George Washington

December 2, 2019|Alexander Hamilton, Executive Power, George Washington, Populism, Stephen Knott, The Lost Soul of the American Presidency, Woodrow Wilson

The Populist Presidency vs. The Founders’ Presidency

by Stephen F. Knott|2 Comments

Stephen Knott discusses the immense revolution in power that has remade the American presidency over the past century.

November 28, 2019|George Washington, gratitude, historical memory, Thanksgiving

Gratitude, Nationalism, and Memory

by John O. McGinnis|Leave a Comment

George Washington and the Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1789.

If we would become a happier nation by being a more grateful nation, we need changes in public life that would call forth more gratitude.

August 6, 2019|Alexis de Tocqueville, American Legion v. American Humanist Association, George Washington, majority tyranny, Religion, Supreme Court

Defending Religion as a Public Good

by Carson Holloway|12 Comments

Detail image of the Bladensburg Memorial Cross in Bladensburg, Maryland (Glynnis Jones / Shutterstock.com).

A responsible political leader might act to promote religion for secular reasons, on the understanding that religion is necessary to a healthy democracy.

July 3, 2019|Benedict Arnold, George Washington, Joyce Lee Malcolm, treason

Becoming America’s Greatest Villain

by Craig Bruce Smith|2 Comments

Hart, Thomas, "Colonel Arnold: who commanded the Provincial Troops sent against Quebec, through the wilderness of Canada and was wounded in that city, under General Montgomery " (1776). Prints, Drawings and Watercolors from the Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection. Brown Digital Repository. Brown University Library.

Malcolm presents Benedict Arnold as deeply conflicted, but concludes that his turn was ideological, and rooted in his wounded sense of honor.

July 3, 2019|Declaration of Independence, George Washington, Harry Jaffa, Harvey Mansfield, Leo Strauss, Thomas Jefferson

Why Did Harry Jaffa Change His Mind?

by David Tucker|10 Comments

The Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. (Adam Parent/Shutterstock.com).

To preserve both the country and political philosophy, Jaffa returned to the beginning.

July 1, 2019|Alexander Hamilton, Commerce, Constitution, Federalist, George Washington, Republicanism

How America Reconciled Patriotism and Free Markets

by Samuel Gregg|8 Comments

The Preamble to the U.S. Constitution (David Smart/Shutterstock.com).

Patriotism and economic liberty are not mutually exclusive. Commercial republicanism can unite them.

June 14, 2019|Antonin Scalia, George Washington, James Madison, John Adams, Joseph Ellis, Robert Bork, Second Amendment, Thomas Jefferson

Joseph Ellis’s American Monologue

by Brian A. Smith|30 Comments

Junius Brutus Stearns, "Washington as Statesman at the Constitutional Convention," 1856 (Virginia Museum of Fine Arts).

In Joseph Ellis’ view, it’s just fine for us to love the Founders, but not for anyone to understand them in ways that might derail the march of progress.

February 26, 2019|Civic Virtue, Congress, George Washington, Separation of Powers, Supreme Court