A Simple Man or a Show Off

George Washington is viewed in history as a simple man that is "pure and virtuous.” While being the first president, he seemed to have spent much of his time as Thomas Jefferson did, wishing to be back at his farm in Mount Vernon.  Washington didn't want to be remembered as a king, but rather as just a person, possibly even as a great gardener.  Washington was considered by many to be the greatest hero ever to live, and was even given the opportunity to be a king.  He instead chose to follow the model of the Roman hero Cincinnatus, relinquishing his offer to become a dictator to return to life as a farmer.  This showed Washington’s lack interest in power, and a sign of his true republican character.  Washington saw the future of America as a people not of soldiers, but of farmers. 

This example of a "simple" life amazes me when Wulf describes what Washington envisioned the Capital of the United States not as a small agrarian town as Thomas Jefferson and John Adams did, but as a large magnificent city that resembled much of New York City and Philadelphia.  He wanted the city to show off the wealth and power of America.  How could a man with this kind of republican character as Wulf describes want something so large and complex to represent all of America?

Architect Pierre L'enfant

 L'enfant's design of Washington

Washington can just about get anything that he desires due to the fact that people still remember him as the great American war hero.  No one seemed to openly disagree with Washington's plans, and due to these reasons, all of his plans are chosen.  It is not until John Adams, now president, goes behind Washington's back to change some details about the plans.  Washington is outraged over these changes; however, he is too late to change them.  Upon Washington’s death, others are able to add more of their inputs into the design.

Washington then amazes me as he seems to switch back to his old way of thinking when it came to where he was to be buried.  Plans were made build a type of shrine in the Capitol that would be home to his body after death.  He, however, wrote in his Will that he instead wanted to be buried at his home in Mount Vernon.  This man that wanted such a magnificent city to be built, and was so involved in the design of it up until his death, would not want to be buried in this city?

One thing that Wulf doesn't go on to talk about, and many people do not know about or even get a chance to see in person is that the tomb where Washington was to be buried in the Capitol was actually built, and still exists today.  It is located below the star in the crypt room of the Capitol, two floors below the Rotunda.  Where the star is today, was supposed to be a glass floor that looked down into the tomb.  The plans however were never completed, and Washington was never placed there.

Washington's empty tomb located in the Capitol.

The views and ideas of Washington seem to go back and forward after his presidency.  He want to live a simple life as a farmer, however, envisions a huge magnificent city to represent wealth and power, even though he see the future of America as being farming.  However, without Washington’s vision, Washington D.C. would look nothing like it does today.  I believe that Thomas Jefferson's idea, or something like it, would have been the prevailing design.  If this was the case, people today might not take vacations to see the magnificence that is Washington D.C. The massive all white structures, the magnificent memorials, and the "awe factor" that a person gets when visiting such a city would not exist today.  George Washington's switch of ideas is what led to truly magnificent city.