tonight, dker henriques lectures widely on subjects related to george washington and has recorded at least five other lectures for c-span and we greatly appreciate they are being here this evening. he is the author of "realistic visionary: a portrait of george washington." please join me in welcoming professor peter henriques. [applause] peter: i do not think i can top that, thank you very much. there is a touch of sadness coming to this presentation because we have been going through the different stages of washington's life, i have enjoyed the opportunity to speak to you at this particular chapter. says, i hope to be back in the fall with a different lecture. lifenow, it's been a great that we'd seen washington live that even heroes grow old and even heroes go somewhat downhill .ike all of us we know how quickly time goes by. the older you get, the faster time seems to go by. i look at the audience and see almost all of us are exactly the same age, between 50 and death. of course, one sign of old age is forgetfulness. did i take my pills or did i just think i took my pills? where are my glasses? that reminds me of a story. in elderly couple had dinner at another couple's house and after eating, the wise went to the kitchen leading the gentleman at the table and they were talking saying, last time i wife and i went out to a new restaurant, it was really great and i would highly recommend it. the other guy says, what is the name? uh, was the name of that flower? do you mean rose? yes, that's the one. rose, will listen him at that whaturant we went to? -- was the name of that restaurant we went to? [applause] well, as we get ready to give our last talk on washington's , i want to make a brief acknowledgment to my professor at the university of virginia, who is the editor of the washington papers in the retirement series and was one of my professors there and he shared some of his insights in partam drawing on tonight. one of my major themes in examining the later stages of washington's life has been to note the constant tension between two conflicting impulses within this man. on the one hand, there is washington's desire for autonomy as a squire ofe mount vernon. on the other hand, there is the of power be the center and influence in these two things are in tension and conflict. quote -- i be, to was excited about seeing "hamilton." hamilton wants in the roomo be where it happens. washington wants to be in the room where it happens. but you cannot be a player in the room where it happens and completely retire. expect thatgically this tension would finally no longer be operational in his final retirement, following an exhausting eight years as president. washington is ready to relax, enjoying roses, and retirement. such an expectation would be mistaken. however strongly washington insisted, is on the wish was to live and die and honest man on his own farm, his actions belie that assertion. readygton was not quite to watch the world has him die without giving it a nudge. would like to explore this tension, focusing on washington famous citizen, and on his involvement in public affairs which will end with his death. having published his farewell address with its message of independence abroad and unity at home, washington prepared to return to mt. vernon in the spring of 1797. in those days, the president was inaugurated in march print to give you an idea, this is a big deal. washington rented a space on a ship. this is some of what he took to mount vernon. 97 boxes, 14 trunks, 13 packages, three hampers, 24 plow plates, a heater, birdcage, pillars, fruit trees, the nation blinds, among other things. blinds, among other things. secretary, on his the one side, i am called upon to remember the parent, on the other side, to remember the dog. his return to virginia, he states his views clearly and more than once. -- ihat is -- i'm sorry thought i had a quote there but i guess not. his quote is this way. seated s under my --eeded -- and i hope to spend the rest of my days in peaceful retirement, making political pursuits yield to the more rational and the sense of cultivating the earth. his goal was to view things in the common light of philosophy, i.e. do not get involved in what is going on. as joe ellis notes, this image gives you the idea of bucolic splendor, afternoon naps in the shade, relaxed routines, applied with the undulating contours of rolling hills but nothing could have been more alien for his temperament than that image. washington's personality was such that he would not go gentle into that good night. perhaps not surprisingly, he found most of the things at mount vernon out of repair. he wrote, i have been gone for i am messing this up on the quotes -- i apologize. eight years absence from home sooners that's had some deranged by private myairs, so spoiled buildings, throwing my domestic concerns and such disorder and that at no. in my life as i have ever been as busy as i have been since i you can-- maybe some of identify with that quote. retirement doesn't end the way you expected. he was very frustrated with trying to find workmen to do what he wanted to do. he sounds of another like a conservative businessman in this quote. workmen in those countries are necessary plagues. in this, we are in treaties as well as money must be obtained to -- the baffle all calculations and the accomplishment of any plan or repairs they are engaged in any require more attention and looking after then can be well-conceived. he says i am a further rising of the sun and work to the setting of the in trying to keep these guys at their job -- remember washington's farm -- he has five farms -- total over a thousand acres -- it is five times as large as the mount vernon you see now, to give you an idea of what he is dealing with. you can imagine how full his days would be. he is a most running a hotel because everyone, friends, want to stoptors -- he is the greatest man of the agent may want to see him. there is an interesting note he wrote in 1797 in his diary, saying if nobody pops in for dinner it will be the first time in 20 years and arthur and i will dine alone. gives you a little idea of that kind of different schedule that he might have as opposed to the rest of us and he is