George Washington, born February 22, 1732 in Virginia, was a natural leader, instrumental in
creating a united nation out of a conglomeration of struggling colonies and territories. The first
president of the United States of America is affectionately honored as "the father of his
country."
Shortly after his twenty-second birthday, Washington served in the army of King George III
of England and was put in command of a troop of soldiers. The French were settling on
British soil and turning the local Indians against the British colonists. Later, in the war against
the French and Indians, Washington commanded large troops of soldiers and showed
courage that inspired all his soldiers.
At this time, King George III of England dominated the thirteen colonies along the east coast
and much of the surrounding territories. Colonists began to want their freedom, and live with a
set of rules based on democracy, not under the rule of a faraway king. The Boston Tea Party
of 1773, a colonial rebellion against taxes, helped to spark the American Revolution.
Washington led and encouraged his inexperienced armies against the British forces for eight
years until the colonies won their independence.
Laws for the new country were written into the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The laws
called for a President, and here again George Washington was considered the natural choice.
He agreed to serve his country as the first President. George Washington moved from Mount
Vernon, his family home south of Alexandria, Virginia, to New York City, then the capital of
the United States. The trip took a week by horse and carriage. All along the way, people
waited eagerly to glimpse the Revolutionary War general and their first President.
Washington was a reluctant leader. As he inspired his soldiers through two wars, he saw
himself serving his country, not leading it. When he accepted two terms as president, he saw
himself serving God and his country in peacetime. He turned down a third term as president,
wishing only to retire to his beautiful family home, Mount Vernon.
Americans celebrated Washington's birthday while he was still alive. They were grateful for a
strong leader who had proven that democracy was a feasible way to govern the growing
country. And, while he was alive, legends grew up about him. The most famous one says that
he was so strong, he threw a silver dollar across the Potomac River. Some Americans argue
that this is a true story. Parts of the Potomac River, they say, were extremely narrow a few
hundred years ago! Another story which has never been proven, but Americans pass down to
their children as a lesson:
When George Washington was young, his father gave him a hatchet. He tried to cut down a
cherry tree with it. His father noticed the cuts on the tree, and asked his son how they got
there. "I cannot tell a lie," George said, "I did it with my hatchet." Perhaps George Washington
had no hatchet, and perhaps there were no cherry trees where he grew up. However, George
Washington today represents honesty, and cherry pies have become a favorite food
associated with his birthday.
Various communities observe the holiday by staging pageants and reenactments of important
milestones in Washington's life. Also, the holiday has taken on another side, much more
commercial in nature. Many shopping malls and stores run Presidents' Day sales to attract
shoppers who have the day off from work or school.
The White House
While in office, George Washington held a contest for the best architectural design of a
"President's Palace." Among the competitors was Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration
of Independence and an architect.
His design was entered anonymously, sighed only with the initials "A. Z." It didn't win. An Irish
architect named James Hoban won $500, a piece of land, and of course the honor of having
his plans used in the final design.
Americans called it the "President's House" because the word "palace" reminded them of the
monarchy that they recently broke away from. The official name was the "Executive Mansion"
from 1818-1902. Today it is called simply "The White House." Some historians say that
people began calling it the White House because it was painted white after being restored
after it had been burned by the British in 1812. Another legend is that George Washington
named it after his wife's house in the state of Virginia.
The first president never had the chance to stay there. Washington died on December 14,
1799, one year before the White House was completed during the Presidency of John
Adams. In 1806, Thomas Jefferson had another chance at designing the White House when
he moved in as third President. Much of the house and Jefferson's additions were destroyed in
the War of 1812. When it was rebuilt, however, James Hoban supervised the work. The
White House was redecorated in 1881 and again in 1902 by the current presidents, and each
change reflected the style of the times. It was completely renovated in 1949 when Harry S.
Truman was President.
In 1960 when John Kennedy became President, his wife Jacqueline redecorated the White
House to display the beauty of American furnishings and art. The gardens outside were
beautified and enlarged. Since then the presidents' wives have continued to maintain their
home in a tasteful style.
Source: Celebrate! Holidays in the U.S.A., English Language Programs Division,
USIA, 1994
