presidents
Football season is over - I am ready for some baseball
Being a warrior - buffalo - bear
Lessons from Ted Lasso (my sons home and we rewatched a couple of episodes last night)
Beat Air Force, beat Rutgers, beat navy!
Football season is over with the Super Bowl competed last week - after some ‘Fly-Eagles-Fly’ - this week spring training is opening in Arizona and Florida and baseball opening day is just around the corner. Having been born and raised in Anaheim California - I am a lifelong Angels fan (which can be hard at times). The beauty of every spring is we start in first place regardless of how last year ended. Go Angels!
When I was a kid we had 2 long weekends in February - one each for Lincoln’s and Washington’s Birthdays. Since I grew up in Southern California, snow was something you saw on the mountains in the background of the photos. To experience it, our family would take one of those long weekends, rent a cabin in the local mountains (Big Bear or Lake Arrowhead), and go play in the snow with several other families. That was enough snow for us for the year…. Now I live in NY and snow and ice is just part of the deal.
Today we have one weekend (really day) to recognize our former Presidents.
BLUF: As I reflect back to the spirit of our forefathers - it reminds me that regardless of the past, we must live in the present and prepare for the future. Their greatest lessons to us today was they were known as a people who were DOERS. They demonstrated tremendous FAITH that the end would be better than the past or even the present, they TRUSTED their leaders, doing what they had been asked to do and then a little more, regardless of what may have happened before, they were DILIGENT in continuing forward, one step at a time. Like the man in the arena who President Theodore Roosevelt would describe over 100 years later, they had trials, they paid with blood, sweat and tears to set the conditions for a better life for their children and their children's children.
On the Plain at West Point there are statues of 3 Presidents. Ulysses S. Grant, West Point Class of 1843, Dwight David Eisenhower, West Point Class of 1915, and George Washington, who didn’t graduate from West Point, but was instrumental in its founding both as a military installation during the Revolutionary War and later in the desire to establish a Military Academy.
While I use lot of presidential leadership lessons and quotes - today I’ll focus a couple of thoughts on the father of our country who is memorialized riding his horse at the front steps of Washington Hall at West Point:
George Washington: commander of the Continental Army, founding father, first President of the United States. Arguably no American, past or present, has been more influential than the general who led the Patriot forces to victory in the American Revolutionary War.
An imperfect man as we all are - as is often the case with historical figures, Washington’s legacy has been reconsidered in the light of our modern world, particularly his relationship with slavery. He enslaved people during his lifetime working at his plantation and, while serving as President from 1789 to 1797, he signed laws that were both against and for slavery. At his death he did the right thing and released his slaves - but did not end slavery in the fledgling United States.
He was, indeed, a complicated figure. A man who soared above others during his time but was also very much a product of it. In his many speeches, addresses, and letters, he left us a wealth of quotes that offer insights into the famed leader, revealing his thoughts on everything from war to happiness, honor to the future of humanity.
A couple of my favorite George Washington quotes:
“These are the times that try men’s souls; the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain is too cheap, we esteem too lightly: ‘Tis dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to set a proper price upon its goods and it would be strange indeed, if so celestial an article s freedom should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has right {not only to tax} to bind us in all cases whatsoever’ and if being bound in that manner is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon the earth. Even the expression of impious, for so unlimited power can belong only to God.” - GEN George Washington at the battle of Trenton
“We are either a united people, or we are not. If the former, let us, in all matters of general concern act as a Nation… If we are not, let us no longer act a farce by pretending to it.”
“Remember that it is the actions, and not the commission, that make the officer, and that there is more expected from him, than the title.”
“Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.”
“It is infinitely better to have a few good men than many indifferent ones.”
This week while discussing the oath that all Army officers take to support and defend the Constitution, we recited the preamble.
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
I memorized it watching Schoolhouse Rock between Saturday morning cartoons in my youth.
It highlights the fact that our Union is imperfect and we are tasked to consistently work to improve it. It also highlights many of the hopes and dreams and aspirations of our founding fathers including the desire to secure the Blessings of Liberty for ourselves and our posterity.wat
This past summer I read LTG(R) Dave Palmer’s George Washington and Benedict Arnold: A Tale of Two Patriots. General Palmer is an author and military historian, but he also was the Superintendent of the US Military Academy when I was a Cadet.