working on -- remember, over 50,000 acres of land at west. he's trying to collect rent and he is dealing with the potomac in our company trying to find that waterway to connect the east to the list. he has got lots in the capital city that is going to be named for him and he is deeply involved in that building and investing in the city. he has a manager and he writes constantly trying to -- anderson is a very interesting guy. he is honest and committed but not particularly well-organized in washington and very sensitive -- washington is always writing, we need to do this -- by the way, it is interesting percent at the distillery that is now back in operation in mount vernon washington ran the largest distillery in the united states at the time of his death. he worked hard to collect money due to him. loaning moneyvoid to family and friends which are always writing saying i need this or that washington is so tough and someone is a mighty might be surprised he is a rather -- when you actually read the letters he answered usually not suing the debtors and letting them postpone it and usually give him money to the family even though he is not very confident it is going to be used particularly well. one shadow balance over washington in his serenity or serenity is wanted to with his slave workers now numbering over 300. they were more numerous than he could effectively employ but he was philosophically opposed to selling them in breaking up families and he privately and if needs more work he explores different way is to see if he can for his family and lease them out as workers -- never happens because washington frankly is not willing to give up his own financial independence in an effort to do his fountain never purchase another slave is now going to be tested because his famous chef hercules and this is a supposed portrait of hercules -- i don't know whether it is or not -- hercules was a real colorful individual. he escaped actually from mount vernon and went to philadelphia. washington trying to get the clever man pack -- never did -- and say, i need a chef and he was thinking he was going to have to purchase one, found a different husband couldn't do it send it in and up -- did not actually by another slave. hercules vanishes from the historical record. nobody ever knows what happened to him except in this picture he lived on and he is often discussed. martha's favorite servant was a girl by the name of bony judge who escaped in the last year of his life he is still trying to get her back. a able to said, easily and if you can get her -- he was unsuccessful. then shortly before his fatal illness he learned that his own personal body servant, christopher shields, a man who replaced billy lee who is now injured, was planning to run away. washington had spent a great deal of money -- christopher was bitten by a rabid dog. washington sent to pennsylvania to a supposed expert dr. to fix him and now he is about his favorite servant is planning to run away and when will the busy my thing, you can you trust now? washington is kind of a blow, you think these of the people -- these people are taking care of, he is not as insensitive to their needs as you wish they might be. now another glimpse of washington can be seen in his relationship with george washington -- now the washington's never had any children of their own as most of you know but they raised two different sets of children. first, martha is surviving children, betsy, who died of intimacy -- epilepsy. in her son jackson who dies at the yorktown campaign that not until after he is married as for children of his own in rapid fashion -- by the way, his wife then marry somebody else and has 16 more children just as a passage for a nice way to spend a life. -- many of youd have been to mount vernon, you cash that you see the is their martha's grandchildren -- martha's step grandchildren -- george washington parke, who we are focusing on now. probably is greatest regret was a lack of a good education and he often talks about his defective education, he wants so much for georgeackie and then now washington constituted a beneficiary a veteran education he wished he had had the list unable to have and he is so frustrated as some of you might be with grandchildren or children -- they don't take a vantage of the opportunities you are more than happy to give them . washington seems to have inherited some of the laziness that is very prominent in his father. this is a picture of him as a young boy. are all hisree sisters. he was the only bullies who jackie. there is no? espouse him rotten -- a couple of interesting letters and friendly washington doesn't like it but he would rather have a spoiled grandson then in an hobby wife and seems to go along with that kind of analogy. there is an interesting little tidbit into the relationship between washington and his wife when after george washington custer jobs out of princeton, washington feels the best place to send in for the best education was in massachusetts to harvard with that as far away from virginia and he writes to washington stepfather and says this. would submit to this is 18th-century virginia, remember. but even said it would be a heart rending stroke on her to have him call leisa washington says that in stay in the area, go to saint john's in annapolis instead. that did not work out well. you read washington's letters, he is basically -- will you hit the books, for gods sake? this is your chance to develop -- but it is not an exact quote, by the way -- because we are on c-span -- did not say that -- there are so many false quotes about washington and i do not want to add to those that are out there. has's an fortunate that she not motivated, he is uninterested, and he doesn't remember the things he events for any length of time at all. he is really goes through a time of depression at one point washington rights to stuart, he appears to me to be a moped and stupid, says nothing, is always in some court excluded from company, playing on his -- no -- byt is not right -- anyway, the way, just as an aside, george washington parke does corrupt to be a playwright of minor note, a speaker, you writes a huge reminiscence of washington that is very iffy legible and often off base and