and if you have an answer except george washington. next slide. so washington puts together what's known as a circular letter to the states. this is basically his farewell and newspapers around the country print this letter and you can see the beginnings of washington's vision for a strong nation, a capital city and the kind of robust and vigorous government that we would have . washington says we have a debt of honor. we need to repay our veterans. we need a national governing body. we need more trains. we need positive relations abroad, we need peace and mostly we need to be united. we need this nation needs a sense of national identity. if you were to take a time machine back to 1783 and asked thomas jefferson about his nation he wouldanswer virginia . there wasn't a sense of national identity. not a capital letter you united states a small u, the states. so washington new we needed a sense of unity, a sense of national spirit. we needed to come together as a nation otherwise this would never ever happen. next slide. so this country went from 17

the city built chosen by our first president george washington but the location for a permanent capitol was hotly contested in 1790 and washington actively activated for a site along the potomac river not far from mt. vernon. when the commissioners of the federal district named the new capitol for washington in 1791 it not only honored the wartime commander in chief but also at college to his guiding role in the selection of the young nation seat of government. although he did not -- the government relocated here and it shaped the national capitol for years to come. in george washington's final battle at highlights washington's political skills and with those i work behind the scenes to establish the new city. robert watson is a distinguished professor professor at lynn university a senior fellow at the florida joint center for citizenship the author of numerous books in history and politics including the go ship of brooklyn and america's first crisis, the war of 1812. he's the editor of two encyclopedias the american president and american first ladies. professor watson is served on th

so as many of you know, if you are george and martha washington fans, you know that martha washingtonurned -- all of the correspondence between her and george and there's two surviving letters. but elizabeth happen to find a bundle of letters in this desk. so she finds this bundle of letters that is from martha to george. and it's all wrapped up in washington's handwriting and she writes to washington, and this is very much there funniest exchange. she says that she's found a bundle of love letters from a woman written in the most solemn sanction, and she teases him, and she doesn't open them, but she wants him to know that she has them. she very quickly goes, i'm just kidding, there from martha. so it's a very cute little exchange. that's the same letter where she was very poignant about losing the desk. but then, washington writes back. so after he got to mount vernon is when he got the letter from her. so he ends up writing her back, and he writes to her, as he promised, he writes her a detailed description of his trip back to mount vernon. he very much wanted to know how he was do

he was george washington's nephew. and so this is a way of understanding george washington that is different from other approaches you could take to him. third is he was on the supreme court at a pivotal juncture for 30 years alongside john marshall and had a very close relationship with john marshall that predated their time on the court. and it was a way of approaching the marshall court from a different vantage point and in doing so i came to believe that washington was really a pivotal partner for john marshall and that we should understand what the court did in those years as being largely the product of the team. that is john marshall and bush red washington and that washington, really played an important role in kind of providing support for what marshall was trying to do in building up the court as an institution. so bushraud is interesting in his own right? he's interesting because of the people he was close to and he's also interesting because of some of the opinions that he wrote as a judge. wonderful. thank

george washington warned us, he predicted us. especially when another phrase from the farewell address act like a pretended patriots, really acted like they are more patriotic than anybody else which itself washington essays ascending its national unity or if they fed into that stuff that washington warned against, they are part of the problem. let's not pull any punches about that. washington made a very explicit warning we just live through evidence of. so we could not be more relevant and that is precisely why we need to be listening to washington's farewell address now, today. we are falling into the traps he warned us about almost 250 years ago. >> john quickly and the most recently brought the farewell address, when did they stop making it mandatory to read the farewell address is the full congress, both houses are just the senate? >> the senate still reads it every year. yes it does. >> how ironic. [laughter] >> i would argue the house is more partisan than the senate although it is kind of a jump ball. what he thought you'

