In reflecting upon the 250^th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, I find myself drawn to the story of George Washington.  

I’m struck by how Washington’s actions and deeds help solidify the concept that the power of our government resides with its people. I’m also surprised by how Washington’s words in leaving the White House seem prescient today. 

Many assumed that upon the conclusion of the Revolutionary War that Washington would declare himself as King. Julius Caesar, Oliver Cromwell, and Napoleon Bonaparte all used military success to crown themselves as rulers. History suggested that Washington would follow the same path. 

Washington instead chose to follow the example of the great Roman General Cincinnatus and resigned his command to become a citizen.  

Later, after serving two terms as our first president, Washington did it again by refusing a third term and stepping down voluntarily.  

In relinquishing the opportunity to become a dictator, Washington may have performed the most important act in the history of American democracy. By stepping down, he established the baseline of the American experiment.  

Washington understood that the story of Cincinnatus was critical to the foundation of our new democracy. Institutions can only survive when leaders treat power as a temporary trust and not a permanent institution.  

A true leader’s job in a democracy is to empower the people to govern themselves. Political office, including the Presidency, is a temporary public trust and not a birthright.  

In his final words as President, Washington sought to empower the citizens of the United States in warning us about factions or what we refer to now as political parties. 

Washington saw political parties as tools that could undermine our democracy. He warned that political parties serve: 

“to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. . . agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, [and] foments occasionally riot and insurrection.” 

Washington’s warning seems relevant to us today. Pew Research Center polling reveals a sharp rise in partisan hostility: in 2022, 72% of Republicans and 63% of Democrats viewed the opposing party as more immoral than other Americans—up dramatically from 47% and 35% in 2016. 

Washington further warned that parties would lead to a rise of unprincipled politicians who would use partisan anger to secure personal power. Washington wrote, partisanship: 

“open(s) the door to foreign influence and corruption, which find a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions.” 

When people become more loyal to parties than to the country, people ignore corruption in their own party and aggressively vilify the opposition. The rule of law becomes damaged, and our institutions that seek to provide checks and balances become weak and ineffective. 

Washington’s ultimate fear was that hyper-partisanship would break the nation. Washington warned that the continuous conflict between parties would lead to a state of exhaustion, driving citizens to seek security in the hands of an absolute ruler as hyper-partisanship “leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism.” 

Washington refused to join a political party because he believed that political leaders must always put the country above political party. In Washington’s advice, we might find the antidote to the destructive partisan gridlock before us.     

As we look forward to the next 250 years, let us reject the deeds and words of division and instead demand that leaders prioritize the public good. Let us stop treating elections like a sporting event where winning is the only objective. Finally, let’s choose what is best for the people in our nation over party loyalty.’

This summer, I hope that you will get a chance to share your thoughts on the next 250 years at one of the following events –