perhaps most interesting to you his daughter mary's robert e. lee and that is why the custer mansion is at arlington. of st.ropping out john's, washington then used his influence to win young custer a provision in the military and this is a picture of him as a coronet. washington was able to do this particularly easily because in this is something maybe even many of you never my guess is probably not all of you by any means, believe it or not, washington, in the end of his life, is once again called activated in a general commander-in-chief of all the new american army as the country prepares for possible war with france. this is not a particularly well-known aspect of his life and frankly it is not the brightest chapter in his remarkable and illustrious career. this examine briefly chapter of washington back on the public stage again. going through the papers of washington's retirement, three things struck me. one was especially with this point i am looking at about involvement, it is surprising how quickly he wants to be involved after he retires. he still subscribes to 10 newspapers for example. that is not a perfect way to cut off all connection with the outside world and within a month he is ready to his former eight, secretary of the treasury john mccain rate in suggesting if you don't mind, would you communicate in the in the cage -- occasionally such matters as are interesting in the government. mchenry is only too happy, sellers timothy pickering and washington is in the loop from the very early stage. that surprisesg me not that i didn't know the force of it is that george washington -- we think of is the father of our country, nonpartisan, above parties, had, in fact, during this period, .ecame a partisan i understand why this happened as we look at washington story, hearing one side of a complicated story. obviously if you hear the donald trump image of the obama presidency had his good newbie different if you listen to msnbc interpreted and this is the case if i give you jefferson's perspective of what is happening, it is very different than washington and some of this will have a modern ring to you, i think. what happens is, from washington's, remember, when he signed jay's treaty, which we touched on last time, the war ended. here severely criticized for she is severely criticized for this is popular receptors suffers and then thomas jefferson writes a letter that becomes public in which jefferson accuses washington is having his bells shornense of by the harlot england, in other words, he has given up his own republican values. then washington's former ambassador to france, james munro, we will touch on this more in october -- when jefferson's help in blessing books a skilled in attacking washington's foreign policy. washington usually doesn't make comments on writing, in this, he scribbles -- another non-quote -- but he is really upset at it, he says as added puts uncharacteristically angry, sarcastic, and as of the contemptuous tone of his munro's regarding charges, reveals how great and personal and emotional state washington had in the conduct of american foreign policy. leading it in similar attacks, strikes washington at is corey and he responds is viscerally and really sees his opponents, not simply as wrong but really attitude,ous in their dangerous in their views. from washington's perspective, it looks like the french government is controlling the administration or trying to control the administration of the united states. the republican party, to quote him, has become the french party . it is the person of the country, and threatens over stability and our independence. couple of letters, and there are many along this line. a party exists in the united states who opposes the government in all its measures. those discounts -- those offering conspiracy are devoid of honor. , the more the views of those who are upon us the measures of our government are developed, the less surprised a.m. at the attempt and the and ssn-likerdly which are used to subvert it washington co. -- told one correspondent he is convinced that the republicans want to server their own government as i am now writing you this letter. finally i was struck how rather savagely washington -- savagely washington treated his successor to presidency. i want to look at this just in a little bit more detail with you. but when the french learned of they were, as you can guess, extremely angry. he immediately began seizing american ships, confiscating cargo. when atoms succeeded his -- as president -- when atoms a succeeded when adam as president -- there was a real possibility of war although jefferson and republicans were sympathetic to france, see this as an absolute disaster. adams feels that french actions and as we can stop this we are going to go to war with -- so he takes a patient of washington's member, washington, when there was danger of congress or relations with england, he sends john jacob what add-ins does, he signs a three-man envoy over difference in an effort to see if we can find a way out of this very serious dilemma. the stages separate what is z affair in the history books are john marshall and elbridge gerry -- by the way, we get the more gerrymandering from this individual -- were met with a series of humiliating conditions before negotiations could even begin -- not only would advance have to apologize for things he said but france is going to be given a huge loan and there is going to be a lot of personal bribery involved for their right to meet with him in the american reaction was no way. adams when they told him about it said that unfortunately the commission has been unsuccessful. now the republicans feel, why is it unsuccessful? unreasonable made demands -- patterns, really, in this case -- you want to know what happened? in any releases statements and when the american people read just how wrong they had been treated by france, the country went wild with anger reference, real significant shift in the toitude as you might guess the famous quote, millions for defense but not one cent for tribute, that was expressed in this crisis -- a burst of patriotism swept through congress. a past an act for a new army of up to 10,000 men. they also, by the way, past rather