George Washington’s sense of responsibility made him the model for all presidents.

Washington did not run from responsibility. He ran toward it. When the Constitutional Convention faltered, Washington accepted the presidency unanimously — not because he wanted it, but because the country needed him.

He understood the weight of the office. Every decision he made would become precedent. Every gesture would become an example. Every word would shape expectations for generations.

He took responsibility for establishing the first Cabinet, for stabilizing the economy, for enforcing federal law (as in the Whiskey Rebellion), and for building a functioning government from the ground up. When mistakes occurred, he owned them.

Leadership without responsibility is tyranny. Leadership with responsibility is nation-building.

Washington’s empathy made him beloved by soldiers and citizens alike.

Washington was not warm, but he was compassionate. He felt deeply for the suffering of his people.

At Valley Forge, where his troops starved, froze, and died from disease, Washington lived among them — sharing their hardships, visiting their huts, advocating for supplies, and writing endless letters to Congress urging support for the army. He refused to distance himself from their suffering. He believed a leader must never be insulated from the pain of those he leads.

Empathy is not sentimentality. It is the capacity to connect moral responsibility with human reality. Without empathy, leaders become arrogant. With empathy, leaders become guardians.

Today, in an era of polarization and indifference, Washington’s compassion is a lesson waiting to be relearned.

Washington’s forgiveness was a mark of his greatness.

When Benedict Arnold betrayed the Revolution, Washington did not descend into rage or vengeance. He felt sorrow — true sorrow — for a man he once trusted. His measured reaction showcased maturity, not malice. Washington understood that vengeance weakens nations while forgiveness strengthens them. His restraint prevented emotional impulses from destabilizing the Revolution.

Imagine if more modern leaders responded to betrayal with reflection instead of fury.

Washington’s spirituality shaped his humility and sense of purpose.

Washington was not loudly religious, but he was spiritually grounded. He prayed privately. He attended services regularly. He believed in Providence. He believed the American cause was part of a larger moral arc.

He once wrote: “The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous….that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith.”

His spirituality gave him humility. He did not see himself as the architect of America but as the steward of something sacred. Leaders today would do well to remember that public office is not a divine right but a divine responsibility.

Washington’s vision for the country shaped America’s identity.

Washington envisioned a nation rooted in unity, moderation, civic virtue, and national purpose. In his Farewell Address, he warned against political parties, foreign entanglements, regional divisions, and hatred within the republic. He saw the dangers long before they became realities.

He believed America could be a beacon of liberty and stability — a vision that still defines the nation today.

Washington’s humor — subtle but real — reminded people he was human.

Washington was not known for jokes, but he used dry humor to ease tension and humanize himself. At one moment during the Constitutional Convention, frustrated by endless debate, he lifted the rules about delegates drinking during sessions. His humor softened conflicts and reminded delegates of their shared mission.

Even titans of history need levity. Leadership without humanity becomes cold.

Washington’s leadership made America America.

Because he embodied responsibility.
Because he practiced restraint.
Because he inspired courage.
Because he lived truthfully.
Because he forgave.
Because he united rather than divided.
Because he put the nation first.
Because he walked away from power when he could have grasped it.

Most leaders shape policies. Washington shaped character. Most leaders leave legacies. Washington left a nation.

And his virtues are the virtues America desperately needs today.

We need courage over cowardice.
Responsibility over excuses.
Truth over deception.
Restraint over chaos.
Humility over ego.
Empathy over indifference.
Unity over division.
Vision over shortsightedness.

America is America because Washington showed what leadership looks like at its highest level. The more we drift from his character, the further we drift from the nation he imagined.

If America wants to recover its best self, it must look again to the man who defined it — not with nostalgia, but with resolve.

George Washington did not simply lead America.
He carved the moral shape of American leadership.
He modeled the virtues that make a republic possible.
He showed that power must serve principle — not personality.

And he proved that character is destiny — not merely for a man, but for a nation.

And that is what makes America America.

By Medard Laz

This selection is from my newly published book, WHAT MAKES AMERICA AMERICA.
My book has 62 Chapters and 282 Pages.
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For Your Information: The above passage was written when Joe Biden was President.

What qualities do YOU see that are needed in our President today?

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