The comment by ShawnMorse shows incredible ignorance. Washington could have had as much power as he wanted, but he was a better man than most. Washington is absolutely the single most important figure in American history.

Was a tough, discipline, yet classy president. He did alot for the U.S. that eventually made us a super power. The only president to get an anonymous vote in his 2 terms in office. I think he should have ran for a 3 term.

Leader .. with all the meanings of this word .. and a model of a powerful personality and a fair leadership

Great President

If you're related to George Washington, isn't there a scholarship for being related to the founding father of our country?

so what he was a failure when it came to Jay's Treaty, look at the Whiskey Rebellion and all else he did for this country!

George Washington, while not a perfect leader, did care deeply about the new and developing nation. In fact, he has come far closer to 'perfection,' an unreachable standard, than many modern 'learned' leaders of the world. He did not begin any wars, served his nation bravely, worked for the common good of the citizens and did not unnecessarily tax his constituents. He is perhaps one of the best leaders of any country in the world.

Washington is the greatest President the Republic ever had for the reason that he chose not to be crowned king and that he gave up the Presidency after 2 terms. Very few national leaders up until that point had ever given up so much power voluntarily. The example always cited is that of the great Roman general Cincinnatus, who gave up power to retire to his farm. Like the great Roman general, Washington went back to him farm at Mount Vernon, Virginia. His example will live on through the ages. In many ways, all the Presidents have to live up to the standard that Washington set for the institution. A new national system of government is successful only if the first executive is a strong one who can bring all parties together; witness De Gaulle in France or Ataturk in Turkey. They are the personification of their nations like Washington is for ours. As President, Washington attempted to make the office above partisanship and he even picked out people from all political persuasions for his cabinet. Of course, he couldn't stay above the fray. The main struggle in the administration was between Alexander Hamilton, the Secretary of the Treasury and Thomas Jefferson, the Secretary of State. Washington actually approved more of Hamilton's stronger nationalism and support of the British as opposed to Jefferson's support of the French and limited government. Jefferson was the odd man out so he left the cabinet and established the Democratic Party. He ran for and won a second term, but it was far less successful than his first one. He was criticized for his aristocratic roots and his lack of devotion to democratic ideas. Washington's reaction to the Whiskey Rebellion was seen as extreme by many, but it was necessary as means to demonstrate that the government was going to enforce the laws it passed. He also had Indian troubles in the West. Washington ended his political career by issuing his Farewell Address. In it, he warned future American leaders not to establish permanent alliances with foreign powers. His advice I believe is still applicable today. Washington was by no means implying that we should pursue an isolationist foreign policy, rather, he was telling us not to establish special connections with other countries that ignore realpolitik. He believed that our foreign relations should be even handed and considerate of American interests. Washington was one of America's wisest leaders who lead the nation through the treacherous waters of the late-18th Century. I believe this nation wouldn't have survived had Washington not exerted his leadership at that critical time.

As Americans, we all owe a profound debt of gratitude to this man. While certainly not a perfect leader, he exhibited the moral leadership that guided our young republic through a period of great uncertainy regarding its future. Having served his country for nearly two decades prior, Washington clearly had the option of returning to Mount Vernon and leaving the enormous task of establishing a government to others. However, he had such a profound belief in our country's opportunity to be a great shining beacon of freedom and democracy in the world. In presiding over the Constitutional convention and assuming the daunting task of serving as our nation's first Chief Executive, Washington exhibited tremendous leadership skills. As president, he established the modern Judicial system and signed the Bill of Rights into law, thereby establishing the inalienable rights of America's citizens. In declining to run for a third term, Washington set an important precedent that the American presidency was bigger than one man. In answering a tremendous call to service and relinquishing his sword when he knew it was time to do so, he set a profound example for future presidents to follow. Objectively, he had some rather substantial failures in dealing with the emerging issues that faced the great republic. By the end of his term, France and the United States were nearly at war, largely due to Washington's ineffective management of the growing crisis. Furthermore, Washington was perhaps the only man that would have been able to negotiate a reasonable compromise on the issue of slavery and perhaps spare the thousands of lives that would be lost in the Civil War. However, Washington's greatness is quite evident. He led our nation through a period of great uncertainty and because of him our nation has endured for over two centuries. Like all leaders, he had his faults, but he was a deeply humble man whose greatest attribute was his profound faith and belief in the promise of a young republic to be a beacon of freedom and democracy throughout the world.

