**Previously Recorded by Phyllis Schlafly**
Today, according to federal law, is George Washington’s Birthday (it’s not Presidents Day) and it’s time again to honor the Father of our Country. He lived at a time when we had many giants of history — Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Ben Franklin, to name only a few, some of whom could be said to be his superior in intellect and education — but George Washington was the acknowledged leader among all those great men. His incredible leadership was based on his outstanding character, his sober judgment, his unique virtue and self-control.
Washington’s strength of character enabled him to lead the poorly trained and lightly equipped Continental army to victory. Historians say that Washington “lost more battles than he won,” but he learned from his mistakes, inspired his troops, and developed the strategy that bogged the superior British forces down in a protracted war. During his presidency, George Washington was determined to keep the United States neutral in any European conflict, and he did this despite vicious personal attacks. He came under intense pressure from the Jeffersonian faction and press to support the French in their war against English, but Washington refused to let the United States get dragged into another Anglo-American war. He correctly cautioned that our young republic was not prepared either militarily or economically for another showdown with Britain. His decision provided the necessary breathing space that ensured the survival of a very young nation.
America was greatly blessed to have had a generation of great men who lived at the ti1ne of the American Revolution, but it is clear that George Washington was the indispensable man. He was a first-rate general and statesman, a courageous patriot, a Christian and a faithful husband. Washington set a standard by which subsequent presidents can be judged, and I for one think that no one else has ever come up to his standard.