If you dont have time to read the book, Major General (Retired) Bob Ivany also has a shorter article on George Washington and Benedict Arnold that can give you some more insight: https://www.thayerleadership.com/blog/2021/trust-three-key-lessons-from-general-george-washington-and-benedict-arnold
From 1775 through 1777, George Washington and Benedict Arnold were America’s two most celebrated warriors. Their earlier lives had surprisingly parallel paths. They were strong leaders in combat, although they didnt have perfect records and had learned from good and bad performance. They admired and respected each other, and they even shared common enemies. Yet one became our greatest hero and the other our most notorious traitor.
What differentiated them? Character
Some of the things I learned :
- George Washington wasn’t perfect - in fact he got smoked in battle at Fort Defiance during the French and Indian War to some extent due to over confidence - He learned from his mistakes and improved
- Benedict Arnold led Continental forces in several battles especially in victories at Fort Ticonderoga and Saratoga
- Arnold and Washington had amazingly similar backgrounds, family influences, youthful experiences, and self-made status that led to strikingly different results in their lives
- Arnold went from hero to traitor, eventually trying to give up Fortress West Point to the British
- Benedict Arnold’s treason actually helped the Patriot cause
- Washington rose above his enemies; both in Congress and the battlefield, but Arnold became embittered by his critics.
You see, Benedict Arnold was an ardent and true supporter of the American Revolution and had clearly demonstrated his abilities (competence) and bravery on the battlefield. He and Washington shared many traits, experiences and challenges.
Benedict Arnold, the twice battle-wounded victor at Fort Ticonderoga, and the leader of the invasion of Canada, and victor at the battle of Saratoga was a proven patriot - putting both his body (he lost a leg) and his personal fortune towards the cause.foipersaoand
Throughout most of the war, Washington, as the commander of the Continental Army, saw Arnold as a true fighting soldier who was often overlooked by Continental Congress and attacked by his political detractors.
“George Washington knew better than anyone just how critical Arnold was to the American cause. When Arnold turned down his offer to lead a wing of the Continental Army and instead asked for command of the West Point Defenses, Washington reluctantly granted his request. In doing so, he chose to ignore disquieting signs of his favorite commander’s character flaws. Despite his fame as “America’s Hannibal”, Arnold displayed an arrogance, greed, and jealousy that rankled his peers and put him at odds with local officials.” - MG(R) Bob Ivany
Arnold had been a doer - even a very proactive doer - but he was before Coach John Wooden’s time so he hadn’t heard coach teach:
“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”- Coach Wooden
Benedict Arnold allowed the critics to get under his skin and most importantly he was much more concerned about his reputation than his character.
Character isn’t revealed by our faults, but by how hard we are working at correcting them. The world doesn’t care about our struggles – it cares about our comeback, about how we succeeded in spite of those struggles.
Benedict Arnold lost his way because he was more worried about his reputation than his character and the cause for which he fought. As a result, he is now known as America’s greatest traitor and literally his name has been removed from the record books including being scratched out on the plaques of Revolutionary War Generals in the Old Cadet Chapel in the cemetery at West Point.
In contrast, George Washington is known as the father of our country because he was a DOER who maintained his character in spite of the critics. He was part of something bigger than himself and he did not allow his good character to fail because of the critics around him or the failures that proceeded the successes. Today his name is most prominent on the right wall of the same Old Cadet Chapel as a warrior hero - not to mention that our Nation’s Capital is named after him, an entire state, his face is on the dollar bill and the quarter, and at West Point there is a large statue of him on horseback directly in front of Washington Hall.
What kind of leader will you be?
Will you be committed to something (a purpose) greater than yourself?
Will you be a doer who demonstrates good character instead of worrying about your reputation or simply being a critic?
Your competition isn't other people
Your competition is your procrastination
Your competition is your negative thoughts
Your competition is your comfort zone
Your competition is your consistency in living virtuously and demonstrating good character
Compete against YOURSELF yesterday ― this is how we grow
May we learn from the past and become the man / woman in the arena (yes I am referring to another President - Theodore Roosevelt who presided at West Point for the 100th anniversary in 1902) Be willing to sacrifice for the good of others and do what is necessary to achieve a better outcome - learning from both our successes and failures - but always moving forward.
This week I will:
Focus on developing good character - who you are authentically and holsitically
Be a Warrior - live a life of honor caring selflessly for others and consistently living my values demonstrating virtues in action!
Still gotta be a Bear!
Keep the oaths, covenants, and commitments I have made with all my heart, mind, soul, and body
Make each day my masterpiece but seeking to improve daily - comparing myself to me, yesterday!
Fight for the right things - Fight Hard - Fight on to Victory!
Dewey
I reflect each week on what I have been learning - I encourage you to reflect daily or weekly as well. I share these notes just to get you thinking about topics related to leadership and character - Do great things!