draconian laws known as the alien and sedition, dealing with feelings in the country, giving the president power to remove them, sedition for treasonous actions, newspaper articles that were bad you could be put in prison. they are very yulia's test their fury is the enemy wherein we must deal with -- this is not a new issue. comes a time and time again. jacob theuld come and new army -- but it would command? but the man who saved the country from great britain? before even receiving washington's agreement to serve, president adams nominated him to senate by the way unanimously confirmed every time i look at washington, it is unanimous. unanimously commander-in-chief. unanimously presidents of the constitutional convention. unanimously president of the united states, unanimously reelected, unanimously appointed as the attorney general and commander-in-chief of all the armies raised or to be raised into service in the united states. what a record. would he accept? now there is no question he is livid at france. one of the visitors as i willton have seen, pour out the last drop of languages yet in my fees to defend us against these french violations. guess who made that comment that -- the guest who made comment wrote, i have never heard and speak with so much candor and it is clear if you look at the correspondence before he is appointed, he is exploring the option with alexander hamilton as to whether he shouldtake in one expect to do if he is going to do or now the first of course washington every time -- always to leave don't want mount vernon. please don't ask me, i don't want it appeared he told hamilton, i would go with as much reluctance from my peaceful abode as i should go to the tombs of my ancestors. he worried about, could he succeed? is he to load? what it be viewed as a restless? he says as much as we would like to one cannot simply strike for yourself once eight, when that be sweet if we -- one cannot simply strike years off of age? wouldn't it be sweet if we could? one point every of importance for washington. does he have the power to pick his immediate subordinates and have the people around him that he wants to have? at the apps of the top of his wish list is alexander hamilton. washington -- by the way -- it is official, today, that hamilton stays on the $10 bill. [applause] hamilton is going to be there. i think you really would have been a rebellion if there caches that had not been the case. he wants hamilton to be his secretary -- second in command. and since washington says i am not going to take the field unless france invades for all practical purposes and want and will be in charge of this army. now this insistence is going to cause him trouble. one, it is quite a causing trouble with one of his dearest friends, henry knox. knox took effect fact that he would be rent under hamilton -- thisurse, major general -- was an insult thatknox would not -- he writes a very impassioned -- how could you do to me kind of breakup letter to washington and he refuses to serve. from washington's perspective, he is not apologetic. a good cloneis is -- with respect to general docs i can say with truth there is not a man in the united states with whom i have been inhabited greater intimacy, no one love more sincerely but love and friendship can have no influence i concede then subjugation of our government and independence are the objects aimed at by the enemies of our all ishen possibly over at stake in washington is always going to do what he things is right for the country d and that the critics beamn -- and that the critics be damned. adams had both a deep distrust and a visceral dislike of alexander hamilton. he once called in, that bastard brat of a scotting peddler. this -- he has lascivious in his eyes, that man. commander-in-chief, he has the right to appoint the order in which he wishes. equally clear from washington's perspective that he accepted the position clear if not explicitly-stated that very clearly-stated view that he would have the right to pick wase people which he felt absolutely essential. he said and what services ought to be secured at almost any price. he gives a long letter of recommendation, really, to adams, why hamilton? quick in perceptions. intuitive, qualities essential to military character, his loss will be irreparable. we must have an and i must have him as the number two. but really, he really puts the screws on atkins because adams needs washington and washington -- he puts the screws on adams. fairly interesting point. he said if i can make washington president of the united states it would be glad to be so but i never said i would hold the --ice and be responsible for that is where the tension comes here. he indicates -- in this goes on for several months -- he is going to rank hamilton third and washington writes a letter to one of the cabinet members, the president ought to ponder well change thettends to arrangement. seems to me a rather thinly veiled threat to resign. any.ually adams did gave he signed them all on the same day. said if there is just you, washington can decide how to rank them, so he does give him. i wonder how washington would have responded if somebody had treated him in a similar way when he was actually president? is,whole quasi-war -- this as i say, not his brightest chapter. washington spent six weeks in philadelphia. of thegot an officer army into a list of other people applying -- washington, by the way, is a tough -- he puts his s -- fa --tte washington does not want, neither does the federal leaders dru one any of the officers in thenk service to be other than -- oflist -- which is course, if you're not a federalist, you can see how you might be a little uncomfortable on the other side of the coin. he explained by why the secretary mchenry when he sent his. a blackd as soon scrub man white as to change the principle of a professed democrat, such persons, he wrote, will leave nothing on attempted to overturn the government of this country. the jefferson republicans call themselves republicans, republican democrats, the opponents called in the opposition party or democrats -- eventually, of course, jefferson's republican party would become the democratic party but it is a tricky exchange and differing