there is a giant, giant poster, flag, billboard of george washington in the background. the keynote address to a settlement misappropriating the text of the farewell address. this is paid for by a foreign government. it shows we need to be careful about misappropriations and washington warning about foreign influence in our policy that's one of the reasons to stay out of it. now you have a foreign government misappropriation of farewell address to argue against getting involved in a foreign war. so that by the way it backfires badly on them. but the legacy of the farewell address, really starts to fall away for a time as a result of that association. and the incorrect belief that it is an isolationist doctrine. it's not a song about a foreign policy of independence of not squandering our strength through false alliances we should not try to export democracy or get involved in foreign fights we should focus on strengthening ourselves. once we are strong and independent then we can make decisions based on her own national interests and it's different than isolationist. >> j

the great nationalist, sharing the continental us flag of george washington, under whom he fought at valley forge and if the viewer at valley forge with washington and hamilton, you understand that we need to support the troops if we do not we are dead and adams wasn't there, they don't feel it in their bones. it is immense respect for washington and there is immense respect for hamilton with his brilliant lawyer and marshall uses him and his legal ideas about the bank and many other things. one other thing that he does as he is a national speaker and a good listener and i talked about relationships between the founders, so jefferson and madison team up. and adams makes enemies, he is a loner, he teams up only with abigail, but then, you know, he is in a feud with hamilton, even though hamilton was trying to help him in various ways, and he starts off friendly, but then they become, you know, rivals and so it's important. jefferson and madison team up, hamilton and washington team up and marshall finds a team. and the team works particularly well when they combine more than south and

the great nationalist carrying forward continental list drag of george washington was who, under whom he fought -- with whom he served at valley forge and if you were at valley forge with washington and hamilton as marshall was, you understand we need money and support the troops. if we don't, we are dead. adams wasn't there. jefferson wasn't there. madison wasn't there. they don't feel it in their bones the way marshall does is a great nationalist who carriesei forward division, immense respect for washington. washington's first biographer before arson wings and eminent hamilton was brilliant lawyer and marshall used the hamilton idea about the bank and many other things. one of the things he does, he's a nationalist figure and a good listener. i talk about relationships between the counters. jefferson and madison came up. adams makes enemies. the first is thomas hutchinson and feuds with hamilton even though hamilton was trying to help him. he starts off friendly with jefferson but then they become rivals so teams are important, jefferson and madison team of. hamilton and washington

the historical journeys by george washington through the new united states and describes his own experience as he followed the same experience in the present day. nathaniel philbrick's progress and fox are conveyed in washington's own words and preserved in his diaries. transcriptions of those diaries in his correspondence on founders online hosted by the national archives, through the national historical publications. founders online has transcript of thousands of documents written by and to the nation's founders. you can find washington's letter to his cabinet written in savanna, georgia, his itinerary and instructions should any serious matter occur in his absence. you can read entries from his diary recording places he was in, the conditions of roads and lodgings, the weather and the terrain and the crops of the area. following washington's path, nathaniel philbrick came to know our first president not as a monumental figure from history but as a man traveler like himself, and the words preserved in traditional and digital archives, we can become more familiar with washington and the ot

i don't think george washington university makes that plane, but the first institution that does that is west point, which comes into existence in 1803. >> washington is proposing a pacific college, and purchases some land for it. that idea dies. and hamilton will go back and forth on it. he keeps proposing to send it to congress, and that's where most of it goes. but if you look at the original farewell, which is at the american public library, they literally cut and paste that section. >> i think we are carrying too much of this, but john, if you look at that last address to congress, it's almost fdr. you know it i mean? i'm sorry. >> go on. >> you have to get beyond that, john. you know what i'm saying. it's a vision very close to what john quincy adams will have as president. and it's a vision of a nation state with fixed domestic and foreign policy and a robust west. in that view, washington is a member of a very small minority. and anybody that opposed it, he is a tory because he is attempting to recreate a monarchy. jefferson is the main guy that's doing this behind the scenes.