For some reason I don't remember him? lol I cannot really rate the Man, too long ago. That was a whole different time.

George Washington was a great general in the Revolutionary War, but his presidency was sort of mediocre. He did help to hold the country together though--at least through his term.

Set the tone and presidence for future presidents.

Hypocrite.

I think it is quite obvious that he was a great man. Such a powerful, strong leader. He definately deserves his portrait on the dollar bill.

His greatest achievement wasn't so much what he did, as what he didn't do. He could have been king, yet he choose accept equality with the people.

Only man for the job. . .who knows how our history would have been different if he didn't do such a good job. Unlike Caesar, Napoleon, et.al. Washington left power at the right time and never betrayed the principles of the revolution.

To put it simply, he was a great man. How could anyone give the father of our country anything less than a 5? He was a great general, playing a vital role in our independence from Britain, and he was a tremendous leader, full of hope and nobility in a time of uncertainty and vulnerability.

The person we needed for the time a great President and General.

George Washington was the perfect first President of the United States. He was a wonderful leader to both his men and to his country. He was also a Christian with a strong faith in God. I read recently that as an aide to Gen. Edward Braddock, he escaped injury although four bullets ripped his coat and two horses were shot from under him.

simply the best

Yes the man set the path for the future American presidents..."expansion through extermination". The man also really did nothing in office, the only thing about him during his presidency is that he was the first, of a long line of horrible, violent people. I don't really get the raping slaves thing. Maybe it's true but Washington was kinder to his slaves then most other presidents. None the less he owned slaves, rampaged through Native towns slaughtering all. But I suppose the majority of you find this excusable because of the time. Since that's what most European decendants where doing.

He was a GREAT war hero. He knew that if the Americans didn't retreat in any battle during the revolutionary war, we would've lost. He knew when to run and when to fight, it's that simple.

Washington a great President? Sure, sure. He set the precedent and worked hard on establishing the parameters, the strengths and limitations of the presidency. But his best years were already behind him, and he understandably just wanted to go back to the farm, already. He was certainly a much better general, and his contribution and peacekeeping skills at the COnstitutional Convention were tremendous. But the man needed and deserved a break, and never really got one. He only let himself be re-elected because he felt his fellow countrymen still needed him to show the way. He watched sadly as Jefferson and Hamilton, and various groups went into the first major political squabbles. GW could've done more, perhaps, but ultimately, he did all he needed to do, and got the new country and its unique institution, off to a good start.

Good job, cousin.

Nearly everyone admires Washington, but almost nobody can quote a single thing he ever said. That's because his greatness was in his character and integrity, not his speech-making ability. This nation was incredibly fortunate to have him as its first President.

God Bless Our DEAD FOUNDING FATHERS! Sorry about the dead woed. George washington was a great man. he did all possible to help out his country in all possible ways.YES go Georgy go Georgy go Georgy go Georgy go Georgy go Georgy go Georgy go Georgy go Georgy go Georgy go Georgy go Georgy go Georgy go Georgy go Georgy go Georgy go Georgy go Georgy go Georgy go Georgy go Georgy go Georgy go Georgy go Georgy go Georgy go Georgy go Georgy go Georgy go Georgy go Georgy go Georgy go Georgy go Georgy go Georgy

He was a gentlemen among politicians. He set the standard of what it means to be the President of the United States.

He got us off on the right foot as a country. By today's standards, he didn't do much as president. But he gave our country the start that has allowed us to become the beacon of Democracy that we are today.

Look, read the biography of this man (try Willard Stern Randall). If it was not for him there would be no US of A. You really can't say that about any other president (maybe Lincoln, but he led the war from the White House as a politician not a warrior and the worst case would have been a divided counrty). He put his vast fortune on the line for his political beliefs (which coincided with his wealth interests, so what) and fought and led a rag-tag war that often seemed impossible, but he never gave up. It would have never been won without him. There really is no one else in his league.

One of the best Presidents, not just because he was first, but because being first he established precents that remain today.

yay

what can I say???? George Washington rocked!! I especially love the fact that he never lied AND that he had a wooden dick or were those his teeth??? Oops my bad.

