"the President in all matters of business & etiquette" must comport himself "in such a manner as to maintain the dignity of Office."
These words written in a letter from the first President of the United States to his Vice President have served as a basis for all those who've served as Commander-in-Chief since. They help define the character and conduct expected of anyone chosen to serve as our nation's leader. If we should someday find our President's character and conduct displaying an undignified manner, we must accept the fact that the majority citizens and politicians who voted such a person into the Presidency no longer find a need to adhere to the tone established by President George Washington, our first Commander-in-Chief.
A person unwilling or unable to comport themselves in a manner as to maintain the dignity of President is not to blame. He or She knew exactly where their faults and shortcomings lie. We as a nation also knew. Their character and conduct would have been on full display to us before an election, nothing was hidden from view. And yet a majority of United States citizens and politicians would choose such a one, one lacking in the basic manners to maintain the dignity of Office.
And those same persons, in addition to choosing one without decorum and lacking in matters of business and etiquette, will have compromised their own character and conduct by condoning the irresponsible actions of their chosen one. Their negligence in their duty to serve as politicians and /or responsible citizens can put the country in serious danger.
And if we must place blame for choosing one who lacks manner for dignity of office we should look no further than ourselves and how we as a nation have come to function. Have we become a land of citizens willing to follow leaders who keep no promise and respect no pledge? As one of the so called greatest nations this world has ever seen, it would be wise to learn from great civilizations of old who thought themselves indestructible. The demise of many of those great civilizations usually began from within.
So this President's Day we as a nation should revisit exactly why we celebrate and honor the Office of the Presidency of the United States. We must remember the vision set by those who came before, many who were flawed yet all willing to comport themselves in such a manner as to maintain the dignity of the Office. Because we as a nation are only perceived to be as great as the one we've chosen to lead us. And for many perception is reality.
Presidents Day reminds us of George Washington's presidential vision.
And Trump's disrespect.
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