# What's The Big Deal About George Washington? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 30, 2022, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-about-george-washington/958663 "2022-01-30T23:01:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-about-george-washington/958663/21 "2022-01-31T03:19:15Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > George Washington was the only sitting US president to personally lead federal troops . . Likely true. But Obama got pretty deep into the tactical details of individual drone strikes. If he ever met with a drone operator shortly before an attack, that conceivably would have qualified. ---
**Author:** ![lum\_s\_husband](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lum_s_husband/32/3698_2.png) [@lum\_s\_husband](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lum_s_husband)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-about-george-washington/958663/22 "2022-01-31T03:23:36Z")
Nope. Thighs. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-about-george-washington/958663/23 "2022-01-31T03:25:39Z")
“First in war, first in peace and first in the thickness of his thighs.” ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-about-george-washington/958663/24 "2022-01-31T03:27:30Z")
Several people have mentioned Washington’s decision to not run for a third presidential term and retire in 1797. But I feel that his earlier decision to retire in 1783 after leading the Continental Army to victory as its commanding general was at least as important. Plenty of victorious military leaders would have used their successful military records as a means to gather up political control. Washington instead chose to retire to civilian life. This was the reason people felt it was safe to elect Washington to the presidency in 1789. He had already demonstrated that he was willing to step down from power. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-about-george-washington/958663/25 "2022-01-31T03:58:29Z")
> [@Lancia](#): > > Grant led union troops in several battles during the Civil War Not as a sitting president he didn’t. Washington did. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-about-george-washington/958663/26 "2022-01-31T06:33:13Z")
> [@Jim\_B](#): > > Clearly early Americans were going gaga over General Washington¹. But why? I’ve read things about the guy over the years. He was okay. But I found nothing in his resume that made him fantastic. Could you expand on this? Why do you find his accomplishments unremarkable? 🙂 > [@Jim\_B](#): > > Washington had the thickest thighs of all the Founding Fathers. Is that true? And is that the reason? Or at least part of the reasons? I have to tell you, as a historian by training with many years devoted to the subject, I have never heard anything about Washington’s bodacious thighs. 🙂 I’d love to hear more. 🙂 Can you share any additional information? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-about-george-washington/958663/27 "2022-01-31T06:51:07Z")
Even if you ignore any accomplishments, he’s going to be something of a big deal _now_ simply because his contemporaries thought he was a big deal, made him the first holder of an office that’s a big deal in the present time, and named a lot of things after him that still exist (one of which is the capital city, which is a big deal). ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-about-george-washington/958663/28 "2022-01-31T10:50:32Z")
> [@Bootb](#): > > I’m half-inclined to believe that the OP is a parody of some kind. Consider the source. 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-about-george-washington/958663/29 "2022-01-31T11:12:03Z")
A number of descriptions of his physical appearance. Several variations of a “muscular build and well proportioned”. No mention of thiccness of thigh. > **[The True George Washington: Physique](https://www.infoplease.com/primary-sources/history-biography/the-true-george-washington/true-george-washington-physique)** > > Writing to his London tailor for clothes, in 1763, Washington directed him to "take measure of a gentleman who wares well-made cloaths of the followin ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-about-george-washington/958663/30 "2022-01-31T14:23:10Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > This was the reason people felt it was safe to elect Washington to the presidency in 1789. He had already demonstrated that he was willing to step down from power. _[They say](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkG-KT_Comw)_ _George Washington’s yielding his power and stepping away_ _Is that true?_ _I wasn’t aware that was something a person could do._ _I’m perplexed -_ _Are they going to keep on replacing whoever’s in charge?_ _If so, who’s next?_ _There’s nobody else in their country who looms quite as large…_ ---
**Author:** ![lum\_s\_husband](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lum_s_husband/32/3698_2.png) [@lum\_s\_husband](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lum_s_husband)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-about-george-washington/958663/31 "2022-01-31T14:30:55Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Several variations of a “muscular build and well proportioned”. > No mention of thiccness of thigh. Pix plz k thanks. ---
**Author:** ![SpacemanSpiff\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19adc/32.png) [@SpacemanSpiff\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpacemanSpiff_II)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-about-george-washington/958663/32 "2022-01-31T15:07:35Z")
It’s complicated. On the one hand, he never told a lie, which is very commendable. But OTOH, he did steal a cherry pie, which is considerably less so, and clouds the issue considerably. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-about-george-washington/958663/33 "2022-01-31T15:11:02Z")
Look at how Gen. Cornwallis tries to obscure his puny upper legs with his hat in the presence of Washington’s magnificent quadriceps. [![](https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/preview/A/A000/A000124-05_Surrender-of-Lord-Cornwallis-to-George-Washington.jpg) ](https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/preview/A/A000/A000124-05_Surrender-of-Lord-Cornwallis-to-George-Washington.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-about-george-washington/958663/34 "2022-01-31T15:13:55Z")
> [@SpacemanSpiff\_II](#): > > On the one hand, he never told a lie, which is very commendable. But OTOH, he did steal a cherry pie, which is considerably less so, and clouds the issue considerably. Do you think he personally cut down that cherry tree, or did he have one of his slaves do it for him? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-about-george-washington/958663/35 "2022-01-31T15:16:06Z")
That famous Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington? The one that’s incomplete but that the portrait on the one-dollar bill was based on? _Originally_ it was a full-body portrait, but his thighs were so prominent, it was considered obscene at the time, and so Gilbert Stuart invented the “incomplete” portrait. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-about-george-washington/958663/36 "2022-01-31T15:26:14Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Look at how Gen. Cornwallis tries to obscure his puny upper legs with his hat in the presence of Washington’s magnificent quadriceps. Look at the size of that lad! What an absolute unit. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-about-george-washington/958663/37 "2022-01-31T15:59:08Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > George Washington was the only sitting US president to personally lead federal troops, to put down an insurrection during the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794. Surely he was squatting. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-about-george-washington/958663/38 "2022-01-31T17:18:28Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Look at how Gen. Cornwallis tries to obscure his puny upper legs with his hat in the presence of Washington’s magnificent quadriceps. > [https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/preview/A/A000/A000124-05\_Surrender-of-Lord-Cornwallis-to-George-Washington.jpg](https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/preview/A/A000/A000124-05_Surrender-of-Lord-Cornwallis-to-George-Washington.jpg) And the guy on the right is thinking “Och, look at those fools worrying about their thighs. Any true Scotsman knows it’s all about the calves.” ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-about-george-washington/958663/39 "2022-01-31T21:58:21Z")
Thighs. It’s thighs all the way down. Now England is way more democratic than the US, but I’m still glad we had the revolution. Because thighs. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-about-george-washington/958663/40 "2022-01-31T22:27:44Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > And the guy on the right is thinking “Och, look at those fools worrying about their thighs. Any true Scotsman knows it’s all about the calves.” Eh, Scotsmen think calves are OK, but they much prefer lambs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-about-george-washington/958663.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-about-george-washington/958663.md?page=3)