that's not my picture of george washington. >> no, no, this is not the george washington -- he's not the guy in the $1 bill looking at us and almost -- in judgment. because i did it. no, that wasn't washington. he was the most reluctant presidents we have ever had. he sincerely did not want to become president of the united states. he had somehow won the american revolution. he was a hero bigger than anyone else in the world, really. and all he had to do was lose when it came to taking on the presidency of the united states. so his diary account from his journey from run into new york, which was the temporary capital of the country, his one long lament of everybody's applauding me now, but, man, they are going to tear me down as soon as they try to do anything. remember, this was a people who had rebelled against the strongest military power on earth over the issue of taxation. how is he going to lead these people? he knew that all the divisions that had been there from the very beginning where latent. yet, everyone loved him. but as soon as his policies came into clear focus, he knew

i want to know, but kind of general was george washington? what would you say, where would you come out of with this? >> having set my path on this being provocative, i'm going to not turn back and say that in the first year of the war, george washington, he was a great manager because he was experienced managing large numbers of people, with some large scale -- hundreds of people. so he was a great manager, in terms of getting the basic few supplies they had out. but as a general, as a strategist, washington, in my opinion, with other historians, not all, agree, terrible. because he was stuck in fifth gear. that is, he was all about taking the initiative, being aggressive, going on offense. one both the british and colonists other th i think it's a very next one. both the british and the colonists other than washington had figured out at bunker hill -- bryant, hit the next, oh, that's the pamphlet where he quoted. that's the very first use of the phrase all men are created equal by anyone, anywhere, by this formerly enslaved person -- . let'

congress and he had the complete confidence of the most charismatic man in the united states, george washington. and washington, i think it's important to point out, had no program for his first hundred days. that term is a coinage of the 1930's, it's a 20th century concept. he had no agenda of his own to advance. in fact, he was figuring out the presidency as he went along. and when his hands trembled on the second story balcony, people could see his hands trembling, it was not a myth but for good reason because he didn't know what was going to happen. he didn't know if he could handle it. fortunately he proved to have exactly the right stuff for the moment. anyone who really studies that congress or the period will always come out with an even higher estimation of washington than they went in with. the real engine of governments therefore, was not in washington's office at his home, mostly on cherry street a little further up under what's today one of the pilings of the brooklyn bridge. yes, he also lived down here at bowling green but namely up there on cherry street. wasn't in the president

lafayette, of course, named one of his sons george washington and lived with washington for a while. sometimes, though, they are so different, right? he talked about lafayette losing himself in public. at the same time, they have so much -- their thoughts on slavery, which i want to get to, they are different. >> right. >> but they do have a lot in common. -- found love in their partners. and also felt most at home in these incredibly uncomfortable situations. >> yeah. that's something that i do think is true of both of them. because by the time they get together, i mean, washington, he does marry into money. and washington grew up there used to being in a rustic setting. he was comfortable trumping through woods and comfortable enduring the hardships of nature. all of the stuff that he was up to as a young militia officer, sort of before and after the french and indian war, which we in europe would call the seven years war. but they both -- and lafayette had that as well. because he grew up trumping around in the woods. and trumping around in the hills and forests. and both of them

kennedy: george washington. george washington, 7 feet tall. you and chris win the game and tied with four points a piece and you both get covid cream from our bumbling president. congratulationings to everyone who plays. played. this is a magical night. jimmy, chris, and scott, thank you so much. >> thank you. kennedy: i'm a big fan. love it. all right, coming up, china launching missile strikes in the taiwan straight in response to house speaker nancy pelosi's trip. how much further will it go. we have more, next. kennedy: china is lashing out at house speaker nancy pelosi's trip to taiwan. the new york times reporting at least 11 chinese missiles fired into the seas north, south, and east of taiwan and missiles hit intended target to show force the biden administration calling for deescalation and a american missile test to not alarm beijing and usualing senate democrats not to move forward with legislation that would name taiwan "a major non-nato ally of america". is there a full chinese invasion on the rise. chairman and ceo mike zaker wit

