Until 1971, both February 12 and February 22 were observed as
federal public holidays to honor the birthdays of Abraham
Lincoln (February 12) and George
Washington (February 22).
In 1971 President Richard
Nixon proclaimed one single federal public holiday, the Presidents'
Day, to be observed on the third Monday of February,
honoring all past presidents of the United States of America.
Please Note: The Federal statute designates this day as
Washington's Birthday, President Nixon issued a proclamation declaring
the holiday as "President's Day" in 1971. President Nixon erroneously
believed that a Presidential proclamation on the matter carried the
same weight as an Executive Order.
Since that change in 1971, the common term has been "President's
Day".
George Washington, born February 22, 1732 in Virginia, was a
natural leader, instrumental in creating a united nation out of a
conglomeration of struggling colonies and territories. The first
president of the United States of America is affectionately honored as
"the father of his country."
Shortly after his twenty-second birthday, Washington served in the
army of King George III of England and was put in command of a troop
of soldiers. The French were settling on British soil and turning the
local Indians against the British colonists. Later, in the war against
the French and Indians, Washington commanded large troops of soldiers
and showed courage that inspired all his soldiers.
At this time, King George III of England dominated the thirteen
colonies along the east coast and much of the surrounding territories.
Colonists began to want their freedom, and live with a set of rules
based on democracy, not under the rule of a faraway king. The Boston
Tea Party of 1773, a colonial rebellion against taxes, helped to spark
the American Revolution. Washington led and encouraged his
inexperienced armies against the British forces for eight years until
the colonies won their independence.
Laws for the new country were written into the Constitution and the
Bill of Rights. The laws called for a President, and here again George
Washington was considered the natural choice. He agreed to serve his
country as the first President. George Washington moved from Mount
Vernon, his family home south of Alexandria, Virginia, to New York
City, then the capital of the United States. The trip took a week by
horse and carriage. All along the way, people waited eagerly to
glimpse the Revolutionary War general and their first President.
Washington was a reluctant leader. As he inspired his soldiers
through two wars, he saw himself serving his country, not leading it.
When he accepted two terms as president, he saw himself serving God
and his country in peacetime. He turned down a third term as
president, wishing only to retire to his beautiful family home, Mount
Vernon.
Americans celebrated Washington's birthday while he was still
alive. They were grateful for a strong leader who had proven that
democracy was a feasible way to govern the growing country. And, while
he was alive, legends grew up about him. The most famous one says that
he was so strong, he threw a silver dollar across the Potomac River.
Some Americans argue that this is a true story. Parts of the Potomac
River, they say, were extremely narrow a few hundred years ago!
Another story which has never been proven, but Americans pass down to
their children as a lesson:
When George Washington was young, his father gave him a hatchet. He
tried to cut down a cherry tree with it. His father noticed the cuts
on the tree, and asked his son how they got there. "I cannot tell a
lie," George said, "I did it with my hatchet." Perhaps George
Washington had no hatchet, and perhaps there were no cherry trees
where he grew up. However, George Washington today represents honesty,
and cherry pies have become a favorite food associated with his
birthday.
Various communities observe the holiday by staging pageants and
reenactments of important milestones in Washington's life. Also, the
holiday has taken on another side, much more commercial in nature.
Many shopping malls and stores run Presidents' Day sales to attract
shoppers who have the day off from work or school.
The White House
While in office, George Washington held a contest for the best
architectural design of a "President's Palace." Among the competitors
was Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and an
architect.
His design was entered anonymously, sighed only with the initials
"A. Z." It didn't win. An Irish architect named James Hoban won $500,
a piece of land, and of course the honor of having his plans used in
the final design.
Americans called it the "President's House" because the word
"palace" reminded them of the monarchy that they recently broke away
from. The official name was the "Executive Mansion" from 1818-1902.
Today it is called simply "The White House." Some historians say that
people began calling it the White House because it was painted white
after being restored after it had been burned by the British in 1812.
Another legend is that George Washington named it after his wife's
house in the state of Virginia.
The first president never had the chance to stay there. Washington
died on December 14, 1799, one year before the White House was
completed during the Presidency of John Adams. In 1806, Thomas
Jefferson had another chance at designing the White House when he
moved in as third President. Much of the house and Jefferson's
additions were destroyed in the War of 1812. When it was rebuilt,
however, James Hoban supervised the work. The White House was
redecorated in 1881 and again in 1902 by the current presidents, and
each change reflected the style of the times. It was completely
renovated in 1949 when Harry S. Truman was President.
In 1960 when John Kennedy became President, his wife Jacqueline
redecorated the White House to display the beauty of American
furnishings and art. The gardens outside were beautified and enlarged.
Since then the presidents' wives have continued to maintain their home
in a tasteful style.