American Leader

Written by Victoria Baker
Thursday, 13 January 2011 12:15

"A slender acquaintance with the world must convince every man that actions, not words, are the true criterion of the attachment of friends," said George Washington. They are wise words indeed. I couldn't agree more. It was with this kind of calm intelligence that Washington took on the role as First President of the United States. His Presidency was fraught with new beginnings but then again, the role of President has never been an easy one.

On January 25th starting at 7pm, Presidential biographer Michael Takiff will discuss his latest book “A Complicated Man: The Life of Bill Clinton as Told by Those Who Know Him” at the Greenwich Library. This book is the first complete oral history of Clinton's life using the medium of over 150 chronologically arranged interviews with prominent figures such as Bob Dole, Tom Brokaw and others. This lecture is free and open to all and will take place in the Meeting Room of the Greenwich Library. For more information please log onto Greenwichlibrary.org.

George Washington was born into a prosperous Virginia farming family in 1732. After his father died when George was eleven, George's mother struggled to hold their home together with the help of her two sons from a previous marriage. George displayed a gift for mathematics and this gift caught the attention of Lord Fairfax, head of one of the most powerful families in Virginia. While working for Lord Fairfax as a surveyor at the age of sixteen, Washington traveled deep into the American wilderness for weeks at a time.

At the time, England and France were enemies in America, vying for control of the Ohio River Valley. Holding a commission in the British army, Washington led a poorly trained force of 150 men. Although hailed as a hero in the colonies when word spread of his heroic valor and leadership against the French, the Royal government in England blamed the colonists for the defeat. Angry at the lack of respect and appreciation shown to him, Washington resigned and returned to farming in Virginia only to return to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. His great stature gave credibility to the call for a new government and insured his election as the first President of the United States. Keenly aware that his conduct as President would set precedents for the future of the office, he carefully weighed every step he took.

Then, as now, the Office of President has never been an easy one. The journeys of both George Washington and Bill Clinton are worthy of being studied in depth as a way to learn a little something of what it means to be an American leader.

Victoria Baker of Greenwich is an opera singer. A winner of many prestigious competitions, she has performed and worked with distinguished artists across the world (notably at Lincoln Center). She teaches piano & voice privately in Greenwich. For questions that deserve answers, and may be in print, please call (203) 531-7499 or send email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it