usage of the term -- we can touch on it if you want in the q&a. the point is, i think washington really kind of doubt that patriotism of his opponents. it really comes to this, as bill the judicious nonpartisan and moderate george washington acting and talking like the most partisan of the reactionary federalists. neither of french invasion nor the american army materialize and washington returns to mount vernon -- by the way, having spent a long time trying to get a brand-new uniform. his daughter -- his stepdaughter was nearing his nephew on washington's birthday in february of 1799. he want to the uniform to come but in those days, things don't always work out. they could not get the gold embroidery and if it appeared i don't think he ever saw that i have not 100 percent positive but he doesn't leave politics, he is writing letters to patrick henry who is now prohibited the federalist power. richard henry lee, a really, runs for the legislator and we need good federalists in virginia is under the control of the jeffersonian republicans. what he himself consider running again? there is a fascinating letter in from the governor of connecticut and many other federalists saying to washington, you must one more to saveinto the breach us, as they put it, from a french president only washington could do it. washington's letter back is an interesting one. and he says why he does not see it that way. and the reason is, the politics are changing dramatically. the rise of article parties and the rise of popular participation. era of democratic politics, washington says, personal influence and character noof longer matters and he went on to make an interesting comment, he said, if members of the jeffersonian republican party set up a broomstick as their candidate, coded a true son of liberty or a democrat or any other habitat that will suit their purpose -- every ted -- anitat -- it is no longer issue of men but it is of parties in washington doesn't want to be involved. would anything change his mind about this decision? it is interesting as she does not roll out further involvement when he writes to lawrence limits about his plans -- this is on the tumors before he dies. and he has plans for mount vernon but he qualifies it by saying, this is what i am going to do if i should not be called again into the public service of my country. don't becauseser the situation in france is still up in the year a lot of on the political situation. they would be more pressure to heat the federalist party call. he wrote, i think the best letter why washington must accept. under the letter and 1790 nine urgent why washington must run in 1800. interestingly, washington never read it. he died two days before it came to mount vernon. you now, people -- would he have run again? my own assessment is on is. i do not think so. -- my own assessment is all it is. do not think so. he would have been the wrong way to end his remarkable administration and i don't think he would have but we didn't run the film through soa can't be sure and on the other side john adams said if washington had left, he would have her in again, so that is where i leave it and i think he is mistaken but we never can be sure. make not going to have to a decision because of a sudden death in december of 1799. and before we examine that death, i want to touch briefly on his attitude toward death as well as the question of life after death. washington is particularly reticent on religious questions and he is not always consistent. thus, his ears are subject to different interpretations. nobody wants washington to believe what they believe. and they are a subject of considerable controversy, some of which i have been involved in. with a qualifier, here is a summary of my take on them and we can of course discuss them more in the q&a if you wish. there are several points to be made about washington's attitude toward death. first, for whatever combination ofreasons, he was not afraid dying. thomas jefferson wrote that washington was incapable of fear. his legendary courage as commander-in-chief of the continental army might have buried his aides but it inspired his name. his actions at princeton with this training has taken, he was as close to enemy lines as a picture is to a battle when the firing burst out at princeton. like brainy line, his response to falling shells at yorktown, someone said he is orl like a bishop at prayer demonstrate a man seemingly immune from normal fear in the presence of death. i think his response to his baptism by fire is telling how many would respond to it the same labor day the bullets whistle, believe me, there is something charming and the sound. not many men are wired that way. was from enamored -- washington was long enamored with her own death. if you go to mount vernon, there are a number of portraits -- this one is of general montgomery -- but heroic death ita worthy death, as he put to sally fairfax, when a british officer died, this was his view, and a fairly young officer dead -- who is there that is not envy rather than regret a death that gives birth to honor and glory is memory? memory?ous then the explain briefly why i chose the title i did for tonight's talk which some of you may be a little puzzled not gently into that could night. it is drawn as many of you may know from dylan thomas is famous poem, and do not go gentle into that good night. because i wanted to emphasize how active in future-looking washington was right up until time of his death. when you look at his papers, all of a sudden there is a 20 pages of and instructions to james anderson setting out what to do every fieldarm and and every medical, one, in pastor for the next three years, days -- in the early days before his own death. washington was not done living when he died. and, by the way, his mind was don't buy itrp, that he is getting senile as president. usually it is papers. if that is senility, i am looking forward to it, i tell you that. later he would agree with the major stanza of dylan thomas's poem, that is another question. this is the first stanza. do not go gentle into that good night burn and rave at close of day rage, rage, against the dying of the light now, publicly, washington would never rage against