No country without him, remember trenton ,he turned down being king.what a man!

deserve six stars.

I refuse to trash any of the founding fathers. It's distressing to see Neil's comment rated so high.

President Washington set an excellent precedent for all US presidents, even though that since his administration the executive has grown more powerful. He was perhaps the most powerful and respected person of his time and was the ideal first president.

As a military leader id give him less than a 1. ran away from almost every battle. Even if overnumbered one should fight to the death out of pure zealotry. As a president gerogey was ok. we have had better.

This decent man, who reluctantly raised arms against those whom he duly admired and was subsequently made leader of the Continental Army in an ultimately winning cause, would have rated a 5 were it not for the fact that he owned slaves (who were given their freedom after the war, I believe). I don't know if I would rate him as the "father of our country"--I would be more inclined to bestow that title upon James Madison or Thomas Jefferson. I think that Washington was in the right place at the right time, and while it is certainly important to bestow upon him his proper place in United States' history, let us remember he was a human being who was like many white, Southern men of his time who happened to occupy a privileged place in the social strata of Virginian gentleman (not women---men) based upon his father's family being connected with the House of Burgesses. Washington is a great man in American history and should be remembered as an outstanding figure in the fledgling years of the Republic.

I think he should have become king.

He was a good president, more of a military leader. Kept the nation out of war during its first international conflict, which it was unprepared to fight. His Farewell Address was used as the philosophy of our nation for 50 years after he wrote it! Stay out of foreign affairs, he said. It was renewed with John Quincy Adams's Monroe Doctrine of 1826, in which he stated that the US would stay out of Europe's domestic affairs if the European superpowers didn't interfere with the newly formed nations in the Western Hemisphere.

The comment left by Neil8 on this page is so terribly off-base that I need to revise my own to correct the record. I've read quite a bit about Washington and it hurts to see people make boneheaded criticisms of the man who -- more than any other -- is responsible for the success of the American experiment, which has created more freedom, happiness, prosperity, cultural enrichment, etc., than anything else in history. Washington was a brilliant military general in determining how the inferior colonial army could win the war against the British (while losing most battles). He established, thru his generosity and wisdom, civilian control of the military (even though Congress was terribly inefficient at the time), and the virtue of relinquishing political power (a precedent that was discarded carelessly by FDR) Washington used his moral weight strategically to get the Constitution passed - impossible without him. And I have to say that he was right on virtually every decision he made as President (Whiskey Rebellion, Jay's Treaty, debt assumption, etc.) even when they were unpopular at the time. Now let me get to the task of correcting Neil8's comment. I'll prefact this by explaining that Neil8 seems to have no appreciation for the fact that melding a federal government together out of hugely divergent state interests means that you have to be cautious. I'm sure that Neil8 would have been a bigger fan of the French revolution than the American one b/c it would have satisfied his desire for someone more adamantly AGAINST the "old aristocracy" (you know, Reign of Terror is so much more exciting than individual rights and the rule of law!). But which one did more for the cause of freedom and the welfare of the public? Regarding the slavery question: Washington was born into a society of slaveholders. His correspondence throughout his life shows a transformation in his feelings as he recognized the inherent injustice in this terrible institution. Upon his death, Washington freed his slaves. That's too late for Neil8's sensibilities, but let's have a reality check: for Washington to do so earlier (with the incredible weight given to all his actions) would have antagonized the entire South and probably split apart the nation he spent his life welding together into an imperfect -- but damn great -- experiment in liberty! Just as a Washington's military strategy involved a lot of "waiting" to raise the costs of the war for Britain and cementing American patriotism... Washington saw his task as president as "waiting out" (and holding together) some bitter factional intersests long enough that the basic institutions of government had taken hold. Sorry Neil8, that his resume doesn't include eradicating an evil that had existed from the beginning of history; he only had time for creating the greatest nation in history. To mark that as "Bad" on the RIA rating scale makes you the hardest grader I've ever come across... But let me go on to deal with some other problems in your comment: I have never come across any evidence at all that Washington had a slave mistress. (By the way, if you actually read the studies, the historical/scientific consensus is now that Thomas Jefferson was most likely not the father of Sally Hemmings' child...but that's another point.) If Washington had a fault, it was that he was TOO pre-occupied with how he'd be viewed by history, so he walked the straight and narrow in a way that no one today can even imagine. To accuse him of rape with no evidence is truly low. Moreover, Neil8 is again misrepresenting history when he says that Washington bribed Presidential electors with booze. He must be referring to when Washington as a younger man ran for the House of Burgesses in VA. He lost his first election b/c he refused to have free booze available for voters, which was the custom at the time. He didn't make the mistake when he ran again -- but by the time he was virtually DRAFTED for the Presidency, there was no need (or feasible way) to give free drinks to electors that sent their ballots in from the various states! Perhaps Neil8 will consider removing political bribery from his list of slanders against Washington. Finally, as everyone knows, there was no cherry tree. That was a tall tale made up by one of Washington's first biographers -- but at least that story resonates with the overall character of this incredibly gracious, courageous, moral, wise and visionary man. The other lies in Rusty's comment are absolute falsehoods that do not relate to any reading of history that I have ever seen. Washington has been called "the indispensible man" for a reason. Our great nation would not have occurred without him. Last point: I'd urge anyone to read Washington's Farewell Address (largely drafted by Hamilton), which is just incredible as a prescient political document and as a literary reflection of a man unequaled for his virtue.