she didn't -- some rivals with george washington that are worth talking about. the big three groups that i had mentioned or native americans, african americans, and women. >> yes and i wanted to, i definitely want to get to talking about esther reid, but i really want to start with this kind of compelling view, the way that you open the book, this compelling view of this map that shows the continent as being a place, an indigenous place, right? i think that i really am compelled by why you chose this image as a way to kind of come into this, and also how you set your book in this history of the revolution. you are starting it in what is known in the united states as the french indian war, but, you know, it's known internationally as a seven years work, which as you point out, is also a misnomer. tell us a little bit about why you chose to highlight or centralize the, this continent as an indigenous place first and why you are so focused on starting this kind of history of the revolution with the conflict on the forks of the ohio? >> okay, great, thanks. hey bria

so that for example when george washington great here of the american revolution. when he retired well retire the first time this guy retired a lot of times they can't pulling him back poor fella. when he retired the first time he went to it was richmond, virginia and they gave him a big banquet and they said we want to thank you. for your great sacrifices in heroism on behalf of your country. meaning, virginia and on behalf of the empire meaning this united states thing conglomeration thing. and even thomas jefferson when he wrote about virginia, he always said my country was virginia. so the us and the 13th states were initially they were part of a big british empire. in fact only half of the british colonies got together and went into revolution there wasn't there were a bunch of others you and you think well, why didn't canada or quebec or newfoundland or the west indies? why didn't they join? well, they said big story, but they didn't join. so what happened is when these countries states got together and there were 13 of actually there were 14 because vermont

what kind of a general was george washington? where would you come out on this?t my path on this provocatively i'm going to not turn back and say that in the first year of the war george washington, he was a great manager because he was experience managing large numbers of people he was a large scare beyond hundreds proclaimed to on audience ÃÃ slaves he was a great manager in terms of getting the basic supplies but in general as a strategist washington in my opinion and other historians not all agree, terrible because he was stuck in fifth gear, he was all about taking initiative being aggressive, being on offense and brian, when you go to the next one both the british and colonists other than washington had figured out at bunker hill's, brian hit the next. that's when he quoted ÃÃ that's the very first by anyone anywhere is by the formerly enslaved person, let's move on. this is a modern depiction the better of battle of bunker hill, the british tanker likely won the battle of bunker hill that so they to find victory in those days but cost them 50% casualties a

we note george washington was a brave man. him as a great general obviously we think of him as a great executive. but he did not write any federalist papers. he did not write the declaration of independence. he was at the constitutional convention but he hardly said ndanything. and yet you identify very important constitutional thinker. so what is his contribution to this conversation? and how does he make it customer. >> substantively and methodologically he is the indispensable man. without him there is no constitution that looks remotely like the one that we have. so first let's take the idea of conversation the method point. speak in a conversation beating someone to listen. washington is not a great scribbler. he is not a big talker or a great writer for a pamphlet. but, he is a very good listener. he brings people who disagree and listens to both sides for it as a president is going to have hamilton on his right and jefferson on his left he has work councils and listens to his advisors. and actually he is a good generato

and finally improving george washington's landscapes, but introducing terraces walks and part terrace of flowers. thus quote making the most of the grounds and woods because clearly washington hadn't done enough. so next slide, please. i think that and all of those were coming from male authorities in their fields, and i think any of these would have resulted in a far different mount vernon that we see today and arguably could have set preservation in general on a different tack. so do i think it made a difference? mmm. i think the evidence indicates that perhaps it did make a difference. so thank you to those women. thank you susan for leading us off now. we're going to move from mount vernon. we're going to move to the white house and that's fitting we're here obviously today at the white house historical association. melissa, i know you've done some research recently in a presentation about some of the first ladies prior to jacqueline kennedy who engaged in preservation efforts at the white house. can you share with us some of those lesser-known stories and were these women really