the dying of the light. as far as one can tell from all extent records, washington always confronted the prospect of his own death rates remarkable equanimity and .omposure as president, you might or might not know you must died twice, once from a malignant carbuncle on his thigh and the following year from a very severe case of pneumonia. in both cases, washington's recorded responses or stoic in the extreme. his position in the first crisis -- his physician recalled washington's reaction in a book when he wrote washington said, do not flatter me with zane hubbs, i am not afraid to die and i can't therefore hear the worst. where there tonight or 20 years hence, makes no difference, i know i am in the hands of a good providence. when he is surviving brother, washington had three brothers and a sister -- he was first born and outlived them all -- then he wrote, i was the first, not a blast of my father's children by the second marriage. when i shall be called upon to follow them, it is known only to the giver of life when the summit comes i shall endeavor to obey it in good grace. that obviously is not raging against the dying of the site but i do in reading through his attitudes toward death, i see myself there is a subconscious touch of rage in his attitude. change. death the green change.rim washington is not yet 30 years old -- very near what he called his last guess, it feared that they grim king would master my utmost deference and cause him to sink in spite of a noble struggle. death was the enemy. you look for trends he uses to describe death, there are a load of words, a stroke, a severe stroke, england, in test, your trial, and effective trial, eat at. and when people die, you almost always referred to them as poor lawrence, poor colonel harrison, referring to his own death, he .sed these terms he wrote about his approaching decay, the hour of my dissolution, of going to the shades of darkness, to sleep with my fathers, to the shades below, to the tomb of my ancestors, to the dreary mansions of my father's. death was that country from whence no traveler returns. this image is not a bright one. it is certainly not a christian one in there is in it an element of raging against the dying of the light. washington without any question believes in life after death. isis not clear exactly what involved in that. depending on what passages you , he is in the hands of a and number ofe, times he writes about happiness hereafter, but the happiness hereafter is almost always connected as far as i can tell with being virtuous in this world as opposed to the more saved by the sacrifice of jesus approach -- it is more work than faith. perhaps the most striking aspect centers on what he does not say. correspondence did he explicitly indicated his belief in the reunion of loved ones in heaven. the greatest comfort of religion in general of christianity in this washington urges people to get consolation from religion but he never wrote the specific kind of action that might give comfort to them or to himself when his favorite of her jack died, he wrote, i have made in eternal farewell with my beloved brother. when he saw his mother on her deathbed, he wrote, never expecting to see her more. they are not moderated by in this world or other such phrases. how is washington going to face when death actually comes to see kim? seek him? -- to there is a wonderful snippet in the play "the lion in winter." because this way. .- it goes this way what does matter -- this is an interesting question -- what does it matter how a man dies? the answer is one that washington would have agreed with completely. whentters a great deal falling is the only thing left to do. it is very important to washington to have lived his life with honor and it's very important that he ends his life with honor. expressed, an poet good death does honor to an entire life. act -- in be the last washington is always using the theater analogy -- he wants to exit the stage in the proper manner and he is fully expected, as he demonstrated so many times, he would meet the final summons with good grace. little did he imagine just how difficult that final challenge would be. surprises i found what i did research on this for a book on this subject was just painful george washington to screw sheeting the painful washington's last day on earth was. here this gives a different image -- peacefully, you know, -- he closes his arms over his chest, father, mercy, take me -- very peaceful, calm, going to sleep -- in actual fact, the truth is quite different. quick and unexpected. washington was in excellent health on december 12. this is the last drawing of washington taken early in 1799. forms.heck on his he remained outside for approximately five hours, even though as he recorded, the weather was very disagreeable, constant gleeful that of rain, snow, -- constantly full of rain and wind. with the snow still clinging to his here, he decided not to change clothes before dinner. already beginning to show signs of a cough and a cold and sore throat the following morning, despite bad weather, he still -- markside to march treacy want to cut down. when the evening of the 13th, he was still in good spirits, reading sections of the newspaper -- incidentally dumping on jefferson's lieutenants, munro, in madison. of saturday hours morning on the 14th, the disease had progressed so rapidly that washington, feverish, awoke, very uncomfortable, he would be dead before the day ended. why? certainly it is impossible to know for sure. the most convincing evidence of my mind is that he died of what is called acute hepatitis. -- epyglotitis now. you can meet it with with penicillin but in those days, a very serious thing if you are unfortunate enough to get it. because it can impact on your airway in compromise breathing. this is the really frightening thing. the first thing an infant learns theo is to breathe in second is to swallow. into have these two absolutely basic functions dramatically frightening toy anyone a matter how brave or courageous he or she may be unlike any other mortal, washington had to face the terror of hunger, gasping for constantth, and is restfulness touch restlessness and changing positions as part of this endless