Blood of Tyrants: George Washington & the Forging of the Presidency

This unfinished—and unflattering—portrait by Gilbert Stuart ironically came to be the most famous depiction of Washington. Martha Washington criticized it as not a “true resemblance.”
Photograph © 2013 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution / Art Resource, NY

Martha and George Washington entertained a great many visitors at their grand Mount Vernon estate beside the Potomac. In fact, the visitors became so frequent that George resorted to removing signage in order to confuse would-be houseguests.
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, LC-DIG-pga-01228

This print depicts Independence Hall at the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. This building served as the principle seat of government, except for periods when Congress was forced by the advancing British forces to evacuate. With the postwar government failing, Washington and other patriot leaders returned in 1787 for the Constitutional Convention.
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, LC-DIG-pga-04142

With the help of his assistants, Washington produced an amazing 140,000 documents during the Revolutionary War. Foreseeing his letters’ value to posterity, he checked virtually all of the scribes’ work and held each letter to exacting standards. He spent his nights documenting his actions and explaining to Congress what was needed to conduct the war. This image of his inaugural address depicts Washington’s own fine penmanship.
National Archives (Records of the U.S. Senate)

Washington was born into a family of relatively modest means but worked (and married) his way into wealth. This depiction of Washington as a child is titled “Father, I cannot tell a lie: I cut the tree,” and perpetuates the cherry tree myth. Washington indeed told a great many lies, and his knack for deception enabled the United States to outwit the British and win the war.
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, LC-DIG-pga-02152

The Sons of Liberty punish a Loyalist for his opposition to the Revolution. The practice of “tarring and feathering” had originated in 1189 with Richard the Lionheart during the Crusades, but was not used extensively until the colonists revived it during their revolt against Britain.
National Archives photo no. 148-GW-436 (The George Washington Bicentennial Commission)

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