i don't have some great need to honor george washington.rge washington the person. it's george washington the symbol that a man can make a decision to not making he can decide to put his life online to line to fight for something other than himself. history a lot of times is not how it happened but how we choose to recounted that matters most anyway. what do the founding fathers mean to me? i mean there's wants a class of americans so intent on the success of this country they gave up everything in their mind and lives to have it. most generations when you take it on the chin to make it happen you do not get to enjoy it. they never got to see america as a superpower. they never got to save this country behave and check became i do not need to hide their sins but to wash them away washes away their sins too. to take their names of things when you do not learn about them all the good and the bad. the idea i don't even think this is a good term but whitewash or cleanse our history, there is nobody left tyrus, we do not know who the perfect per

george washington was obviously a pretty big mason.inducted lafayette and it is masonic lodge and that's part of what allow them to become very close. but i think it's nice to look -- another good person is condor say the marquis day condorcet who is one of these early enlightenment philosophers who was before lafayette really truly latched on to his abolitionism was writing about african that he winds up reading. those are a couple and reynaud and condor say it's not like he just went to the united states and learned all these things. >> i want to ask two questions and i think it's unfair not to follow up. he said you mentioned adam says in john adams and he tweeted out with jessica's question. are there any lessons or takeaways that you took from lafayette? >> just a very small thing because we don't have much time. the thing about, okay there is a tendency that people often have two subconsciously believe that things like progress and reform change for the better are just things that happen. look back on history. history is really p

and this book was a finalist for the 2020 george washington prize and the 2020 harriet tubman prize. dr. bell is a trustee of the maryland center for history and culture and a fellow of the royal historical society. it is a delight to have him back with us for another program, and so without further delay, please welcome dr. richard bell. welcome, rich. >> thank you, mary. i hope you can hear me and see me okay. i'm going to go ahead and share my screen now. i might just take a couple of seconds to get ready. let's get can cracking. when thomas jefferson met thomas paine in paris in 1787, he begged him to sit -- [inaudible] jefferson collected portraits of celebrated men, and in 1787 there were few men as celebrated as thomas paine. he wrote "common sense," the 46-page pamphlet that catalyzed the independence movement and overthrew the british monarchies and the colonies. paine agreed to be painted, and jefferson hung the portrait in quite a place, on the walls of monticello, his house in virginia. that was 1787. now fast forward 40 years to 1828. thomas jefferson is dead. his family

what was the matter with george washington? rity tell us what you are trying to do. >> ainsley: we wouldn't be a country if it weren't for these individuals washington and madison and jefferson and he mentioned patrick henry. patrick henry said give me liberty or give me death. these are people that were founding fathers of our country and to learn that history is something that i believe our children need to learn. but maybe this is an error. maybe it's inadvertent error and not going to vote on it. they are going to meet today. >> brian: if you did not mean it you don't say it's inadvertent error. you go out and say we never said this it's been misinterpreted maybe they didn't want it to get out that's my interpretation. you rebuke that of course the virginia department of education of course george washington is the father of our country. we will clarify this later on today. if you can't clarify that in a statement that george washington is the father of our country. little by little you are trying to rip it out. remember, do

for having paid for poultry being raised for marsha -- martha washington after the death of george washington. that mark is the one indication of gray himself. great was able to -- gray received some small cash payments from washington, and he apparently use those to buy poultry. he also, after the death of washington and the sale of the livestock, gray was able to purchase a cow, quite a remarkable purchased for an enslaved person. but he was not able to purchase his own freedom. he was one of the so-called dour slaves. they were controlled by washington, he was able to use their labor during his marriage. but after martha's death, the slaves were divided among the grandchildren and davey great remained enslaved. for all this attention to detail, washington never loses sight of a grander aspirational vision. he was trying to implement this at mount vernon. this is the seal of the agricultural society of philadelphia. washington was inducted as an honorary member and had a great deal of correspondence. it presents this aspirational notion of what farming will contribute to that new nation. th