He WAS the first president. He DID win the war. He wasn't a very good farmer, but was a well known and influential landowner. He owned slaves(slept with some of them). He didn't want to be called King George-----President was good enough. According to the collage history course I took---there were not any cherry trees on his fathers farm. LIE? No, just a great imagination! :) Being first(no one wants to be first) and winning a revolution(most are lost). He did petty good for his times.

It was he that helped found and lead us to freedom that we all seem to forget we have until it is completely gone.

George Washington ellicits so many reactions, conjures so many ideas, and evokes many emotions. But what was he really like? What were his strengths? His weaknesses? The real legacy of George Washington does give us an interesting measuring stick for Presidents to come-- He was a fascinating military personality--he knew when to fight and when to run. Certainly the war would have been lost had he fought at every opportunity. By casting his lots with Hamilton, he helped set the stage for a strong federal government that would ensure financial security for those who were considered "legitimate"--white male land owners. Certainly this decision on Washington's part was a mixed blessing... 1. It helped establish the notion of the federal government's responsibility in at least partially ensuring financial security. 2. But it was geared toward protecting the old aristocracy by elevating the financially well-endowed to extreme positions (this should sound familiar to those who lived in the 80s, early 90s, and, of course, those living right now...) while effectively leaving out the already disenfranchised women, to say nothing of the poor slaves. Of course, one might say that you must judge a man or woman's morality in the context of his/her time. But I am inclined to believe otherwise... Washington himself owned slaves, and he had multiple mistresses, including slave mistresses (as Jefferson did.) His moral compass may have been off a little there. This is an interesting historical point, because so many were calling for impeachment of Clinton because he lied to cover for a sexual transgression, yet fit in the context of the whole of the presidential succession, Clinton fairs well. At least he didn't own slaves... But I don't mean to browbeat George Washington--outside of his plantation and slaves, he did risk quite a bit in taking up with the rest of the colonial Whigs in overthrowing British rule. He refused to be crowned king by accepting a Presidency (though the history texts will reveal that George actually bribed all of the electors who placed him into power with barrels of alcohol and other party favorites...) Washington's legacy is a mixed basket of bravery (the war), compromise of virtue (slave-holding, political bribery, sexual affairs tantamount to rape (coercion of slave mistresses)), humility (refusal to accept a kingship), etc. I suppose it is indeed difficult to review this President beyond the glory and fanfare of his being the FIRST in a long line of interesting characters. Strip the fanfare away and he was a fair to bad President, leading by poor moral example. Strip the President and the history from George Washington and you have something close to what people think--the FIRST President of the United States who chopped the cherry tree down, beat the Brits, and suffered from a bad case of splinters in the gums...

He managed the most difficult (thanks to the French, not alone). But he was first a military chief, and he had slaves...

As good as they get.

My Lord, give the man 5 stars.. No one wants to be first!!!!!!

the father of our country. yup he's cool

A true leader of an emerging nation. Driven by virtue and profound morality. Tough to rate him on specific issues, however, he did hold together the nation while it transformed from the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution. Every president should be required to have some of his DNA.

Gave up a throne to found a democracy.