One of the great speeches in American history was George Washington’s first inaugural address, which he delivered to Congress. It’s a sublime exercise in humility, piety, and patriotism.
Boy have things changed. Washington was already revered at the time of his presidency. And yet, in these remarks, he evinced not a trace of the hubris we see so often from our current political leaders, starting with the one in the White House.
I wondered what would happen if President Obama got a draft from one of his speechwriters that was, word for word, Washington’s first inaugural address. No doubt it would have gotten a thorough editing . . .
Much of what you will read are actual quotes from the 44th president, serving to correct and update the 1st.
*******
WASHINGTON:
The magnitude and difficulty of the trust to which the voice of my country called me, being sufficient to awaken in the wisest and most experienced of her citizens a distrustful scrutiny into his qualifications, could not but overwhelm with despondence one who (inheriting inferior endowments from nature and unpracticed in the duties of civil administration) ought to be peculiarly conscious of his own deficiencies.
OBAMA EDIT:
It is very rare that I come to an event where I’m like the fifth or sixth most interesting person.
I think that I’m a better speechwriter than my speechwriters. I know more about policies on any particular issue than my policy directors. And I’ll tell you right now that I’m going to think I’m a better political director than my political director.
I’m a surprisingly good pool player and I cook a really mean chili.
WASHINGTON:
No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than those of the United States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency; and in the important revolution just accomplished in the system of their united government the tranquil deliberations and voluntary consent of so many distinct communities from which the event has resulted can not be compared with the means by which most governments have been established without some return of pious gratitude, along with an humble anticipation of the future blessings which the past seem to presage.
OBAMA EDIT:
I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism.
There have been times where America has shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive.
WASHINGTON:
By the article establishing the executive department it is made the duty of the President “to recommend to your consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” The circumstances under which I now meet you will acquit me from entering into that subject further than to refer to the great constitutional charter under which you are assembled, and which, in defining your powers, designates the objects to which your attention is to be given.
It will be more consistent with those circumstances, and far more congenial with the feelings which actuate me, to substitute, in place of a recommendation of particular measures, the tribute that is due to the talents, the rectitude, and the patriotism which adorn the characters selected to devise and adopt them.
OBAMA EDIT:
A couple of weeks ago, I appeared along with Joe to present the administration’s ideas in terms of steps that we have to take. And I issued a number of executive actions that should be taken unilaterally.
It’s been a long time since Congress was focused on what the American people need them to be focused on. Whether they will do the job they were elected to do is ultimately up to them.
The House bill isn’t smart and it’s not fair.
If Latinos sit out the election instead of saying, ‘We’re gonna punish our enemies, and we’re gonna reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us’ — if they don’t see that kind of upsurge in voting in this election — then I think it’s going to be harder.
WASHINGTON:
To the foregoing observations I have one to add, which will be most properly addressed to the House of Representatives. It concerns myself, and will therefore be as brief as possible. When I was first honored with a call into the service of my country, then on the eve of an arduous struggle for its liberties, the light in which I contemplated my duty required that I should renounce every pecuniary compensation.
From this resolution I have in no instance departed; and being still under the impressions which produced it, I must decline as inapplicable to myself any share in the personal emoluments which may be indispensably included in a permanent provision for the executive department, and must accordingly pray that the pecuniary estimates for the station in which I am placed may during my continuance in it be limited to such actual expenditures as the public good may be thought to require.
OBAMA EDIT:
I’ll take a five percent pay cut.
*******
Now, by golly, we’ve got a speech!
