Almost 228 years ago, George Washington was sworn in as our first President. Despite the infighting of the Constitutional Convention, the Revolution that led to the establishment of the United States, and the call by many for a monarch in the land, the ascension of Washington to power was a remarkable event in its day. Even today, where so many nations elect their public servants, the peace and order of the first inauguration is a remarkable thing. Compare it to the French Revolution which led to multiple bloody coups and European wars, the political strife that led to the Bolshevik Revolution, the ascension of Hitler, and the turbulence of literally every other part of the world, and the inauguration of Washington was nothing short of a miracle. The much maligned “dead white guys” established the longest-standing government on the face of the earth where not a single transition of power has resulted in bloodshed. Yes, we have had a few presidential assassinations, and the election of Lincoln caused the temporary secession of the Southern States and the subsequent Civil War. But here we are forty four Presidents later, and despite some of the fiercest acrimony, President Barack Obama will peacefully hand over the Oval Office to someone with whom he disagrees vehemently on just about every approach and challenge our nation faces. This simple act demands a bit of analysis.

First of all, often in the history of our nation has the transfer of power been to a replacement with a very different viewpoint. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, both Founding Fathers, grew to hate each other, and yet John Adams peaceably handed over the reigns to Jefferson. William H. Taft could not have been more different than Woodrow Wilson, and Wilson had a visible disdain for Taft and anything Republican. Nixon ran on the promises of overturning much of what Johnson did as President, and yet Johnson retired without a fight. And before even in office, Trump has made numerous moves that are sure to overturn portions of Obama’s legacy. Despite these regular differences and visible animosity, no one has broken the trust of the Constitution and the vote of the electorate to drive the country into a revolution. 

Next, despite any differences or competencies, the Armed Forces upheld the Constitution under each President and defended their oath of office to support and defend it, not the President. The President, like every military member, is simply a servant of the people who swears an oath to that document and its precepts, and the trust that the American people give to them. NEVER has an outgoing President tried to draw away a portion of the force for even his own ideas of what is right and wrong. Let the ancient Romans in on that part of our history and they would not have believed it. 

Lastly, perhaps Washington’s greatest act as President was to voluntarily step down in 1797 after two terms. In doing so, he set the example and demonstrated a selflessness not expected by his peers and unprecedented in human history. He was a beloved leader and person, and yet he was willing to let others lead and grow the nascent nation. His actions became the standard of service for a President, reminding all that it was a service for others, not for oneself, that the ideas of the President were not omniscient and that it was healthy for the nation to have a regular transition.

We are about to swear in our forty-fifth President. By the rules of the game, he was duly elected, and ready to serve and do his best to lead the nation. Many opposed his candidacy and election. Still others are skeptical and nervous. But all should look forward with hope and optimism that he will do the right thing, that he will truly lead, and that he will leave the office better than he found it. He will surely misstep more than once, do things that more than half of the nation disagrees with, and disappoint even his staunchest of supports. Despite his already known shortcomings, our role going forward is to hope for the success of the nation under his leadership. That does not mean we support all of his ideas, but support his desires and efforts to continue what George Washington started for us over two centuries ago. And we should all hope that we can have a similar record for the next two centuries.