December 14, 2020 Joe Biden surpassed the number of confirmed electors that he needed to be elected President of the United States both by popular and electoral vote.
Two hundred and twenty-one years earlier, on December 14, 1799, George Washington died at Mt. Vernon at the age of 67, after five decades of service to his country.
Somehow I find these two events richly parallel. I’m not suggesting that Joe Biden is a Washington-like figure, far from it. Rather, I find the parallels (or anti-parallels) in what many consider to be Washington’s greatest achievement.
After serving two terms as President of the newly formed country, and guaranteed of unlimited future terms, Washington turned his back on power for the good of the new country. In order to avoid a de facto monarchy in the new democracy, he stepped down gracefully and completely in order to set the model for the peaceful transition of power that became a hallmark of the new nation, and something that set it apart from its European ancestors.
To say, “My time has passed, now it’s time for someone else to take the plow,” is one of the most difficult abnegations of self. For those for whom power and governing became a profession, it meant an end, a death long before true mortality. I am certain that many Presidents did not want to do this. I wonder if Franklin Roosevelt, if his health had held out, would have every stepped away. But in every other case apart from death or assassination, the incumbent either didn’t run or accepted the results of the election (see where I’m going with this).
Washington passed away prior to the contentious and acrimonious election of 1800. John Adams did not attend the inauguration of his successor, partially for legitimate reasons and partially out of rancor toward his former friend. If Washington were still alive, however, I’m sure he would have advised Adams to step aside and put aside hatred for the stability and success of the new country.
Calling George Washington!
Be safe, be strong.