The ghost of George Washington must have smiled wryly last week as Congress rose to its feet after President Reagan's state of the union address and serenaded him with a "Happy Birthday" song.

How different is our attitude toward the office of President than it was two centuries ago.  Today it is ruffles and flourishes, hail to the chief, cheers and handshakes.

It was not so for the Father of our country.

Mr. Washington was chosen to fight the Revolutionary War by a Continental Congress thoroughly disillusioned of royal power.  Throughout the conflict, Congress kept close reins on its commander-in-chief - even to the point, at times, of hampering his effectiveness.

Yet, Washington understood and appreciated this attitude.  He had accepted leadership of an army of rebellion a full year before the Declaration of Independence.

Civil head of the loose government which prosecuted the war was the president of Congress.  His duties, however, were primarily those of a committee chairman conducting discussion.  There was no machinery to collect taxes or commit individual colonies to specific obligations.

Thus, by the end of the war, Congress was an object of scorn.  It had been chased out of Philadelphia, literally, by soldiers demanding back pay.  Essential business often was delayed for lack of a quorum.  Several colonies didn't bother to elect delegates. Some representatives failed to show up.  There was no Constitution or Bill of Rights to guide them.

It was not until the winter of 1783 that General Washington felt the "confederation" of new states was sufficiently stable to allow his resignation from the Army.

He said an emotional goodbye to his officers at Fraunces Tavern (still a good place to eat) in New York City, then rowed across the Hudson River on a journey to Annapolis.  The Congress was meeting there after its Philadelphia humiliation and would have to consent to Washington's
resignation.

As the general traveled along, he was accorded large and enthusiastic receptions.  By the time he reached Annapolis he would have been forgiven an exalted opinion of himself.  Indeed, his officers had seriously proposed making him a king!  But, characteristically, Washington never lost his humility.

Ironically the president of Congress at that time was Thomas Mifflin, a former general on Washington's staff who had not rated high in the commander's estimation.

Nevertheless, Washington deferred to Mifflin's civil authority now.

General Washington wrote Mifflin requesting permission to return his commission and asked that he be notified of the manner in which Congress wished to receive the resignation.

A committee comprised of Thomas Jefferson, Elbridge Gerry and James McHenry was appointed to arrange the ceremony.

To modern Americans, the protocol devised seems demeaning for a man who had done more than any other to accomplish representative government.  Perhaps Congress was overly defensive of its dignity as a result of the public indifference to its position.

The committee notified Washington that he would be received by Congress but could be accompanied by only two aides.  Washington would be allowed to sit, but the aides would remain standing.  He would wait until the president of Congress gave him leave to speak.

At the close of a short address, Washington could return his commission to the president and hear the latter's reply.  It was stipulated that until the resignation formalities were over the members would remain seated and would keep their hats on.  They would not rise in honor of the great general, nor would they give him the courtesy of bared heads.

On the contrary, Washington, was to bow to Congress when he rose to make his address, and again when he ended.  The members were to acknowledge his obeisance only by briefly lifting their hats.  They were not to bow or stand up.

Washington was kept waiting three days for his audience.  If Congress seemed aloof, the rest of the populace of Annapolis was not.  The hero was honored at a brilliant state ball and at a huge public banquet.

A highlight of the banquet was a series of 13 toasts, each accompanied by discharge of cannon.  Washington proposed the last toast.  It emphasized his acquiescence to civil authority: "Competent powers to Congress for general purposes!"

The next day Washington went to the Maryland State House to resign.  The Senate chamber was crowded with great names of history: two other future presidents, Jefferson and Monroe; four signers of the Declaration of Independence; four Revolutionary generals and two future cabinet members.

Before this August assembly, Washington carried out his humbling instruction to the letter.  Only at the last, when he "drew out from his bosom" his commission and placed it in Mifflin's hands, did Washington's emotions overcome him.  Tears slipped out.

Then Washington once again bowed, and Congressmen tipped their hats.  By that time, however, most of the audience also was in tears.

There was no hint of an imperial presidency then, nor six years later when George Washington was inaugurated president of a true nation with a constitution and federal powers.

Perhaps, therefore, the stiff-necked protocol was proper for the first confrontation of Congress and military hero.  The nation got off on the right foot regarding recognition of civil authority.  Military power was subordinated.  Best of all, a great and popular man was not tempted into arrogance.

Washington did not receive the deference that Reagan does.  But it is not likely any other president will be remembered with so large a monument as Mr. Washington.

PARTING SHOTS

• Police raided a marijuana smuggler's hideout in Fort Myers and found a voodoo shrine complete with human skulls.  Like, wow, man!  Drug pushers are starting to smoke their own stuff.
• Russia has responded to the Ethiopian famine by sending in aerobic exercise instructors.  Starving natives now can get in shape to unload all that U.S. grain.

1994 Rewrite

February 20, 1994

No Congressman Doffed His Hat For George Washington

Washington's farewell to his officers.
Engraving by Phillibrown from painting by Alonzo Chappel.
Courtesy National Archives

Shame!

Tomorrow is Presidents Day to honor George Washington and Abraham Lincoln - the anniversary of neither.

It is, however, close enough to the birthday of the Father Of Our Country (Feb. 22) to recall the haughty treatment accorded him by Congress when he returned his military commission Dec.  23.  1783.

