"First in Emotional Intelligence: George Washington..." Topic

… DURING THE NEWBURGH CONSPIRACY

"General George Washington stood in front of his assembled officers, reading glasses in hand, and stated, "Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles, for I have not only grown gray but almost blind, in the service of my country." These words uttered on March 15, 1783, in the recently constructed Temple of Virtue at the New Windsor Cantonment, were arguably the crescendo of eight years of military leadership over the Continental Army. Washington defused the Newburgh Conspiracy, the most severe threat to the emerging peace. General Washington's performance was not only a demonstration of his character, but a masterful display of leadership driven by high emotional intelligence…"

From Journal of the American Revolution Blog

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Armand

Washington was a complex character but certainly was a person who understood how to motivate people, when to take a risk and to take the long view – how he handled the Newburgh Conspiracy, which had it moved forward would almost certainly have had dire consequences for the Republic

He deserves the Father of His Country, and Newburgh is one of the top three or four reasons why. He WAS "the indispensable man." The presidency is as powerful as it is ONLY because they knew GW would be first to hold it, and he had proven that he could be trusted with power. He had little to no input on the Constitution, but he HAD to be there, as presiding chairman, if people were to accept it.

Plus there's that Trenton-Princeton business.

Please. You know how that "Trento-Princeton" thing affects me.

Yes, in history one finds numerous generals, even some with good reasons, deciding to overthrow the government and take over. It is amazing, after he was often treated by the government, that Washington had the patriotism to stay loyal.
During the conspiracy one officer wrote Washington about it and urged him to join them and he could take over the country. Washington wrote back that if the officer had any devotion towards him, he would never write something that again.

I sometimes wonder if the hostility to GW from modern "intellectuals" isn't at least in part due to the fact that he WAS a man centered on morality and self sacrifice.

These seem to be dangerous traits if people at large are simply to accept rule by their "betters."

TVAG

Well said The Virtual Armchair General

Thanks.

Armand

Washington was not without critics in his own time, but he was the right man for the job. I don't know who is attacking him today.
Examples?

Here's one:
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And another:
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One more:
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I was wondering more along the lines of an academic movement to discredit him, such as "modern intellectuals, per TVAG. Rioters and 1619 are not going to make much headway with most Americans' opinions about Washington, iMO.

Thanks also…

Armand