Giants Among Men

H.W. Brands wrote in his book The First American that only George Washington made independence as possible as Benjamin Franklin did.

Anyone who knows me even a little bit knows how strongly I feel about Benjamin Franklin.  I have only read a few books about George Washington, and most of them have felt hollow or incomplete.  Many write about how difficult it is for anyone to write accurately and thoroughly about the General.  Ron Chernow has accomplished that task thanks, according to Mr. Chernow, to a newly-compiled database of information that has opened new insight into General Washington.

Washington: A Life, by Ron Chernow, was an engaging and illuminating read.  I re-read Franklin's autobiography shortly after I finished Chernow's work and confirmed my thoughts while learning about Washington:  They are equal in impact despite polar-opposite strengths and traits.  (for a good clip from the HBO Series "John Adams," click here)

They are differently-statured giants, but giants without doubt.

Chernow introduced me to a man of extraordinary benevolence and integrity.  He was the apex of the strong-but-silent type, but beloved by anyone under his command.   Although less intellectual than many of the founding fathers, Washington provided the lion's share of the calcium in their collective spines.  Chernow made Washington's traits glow from the pages.  Chernow paints the picture of brilliance beginning with physical prowess (truly the first American bad ass), matured into stern leadership (inspiring and stern), and, finally, completed with thoughtful and forward-thinking governance.  (for an example, click here)

I finished this book with a feeling of deep admiration for Washington as a man.  He handled the kind of attention and invasion uncommon in his time with the most inspiring aplomb.  Washington handled random visits to his home (apparently common at that time for the very famous) with only kindness and patience.  And, patience and perseverance became a theme for the entire book.

Washington handled adversity as a commander with grace, patience, strength, and perseverance.  He handled the most horrible of sideshows (thanks to Mr. Thomas Jefferson) during his presidency by traveling only the highest of roads.  As president, his practical application to an imperfect Constitution created much of what the presidency is today, and solved with practical application sections that were either unclear or impossible as written.  Specifically, his handling of the duty to receive the "advice and consent" of the Senate was masterfully handled with a keen eye to the future. 

In short, Chernow paints the very portrait of integrity.  Without the exact qualities enumerated and illustrated by Chernow, the armed portion of independence would have failed, and our first experiment with governance would have failed equally as badly.

Franklin's contribution allowed Washington's miraculous performance as commander to succeed by first bringing the French into alliance, and, then, with an ultimate peace treaty that was called "a dream" for our nation by both France and England.  Franklin's traits and methods could not be more varied from Washington's, and this illustrates how perfectly each was suited to his task.

For different reasons and with different gifts, both Washington and Franklin also stand equal in credit for accomplishing both our declaration of independence and a new constitution.  Washington's presence and leadership kept the factions together, and Franklin's cunning wisdom found for them common ground and compromise.  When added together and mixed just as they were, George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, more than any other of the founders, prevented failures at every crucial moment.  The principled and philosophical purity of the rest of our more idealistic founders found traction from the practical roads paved by Washington and Franklin.  Without them, our more temperamental founders would have each left in respective huffs.  Genius requires grounding, and Washington and Franklin functioned as foundation and lightning rod so that we could benefit efficiently from those ideas.

It is refreshing to read about such people.  Especially when our news is filled with skepticism, cynicism, and just plain ugliness.  It was heartbreaking to read about Washington being slandered with the same ugly and nasty vitriol we see today.  It was also inspiring to watch him rise above it as those slanders became lost to history.

When president Obama talked about the Charleston, South Carolina shooting, he looked like a broken man, and tired from the silliness that obstructs any president who tries to govern.  At that time, I was reading about Washington being called a traitor and a coward while serving as one of our most popular leaders ever.   By the end of the book, Washington's legacy hardened, and Obama sang Amazing Grace during his Eulogy, and a Confederate flag was removed in an orderly fashion.  I am not comparing them as people or leaders, but the timing of events with my reading of the book mirrored this theme:  frustration and pettiness shed in favor of renewal through benevolent patience and perseverance.

Neither could succeed without the other, and their convergence at that time is wonderful to read.