He didn't want the job. That’s the first thing you have to understand about the man. When George Washington arrived in New York City in 1789, he wasn't doing a victory lap. He felt like a "culprit" going to the place of his execution. It sounds dramatic, but he knew the stakes. One wrong move and the whole American experiment—the thing he’d spent eight years fighting for in the mud and snow—would just... vanish.
People often ask why George Washington was a great president as if there’s one simple answer, like a catchy slogan or a single battle victory. It’s actually more about what he didn't do. He didn't become a king. He didn't hold onto power until he died. He didn't let his ego crush the fragile cabinet he built. In a world of monarchs, he was a freak of nature.
He Invented the Job from Scratch
The Constitution is basically a skeleton. It says the President exists, but it doesn't really say how they should act on a Tuesday morning. Washington had to figure out the vibe. Should he be approachable? Should he be distant? He settled on a weird middle ground called "republican courtliness." He hosted "levees"—basically stiff, formal meet-and-greets—because he wanted the office to have dignity. If he acted like a commoner, European powers wouldn't respect the U.S. If he acted like a Tsar, he’d betray the Revolution.
He was obsessed with precedents. "I walk on untrodden ground," he wrote to Catherine Macaulay. He knew every single thing he did would be copied by every person who came after him.
Think about the Cabinet. The Constitution doesn't actually mandate a group of advisors. Washington just realized he couldn't know everything. He brought in Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton—two guys who basically hated each other's guts—and forced them to work. It was a mess, honestly. They argued constantly. But Washington wanted to hear the conflict. He wanted the best minds, even if those minds wanted to strangle one another. This gave the executive branch a depth it wouldn't have had if he’d just hired "yes men."
The Whiskey Rebellion and the Limits of Power
In 1794, farmers in Western Pennsylvania were furious about a tax on whiskey. They started attacking tax collectors. Now, for any other world leader at the time, the response would be simple: send the army and kill the dissenters. Washington did send the army—he actually led 13,000 troops himself for a bit—but he didn't want a bloodbath.
He showed that the federal government had the ability to enforce laws, but once the rebellion fizzled out, he issued pardons. He wasn't looking for revenge. He was looking for stability. It’s a nuance that gets lost in history books. He proved the law mattered, but he also proved that the President wasn't a tyrant.
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Why the Neutrality Proclamation Mattered
While all this was happening at home, France and Britain were back at it, fighting a massive war. Everyone in America had an opinion. The Jeffersonians wanted to help France because of the whole "liberty" thing. The Hamiltonians wanted to stick with Britain for trade reasons.
Washington said no to both.
He issued the Proclamation of Neutrality in 1793. It was incredibly unpopular. People called him a traitor. But Washington knew the U.S. was basically a startup. We had no money. We had a tiny navy. Getting involved in a European world war would have been suicide. Why George Washington was a great president often comes down to his ability to be the most boring person in the room for the sake of the country's survival. He chose the long game over short-term popularity.
The Money Problem: Backing Hamilton
Washington wasn't an economist. He was a surveyor and a farmer. But he had the horse sense to back Alexander Hamilton’s financial plan. This meant the federal government took on state debts and created a national bank.
It was controversial. Like, "threaten to dissolve the Union" controversial.
Jefferson thought it was unconstitutional. Washington listened to both sides, read their long-winded memos, and ultimately sided with Hamilton. Why? Because he saw that without a solid credit rating, the United States wouldn't be a real country. It would be a collection of bankrupt states. By choosing the National Bank, he essentially built the floor that the American economy still stands on today.
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He Knew When to Walk Away
This is the big one. The mic drop of the 18th century.
After two terms, Washington was exhausted. He was 64, his teeth were gone, and he wanted to go back to Mount Vernon to look at his trees. He could have been President for life. Everyone would have voted for him.
Instead, he stepped down.
When King George III heard that Washington might give up power voluntarily, he reportedly said, "If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world." And he did it. By leaving, he established the two-term precedent that lasted until FDR (and was later made law). He proved that the office was bigger than the man. This is the core of why George Washington was a great president. He gave the gift of a peaceful transition of power, something many countries still struggle with today.
The Farewell Address Warnings
He didn't just leave quietly. He left a letter. He warned against "factions" (political parties) and "permanent alliances" with foreign nations. He saw exactly how political tribalism could tear a country apart. Reading it now feels almost eerie. He wasn't a psychic; he just understood human nature and the tendency of people to prioritize their "side" over the whole.
The Flaws in the Greatness
You can't talk about Washington’s greatness without talking about his failures. The most glaring is slavery. He was a slaveholder. While he was the only Founding Father to stipulate in his will that his enslaved people should be freed after his wife’s death, that doesn't change the fact that he participated in a brutal system while preaching liberty.
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He also struggled with the "Indian Question." His administration's policies toward Native American tribes were often a mix of failed diplomacy and military force, leading to significant displacement and conflict in the Northwest Territory.
Acknowledging these things doesn't make him "not great." It makes him a person of his time who failed to live up to the highest ideals he helped create. It’s important to see the whole man, not just the marble statue.
Why He Still Matters in 2026
We live in a loud era. Everyone is shouting. Everyone wants to be the center of attention. Washington was the opposite. He was a man of silence and calculated action.
He was great because he possessed "character." That sounds like a cliché, but in 1790, character was the only thing holding the government together. People trusted the new system because they trusted him. He didn't use the presidency to get rich. He didn't use it to punish his enemies. He used it to build a foundation that could eventually support people much more radical than himself.
Actionable Insights from Washington’s Leadership
If you want to apply "Washington-style" leadership to your own life or business, here are a few takeaways that actually work:
- Hire people who disagree with you. If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room. Washington kept Hamilton and Jefferson close because their friction produced better results than total agreement ever could.
- Precedent is everything. Every small decision you make today sets a pattern for how you (or your team) will act tomorrow. Think about the "long-term vibe" of your actions.
- Know your exit strategy. True leadership isn't just about being in charge; it’s about preparing the organization to thrive once you’re gone. If the system collapses the moment you leave, you didn't lead—you just dominated.
- Prioritize stability over "wins." Sometimes the best move is the one that keeps the peace and allows for growth later, even if it makes you unpopular in the moment.
George Washington wasn't a perfect man, but he was exactly the leader the United States needed to survive its infancy. He traded his own comfort and his own reputation for the chance that a democracy might actually work. That is why he remains the standard by which every other president is measured.
To learn more about the specific legal frameworks Washington established, you can explore the National Archives' records on the Executive Branch. For a deeper look at his personal struggles and contradictions, the Mount Vernon digital encyclopedia offers incredibly nuanced research on his life at home and his role as a slaveholder.