Remember, he was the victor in the War For Independence.  Had he lost he assuredly would have been executed for treason, and we might still be a colony of Britain.

How different is our attitude now toward the office of President than it was back then.  When Ronald Reagan gave a State of the Union address on his natal date, Congress members stood and sang Happy Birthday to him.  For a similar speech last month, Bill Clinton received 17 standing ovations and 60 rounds of applause.

These days it is ruffles and flourishes, hail to the chief, cheers and handshakes when the President appears in public.  It was not so for the hero of our revolution.

Mr. Washington was implored to fight the war by a Continental Congress thoroughly disillusioned of royal power.  Throughout the conflict, Congress kept close reins on its commander-in-chief - even to the point, at times, of hampering his effectiveness.

Nevertheless, Washington understood and appreciated this egalitarian attitude.  He accepted leadership of an army in rebellion a full year before the Declaration of Independence.

Civilian head of the loose government which prosecuted the war was the President of Congress.  His duties were primarily those of a committee chairman conducting debate.  There was no system to collect taxes or commit individual colonies to specific obligations.

By the end of the war.  Congress was an object of scorn.  It had been chased out of Philadelphia, literally, by American soldiers demanding back pay.

Essential, federal business often was delayed for lack of a quorum.  Several colonies didn't bother to elect congressional delegates.  Some chosen representatives failed to show up.  There was no Constitution or Bill of Rights to guide them.

It was not until the winter of 1783 - nearly two years after the British surrender at Yorktown -that General Washington felt the "confederation" of new states was stable enough to safely allow his retirement from military duty.

First, he said an emotional goodbye to his officers at Fraunces Tavern (still a good place to eat) in New York City.  Then he rowed across the Hudson River on a journey to Annapolis.  Congress was meeting there after its Philadelphia humiliation and would have to consent to Washington's resignation.

As the general traveled along he was honored at large and enthusiastic receptions.  By the time he reached Annapolis he would have been forgiven an exalted opinion of himself.  Indeed, his officers had seriously proposed making him a king.  But, characteristically, Washington never lost his humility.

Upon approaching Annapolis.  Washington was met by a welcoming committee of civilian and military dignitaries.  A salute of 13 cannon greeted him as he entered the city.

Ironically the president of Congress at that time was Thomas Mifflin, a former general on Washington's staff who had not rated high in the commander's estimation.  Nevertheless, Washington deferred to Mifflin's civil authority.  

General Washington wrote Mifflin requesting permission to return his commission.  He asked that he be notified of the manner in which Congress wished to receive the resignation – in person or in writing.

A committee comprised of Thomas Jefferson, Elbridge Gerry and James McHenry was appointed to arrange a ceremony.

To modern Americans, the protocol devised seems demeaning for a man who had done more than any other to accomplish representative government.  Perhaps Congress was overly defensive of its dignity as a result of public indifference to its position.

The committee notified Washington that he would be received by Congress but could be accompanied by just two aides.  He would be allowed to sit, but the aides would remain standing.  He would wait until the president of Congress gave him leave to speak.

At the close of brief remarks, Washington could return his commission to the president and hear the latter's reply.

It was stipulated that until the formalities were over, members of Congress would remain seated and would keep their hats on.  They would not rise in honor of the great general, nor would they give him the courtesy of bared heads.

On the contrary.  Washington was to bow to Congress when he rose to make his address,  and again when he ended.  The members were to acknowledge his obeisance only by briefly lifting their hats.  They were not to bow or stand up.

Washington was kept waiting three days for his audience.  If Congress seemed aloof, the rest of the Annapolis populace was not.  The hero was honored at a brilliant state ball and at a huge public banquet.

Highlight of the banquet was a series of toasts, each accompanied by discharge of cannon.  Washington proposed the last toast.  It emphasized his acquiescence to civil authority: "Competent powers to Congress for general purposes!"

The next day.  Washington went to the Maryland State House to turn in his commission.  The Senate Chamber was crowded with the great names of American history - two other future presidents.  Jefferson and Monroe; four signers of the Declaration of Independence; four Revolutionary War generals; and two future cabinet members.  Before this august assembly, Washington carried out his humbling instructions to the letter.

Only at the last, when he "drew out from his bosom" his commission and placed it in Mifflin's
hands - did Washington's emotions overcome him.  Tears slipped out.

Then, Washington once again bowed; and Congressmen tipped their hats.  By that time, however, most of the audience also was in tears.

There was no hint of an imperial presidency then, nor six years later when George Washington was inaugurated president of a true nation with a constitution and federal powers.

Perhaps, therefore, the stiff-necked protocol was proper for the first confrontation of Congress and a military hero.  The nation got off on the right foot regarding recognition of civil authority.  Military power was subordinated.  Best of all, a great and popular man was not tempted into arrogance.

Washington did not receive the deference that modern presidents do.  In the push for three-day holidays, he and Lincoln have been reduced in national consciousness to excuses for merchandise sales - even though the lesser personages of Saint Patrick, Martin Luther King, Saint Valentine, and Christopher Columbus are honored with special days of their own.

Nevertheless, it is not likely that any other president will be remembered with so tall a monument as that for Mr. Washington.

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