effort. essentially, he painfully to death.y suffocates and he is not able to speak hardly at all which just aggravates the situation. thathere is no one thing was done to washington or for a washington that was not done in love in the past medical practice of the day by dr. james , but virtually everything they did made the situation worse. washington was bled for differing times, over 80 ounces of blood removed. he had blisters apply to his body. he was given the various paradis --purg causing vomiting entire reappeareda. how much comfort these actions wouldtives caused to a man who had great difficulty swallowing is easier to imagine then to describe. the way one of faces death is revealing of one's character. we do not have time to go into it -- i do in my book in depth -- but washington's courage, his concern for others, his sense of duty, his modesty shine through in remarkable, and remarkable fashion. needelieve me is going to every one of his resources to deal with his ordeal. he knew it, as he said, i go hard but i not afraid to go. microbial storm raged unabated throughout his body, it became increasingly clear that this was one storm that even the heroic george washington couldn't weather. although i imagine his bodily strength prolonged the act of dying. that's the end approach, -- as the end approached, he wanted to notasize that he was through to be buried at least until two days after he died. lear was unable to respond. washington pressed him, do you understand me? lear said he did in washington words, his last recorded 'tis well. the struggle for oxygen in a debt of carbon dioxide or jimmy lee overwhelmed the great general. dr. -- the struggle for oxygen and buildup of carbon dioxide overwhelmed the general. the doctor thought, i'm sure as many of you have experienced, the truth of the words of the prophet -- love knows not its own depths until the hour of separation. has washed and lapsed into unconsciousness, closed his eyes, they and that had been taking his poles fell to his side, his countenance changed, and he then expired without a struggle or a side. sigh the -- or a great. mind so steady in its operation , so sure at its conclusions was filled. -- failed -- here was no more than an empty vessel, drained of the subsistence of a nation. when revolutionary war veteran received referred to as the melancholy intelligence of washington's demise, he dropped -- exclaimed, i rejoice that i have been a soldier under washington. we can rejoice that we are citizens of a great country that he founded. be gratefulorever that the father of our great in lasting us example of year for united country, the desire to expand respect for others, the importance of courage and duty, and the desire to live and die for the type of honor in character that wins respect and admiration for all of those left behind. thank you very much. [applause] as you know -- first anyone can get up and leave. c-span is taping tonight's talk and q&a. ,f you want to use pg language they have someone who and a microphone over to you. i would try to remember to repeat the questions. if you speak into the microphone, that would be fine. i will repeat one last time, perfectly fine to ask any not necessarily on tonight's topic but if there's something you are interested about washington, you can do that. i will do the best i can to answer. there are no foolish answers, just questions i might not be able to respond to as well as i would like. we'll just get one more minute for the people who wish to leave then we'll stay another 10 minutes or so, depending on the q and a session. as we are waiting, have any of you seen the play "hamilton" yet on broadway? just curious. ok, i think it is quiet enough for us to start the q&a session. does someone have a microphone? yes. >> i have a question for you relate to the death of a slave from rabies. aware that folks could recover from rabies because it was almost 100% fatal. do you know anything about that disease process? prof. henriques: the question is whether the survivor -- survival of a man bid by a rabid dog. was the dog actually rabid or not? washington thought he was. he sent him all the way to pennsylvania, david christopher $25 to cover his expenses. the guy was going to run away a by theter -- washington way has a note in his account book, christopher gave me book trip.ter the but whether it was rabid or not i do not know. washington later wrote he is not afraid of being bitten by a mad dog. whether it was actually that, i do not know. other questions? sorry, with the microphone. >> what can you tell us about his wills. did he leave instructions with martha about what to do with a former will? washingtonques: wrote a will shortly after he was made commander in chief of the continental army. that probably was the will he had throughout the remainder of his life until the summer of 1799. his own will write come it is a long, detailed, personal 28 or 29 page handwritten will. noapologizes, there were lawyers helping. he tries to divide up mount vernon, and it is a fascinating will. one time i gave a talk, his will is almost as farewell address because he stresses his love of country, he is a supreme nationalist. he also says he is freeing all of his slaves and it should be religiously carried out during that time. when he was dying, he called martha and he was able to speak, it was very painful but notley -- but not completely horse -- hoarse. when martha came with the two wills, he told her to burn the other one and that is what she did. maybe just speak and i will repeat, if there is not a microphone. >> what appears to be a call to a new revolution in some sense. what wouldques: washington think of the current move for a revolutionary movement on the right hand and the left? washington, you know, he is a bit of an elitist and his philosophy. -- in his philosophy. he is a strong believer in republican government, of the people for the people. a believer in by the people. he would be nervous -- he is dangers,rried of the if you get too far out on each side. he is essentially a moderate person. hamilton on the right and at jefferson on the left in washington in the middle. thate is a champion legitimate government comes from the people and follow the will of