George Washington. You’ve seen his face on the dollar bill a thousand times, and you probably know the bit about the cherry tree (which, honestly, never actually happened). But when we talk about the first president of the United States, we’re usually talking about a marble statue rather than a guy who actually lived, breathed, and worried about his dental work. It’s easy to think of him as just a name in a textbook. He was much more than that. He was a guy who basically invented the job while he was doing it.
The Man Who Refused to be King
After the Revolutionary War, the world expected Washington to grab power. That’s what people did back then. You win the war, you get the crown. Napoleon did it. Caesar did it. Washington? He went home to Mount Vernon to look after his crops. This was a massive deal. It’s what historians like Thomas Fleming or Joseph Ellis call his "greatest act." By stepping down, he proved that the new country wasn't going to be just another monarchy with a different name.
When he finally became the first president of the United States in 1789, he was actually pretty stressed about it. He wrote to Henry Knox that he felt like a "culprit starting to the place of his execution." He knew every single thing he did would set a precedent. If he bowed, people would think he was acting like a king. If he shook hands, maybe it was too casual? He eventually settled on a formal bow, which feels a bit stiff today, but it was his way of threading the needle between "leader of a nation" and "just a citizen."
Running the Country Like a Startup
The early government was a mess. There was no real blueprint. Washington had to figure out how to handle a Cabinet that couldn't stand each other. You had Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson constantly at each other’s throats. Hamilton wanted a strong central bank and an industrial future; Jefferson wanted a nation of farmers and feared big government. Washington was basically the referee. He didn't always like it. In fact, he hated the "spirit of party" that was starting to form.
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He didn't have a huge staff. He didn't have a West Wing. He had a few secretaries and a lot of paperwork. One of his most underrated moves was the Neutrality Proclamation of 1793. France and Britain were at war again, and everyone wanted the U.S. to pick a side. Washington knew the country was too young and too broke for another fight. He stayed out of it, even though it made him incredibly unpopular with the public for a while. People were actually protesting outside his house. It’s a side of the first president of the United States we don't usually hear about—the guy who was getting roasted in the newspapers.
The Problem of Mount Vernon and Slavery
We have to talk about the reality of his private life because it’s a huge part of the story. While he was talking about liberty and freedom, he was a slaveholder. It’s a massive, glaring contradiction. By the time he died, there were over 300 enslaved people at Mount Vernon.
Washington’s views shifted over time, but not fast enough. He was the only Founding Father to stipulate in his will that the people he enslaved should be freed after his wife’s death. But that doesn't erase the decades of forced labor that funded his lifestyle. It’s a complicated legacy. He was a man capable of visionary leadership who was also deeply entangled in a brutal, systemic evil. To understand him, you have to look at both. You can't just pick the parts that feel good.
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The Real Story Behind the Teeth
Okay, the teeth. No, they weren't made of wood. That’s a myth that just won’t die. They were actually made of a mix of ivory, brass, and—somewhat disturbingly—human teeth. He suffered from dental issues his whole life. By the time he became the first president of the United States, he only had one natural tooth left. The dentures were uncomfortable, they changed the shape of his face, and they made speaking difficult.
Imagine trying to lead a new nation while your mouth is constantly in pain and your prosthetic teeth are trying to pop out. It adds a weirdly human layer to those stern portraits. He wasn't smiling because he literally couldn't.
The Farewell Address That Predicted the Future
When Washington finally decided two terms were enough, he didn't just walk away. He wrote a "Farewell Address" (with a lot of help from Hamilton) that is basically a warning manual for the future. He warned about three things:
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- Political Factionalism: He thought political parties would tear the country apart.
- Foreign Entanglements: He didn't want the U.S. to get sucked into every European war.
- Regionalism: He feared the North and South would stop seeing themselves as one people.
Looking at the news today, it feels like he was a time traveler. He saw the cracks in the foundation before the cement was even dry. He wanted the American people to value their national identity over their local or party identity. It’s a message that usually gets ignored, but it’s probably the most important thing he ever wrote.
Why We Still Talk About Him
He wasn't a perfect guy. He was sometimes aloof. He was definitely stubborn. But the first president of the United States did something no one else had done: he walked away from power twice. First after the war, and then after the presidency.
In a world of dictators and "presidents-for-life," that was a radical act. He established the idea that the office is bigger than the person sitting in it. When he died in December 1799—likely from a throat infection made worse by doctors bleeding him—even his enemies in Britain paused to show respect. The British fleet even lowered their flags to half-mast.
Actionable Ways to Learn More
If you want to get past the dollar bill version of Washington, don't just read a dry biography. Try these steps to get a real feel for the era:
- Visit Mount Vernon (Virtually or In Person): The site does a great job of showing the daily operations of the estate, including the lives of the enslaved community. It makes the history feel three-dimensional.
- Read the "Circular Letter to the States": Written in 1783, it shows a younger, more idealistic Washington trying to convince the states to actually work together.
- Check out the "Hamilton" Soundtrack: Seriously. The songs "One Last Time" and "Right Hand Man" actually capture his stress and his relationship with his staff better than most textbooks.
- Look at the Portraits by Gilbert Stuart: Specifically the "Lansdowne" portrait. Look at his hand—he’s not holding a sword; he’s reaching toward a table. That was a deliberate choice to show he was a civilian leader, not a military dictator.
The story of the first president of the United States isn't just about the 18th century. It’s about the messy, complicated process of trying to build something that lasts. He didn't have all the answers, but he was willing to show up and do the work.