I recently found myself observing George Washington’s dentures. Contrary to popular belief, they were not wooden. During a visit to Mount Vernon, I discovered that his dentures were made from a mix of human, horse, and cow teeth. Washington was often worried that his dentures might fall out and they caused him significant discomfort. However, he rarely complained, a stark contrast to more recent leaders.
“I just can’t imagine two human beings who are more dissimilar than George Washington and Donald Trump,” said Ron Chernow, the acclaimed biographer of our inaugural president. He shared this view during the celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary, an event notably steered by Trump.
Chernow described Washington as reserved and courteous, avoiding self-promotion or theatrics. In contrast, he remarked on Trump’s continuous boasting and self-promotion, characteristics that Washington likely would have found counter to the ethos of public service.
Looking back at Washington’s life, a man who famously declined the chance to become a monarch, it is worth comparing this to someone today who indulges in the trappings of power.
This past Monday, in the act of signing a presidential memorandum, Trump remarked, “We rule by common sense, to a large extent.” Correcting this terminology might be beneficial; the role of a leader is to govern, not to rule.
During the recent scorching heat wave, Trump spoke about his upcoming Independence Day address at the National Mall, saying, “I’m going to make a really long speech, just to show that I can do anything.”