In the musical Hamilton, there’s a scene in which King George III reacts to the news that George Washington is retiring from public life.
Declaring himself “perplexed” by this act, the British king admits, “I wasn’t aware that was something a person could do,” provoking a round of audience laughter. The scene recalls an event that took place in 1796 at the end of Washington’s two terms as president. It was the second time that the "father of his country" voluntarily relinquished power.
The first time was at the end of the American Revolution in 1783, when he appeared before Congress to resign his commission. Dec. 23, 2020, marks the 237th anniversary of that event.
After more than two centuries of peaceful transitions of power, it’s easy to take this moment for granted. We are used to seeing presidents come and go. In Washington’s world, where even the most enlightened monarchs and emperors believed in their divine right to rule, leaving power was practically unheard of. It is this context that makes our first president’s actions unique and worthy of celebration.
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