George Washington

Cold rainy days... get used to it, Joe.


"I had rather be right than be President."
Henry Clay (1777-1852)  To Senator Preston of South Carolina.. 1839.




I have much to talk about.. much has been happening to me since my last blog entry... however, I'm going to segue for a while.

I found a book at a yard sale for the astronomical price of 5 cents.  Facts and Fun about the Presidents by George Sullivan in 1987.   I want to extract a few facts from that book.  Most of them surprised me quite a bit.  I also want to mention a couple of President Washington's quotes.


01.  George Washington (President Number 1)  1789-1797


George's salary - $25,000. 


George was 6 feet 2 inches tall.


George was the first president whose likeness appeared on a U.S. postage stamp, which was issued in 1847.


Washington was inaugurated in New York for his first term; and Philadelphia for his second.


Washington was born in Virginia.


By the time he was 57 years old, he had lost all of his teeth. (Take a trip to Mount Vernon, where you can find out about George's dental problems, and view his false teeth.)


George's birthday:  February 22, 1732.


George  Washington did not attend college.


George Washington had no children. (However, at Mt Vernon, there is a statue of him and Martha with children... ??)


George liked to eat, and his favorite menus were:


     Cream of Peanut Soup;
     Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Coconut;
     String beans with Mushrooms;
     Martha Washington's whiskey cake.


George is found on the $1 bill; and his name graces a State called Washington and a city called Washington, DC.


Washington was a military leader, surveyor and farmer. He was also an excellent horseman.


George Washington bred hounds and treated them like members of his family.  Some male dogs' names: Drunkard, Tarter and Trueman.  Some female dogs' names: Duchess, True Love and Sweet Lips. 


George was known as the Father of His Country, the Sage of Mount Vernon, and the Surveyor President. 


Parson Weems, in 1800, quotes Washington to his father:  "Father, I cannot tell a lie, I did it with my little hatchet."


In his farewell address in 1796: "It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world."


In Spark's Life of Washington (1839).. Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour: "Labour to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience."


Bonne Nuit, George.
................................................