the people, and therefore that is the case. when he wants to change the articles of confederation, which he feels is leading to a crisis situation, he says in a democratic form of government the people have to feel before they will act. the question is, have they felt enough to act? most muscle say, this isn't so bad. i do not know how many of you are quick to say we should totally change it. but that is another topic. worry, approach would be worry. yes. >> i think you touched on a little bit but maybe we can go a little further when you express the view that you did not think washington would run again. the threatves this, of a jefferson presidency -- you think you would have done anything else by not running to prevent that from happening? prof. henriques: i think the only effective thing he could have done is to run. the reason i hope he wouldn't wanted to showhe he was disposable. it was important for him to give up power in step back. you could argue he did that, and emergency,now, in an just like he came when france might invade us, you could make the case. it would be nice if we could run the film through. oh, i'm not going to go on that date, whatever the case may be. we cannot do it. that is informed speculation. i find it so hard to try to figure out what happened, the idea of what might have happened, i will leave that to somebody else. yes. [indiscernible] prof. henriques: the question is, as we get in bed terms with france, how does it affect his relations with lafayette? course someone who washington loved almost like a son. lafayette tried to leave france into a moderate revolution. toed up ultimately trying escape, was captured and thrown in prison for many years along with his family. when he comes out, the french foreign minister, left the it writes to washington and says i want to come to america to see you and to help smooth things out. interestingly, washington writes , do not come. because if you come you will be involved in this, you cannot come without being used by people in messing things up and damaging your irritation and hurting us. end, washington says it few negative things about lafayette but his vanity is easy to attack. they would use that vanity to get him to do something in washington was afraid it would hurt him and hurt america. but country first, lafayette should not come in the does not come, although he will come in 1824 and be treated as almost a god-like reincarnation. go to mount vernon and elsewhere. useden though adams washington's cabinet during his on,nistration, as time went adams distrusted his cabinet during his ministration and begin to use abigail as his most trusted advisor. was washington aware of that, using abigail as his closest advisor, and if so, how did he feel about it? prof. henriques: the question aboutshington -- what abigail adams' role? as far as i know washington would've had no idea about that. angry atincreasingly mchenry, any he ultimately will fire washington's cabinet. what happens in this story, and adams to his dying day said this is what use most proud of -- this is when napoleon is coming to power, they said if america sends another envoy, this one will be treated properly. and adams, on his own without that thee cabinet excitement of the day for the federalist is, we are fighting against france. army, if there is no threat from france, it dies down. adams sends an envoy, a peace 1800, was worked out in but word of the peace treaty comes too late to help adams and he loses to jefferson. but he was always proud of that. but he was very angry at what he felt was the underhanded treatment of his own cabinet members. are there any more questions? yes, sir. >> he had considerable property in ohio. do with he ultimately the dispersal of that land? the question is what did he do with the land and i'll and elsewhere? ohio. it is a fairly complicated will. but he envisions mount vernon being broken up. he does not expect mount vernon to be the secular shrine that he maybe one less point as a close, in terms of washington's desire for secular immortality. this is not absolute, i think it is accurate but i'm not positive, there is a plan that washington is party to to have his body put in the center of the capital after he dies as a unifying force, because right there is aes his -- move to do that. the fact that martha says that is ok as long as i'm next to them indicates it was talked about before. so i think washington envisioned himself come in his death, still as a symbol of a united front. right at the center of the capital would be his corpse. it is not there. the secular shrine is mount vernon. what a person we have been studying and reading. you think of a great star that has burned out, but the light still shines in reflects. sometimes it think of washington -- he is gone but the light of insights, hisis gift to us. we would not have been one country, we would have broken up into many different countries. it is not politically correct to talk about the great man theory of history, is more mass movements. i am convinced it is the no cement eliz of the world and the washington's -- an individual man can make a dramatic difference. and in no time in american history has a single individual made more profound, lasting, and beneficial legacy than our own george washington. thank you so much. [applause] you're watching american history tv. onhours of programming american history every weekend on c-span3. follow us on twitter for information on our schedule and to keep up on the latest history news. weekend, history tv is featuring las vegas, nevada. it is him to the stratosphere, the tallest freestanding observation tower in the united states at 1149 feet. visited staff recently -- c-span's staff recently visited the city. learn more here on american history tv. mr. schwartz: there are a lot of thoughts about why gaveling is so polarizing. the antithesis of the managerial work ethic and working hard in getting ahead. people say that people with money a gambling did not earn it. i think that is why it is polarizing. and of course you can lose a lot of money doing it so it can be very dangerous financially. gambling in las vegas goes back to the very nn

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