Washington's Circle: The Creation of the President

Historians David S. Heidler and Jeanne T. Heidler (history, United States Air Force Acad.) have collaborated on numerous works, including Old Hickory's War and Henry Clay. Their latest explores how George Washington (1732–99) and a select group of advisors—including luminaries such as John Adams, James Madison, and John Jay—crafted the post of president of the United States. Although the men guiding Washington were united in their admiration of him, they were all to varying degrees distrustful of government and the powers it wielded. Some, led by Thomas Jefferson, wanted to vest power to the citizenry through the states. Others, strongly influenced by Alexander Hamilton, endeavored to centralize power in the federal government. Washington utilized the disparate suggestions provided to him in order to create a position that afforded an individual the authority required to manage the government. Through his actions, he also provided an example of the humility required to recognize that power was granted by the people and was given for a finite period.