Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow
I’ve been wanting to restart (or just actually start) this blog for a while now, and I had the idea awhile back to examine U.S. political history chronologically through a biography of each American President. I’m a political and history buff, but I’ll admit there are sections of American history that are more or less foreign to me. 1830’s and 1840’s? Franklin Pierce? Millard Fillmore?
But seriously, there’s a connection. In literature, science fiction, fantasy, or otherwise, writers are often forced to focus on a single character to embody (for lack of a better term) an institution. Think “the President” in a sci-fi film (e.g., The Fifth Element). The character seems to make decisions unilaterally, occasionally with a nasty advisor hanging around who attempts to impede the hero’s impetuous and risky, but ultimately successful, plan.
The President character is a literary stand-in for all the institutions, rules and bureaucracy[1] that naturally develop around a decision-making enterprise. It’s a device, a fiction, but it’s absolutely necessary in literature. You really don’t want your protagonist to have to testify before Congress[2] or be involved in the regulatory rule-making process. I have worked for the U.S. government in some capacity most of my career. There is nothing interesting or dramatic about promulgating[3] regulations.
In short, it’s human nature to seek out the human factor in institutions and rule-making bodies, and to attribute decisions and outcomes to personalities rather than the strategic incentives established by institutions. We often reduce politics or government action to “the President” both in literature and in real life. So, instead of continuing to bash my head against that particular wall[4], I decided I would just embrace it and attempt to gain a greater understanding of American Political History by reading about the men (and, rather unfortunately, it’s been 43 dudes so far) at the top of the political pyramid.
Why chronologically? Because alphabetically would be weird and I already had a biography of President Washington on my Kindle that I wanted to read.
I’ve decided to start with Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow. It’s a relatively recent biography and takes advantage of the University of Virginia’s ongoing project to release GW’s voluminous correspondence.[5] The biography is very much concerned with finding the man behind President Washington’s famous reserve (seriously, the guy made Calvin Coolidge look like Zaphod Beeblebrox), which serves my interest in political character. The book also covers Washington’s life in a single volume, which serves my interest in learning more history and actually finishing this project, like, ever.
Also, it won a Pulitzer.
So far, I am only about two chapters (the book is 900+ pages long) in and already I notice a bit of hagiography. The premise is that Washington was a “Great Man”, and we need to understand him. It’s a bit over-the-top. I don’t require revisionist critique in my historical biography, but already I’m missing Caro’s open-eyed writing on LBJ. Historically, nothing of major interest so far, except that Washington’s family (his great-grandfather in particular) go in on the land speculation in Virginia pretty early.
A side note. I’ve been to Mount Vernon several times (I live in the DC area) and it’s always some place I take folks from out of town. It’s a fascinating and exceptionally well-run historical site. Lots of “living history” events and very well curated.
I’ll continue blogging on President Washington and the other Presidents periodically. I’m setting myself a 1 post/week goal. More if I can.
Leave comments if you’re interested and I’ll dig deeper into the history and biography next post.
[1] And I’m pro-bureaucracy, but we’ll probably get to that at some point. Butcher has a good quote about bureaucracy from Turn Coat: "Behold," Murphy said. "Bureaucracy. Organization to combat the entropy that naturally inhibits that kind of cooperative effort." Bureaucracy combats the collective action problem.
[2] Unless he’s Tony Stark and somehow manages not to get arrested for contempt of Congress.
[3] Yes, it’s a word.
[4] I taught college government for a while. Not sure I ever got that point across.
[5] The Papers of George Washington: http://gwpapers.virginia.edu/
I’ve been wanting to restart (or just actually start) this blog for a while now, and I had the idea awhile back to examine U.S. political history chronologically through a biography of each American President. I’m a political and history buff, but I’ll admit there are sections of American history that are more or less foreign to me. 1830’s and 1840’s? Franklin Pierce? Millard Fillmore?
- The problem: Honestly, I recognize the names, but that’s about it.
- The solution: Political history through biography.
- Query: What does this have to do with science fiction?
- Response: Not much. I’m stretching?
But seriously, there’s a connection. In literature, science fiction, fantasy, or otherwise, writers are often forced to focus on a single character to embody (for lack of a better term) an institution. Think “the President” in a sci-fi film (e.g., The Fifth Element). The character seems to make decisions unilaterally, occasionally with a nasty advisor hanging around who attempts to impede the hero’s impetuous and risky, but ultimately successful, plan.
The President character is a literary stand-in for all the institutions, rules and bureaucracy[1] that naturally develop around a decision-making enterprise. It’s a device, a fiction, but it’s absolutely necessary in literature. You really don’t want your protagonist to have to testify before Congress[2] or be involved in the regulatory rule-making process. I have worked for the U.S. government in some capacity most of my career. There is nothing interesting or dramatic about promulgating[3] regulations.
In short, it’s human nature to seek out the human factor in institutions and rule-making bodies, and to attribute decisions and outcomes to personalities rather than the strategic incentives established by institutions. We often reduce politics or government action to “the President” both in literature and in real life. So, instead of continuing to bash my head against that particular wall[4], I decided I would just embrace it and attempt to gain a greater understanding of American Political History by reading about the men (and, rather unfortunately, it’s been 43 dudes so far) at the top of the political pyramid.
Why chronologically? Because alphabetically would be weird and I already had a biography of President Washington on my Kindle that I wanted to read.
I’ve decided to start with Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow. It’s a relatively recent biography and takes advantage of the University of Virginia’s ongoing project to release GW’s voluminous correspondence.[5] The biography is very much concerned with finding the man behind President Washington’s famous reserve (seriously, the guy made Calvin Coolidge look like Zaphod Beeblebrox), which serves my interest in political character. The book also covers Washington’s life in a single volume, which serves my interest in learning more history and actually finishing this project, like, ever.
Also, it won a Pulitzer.
So far, I am only about two chapters (the book is 900+ pages long) in and already I notice a bit of hagiography. The premise is that Washington was a “Great Man”, and we need to understand him. It’s a bit over-the-top. I don’t require revisionist critique in my historical biography, but already I’m missing Caro’s open-eyed writing on LBJ. Historically, nothing of major interest so far, except that Washington’s family (his great-grandfather in particular) go in on the land speculation in Virginia pretty early.
A side note. I’ve been to Mount Vernon several times (I live in the DC area) and it’s always some place I take folks from out of town. It’s a fascinating and exceptionally well-run historical site. Lots of “living history” events and very well curated.
I’ll continue blogging on President Washington and the other Presidents periodically. I’m setting myself a 1 post/week goal. More if I can.
Leave comments if you’re interested and I’ll dig deeper into the history and biography next post.
[1] And I’m pro-bureaucracy, but we’ll probably get to that at some point. Butcher has a good quote about bureaucracy from Turn Coat: "Behold," Murphy said. "Bureaucracy. Organization to combat the entropy that naturally inhibits that kind of cooperative effort." Bureaucracy combats the collective action problem.
[2] Unless he’s Tony Stark and somehow manages not to get arrested for contempt of Congress.
[3] Yes, it’s a word.
[4] I taught college government for a while. Not sure I ever got that point across.
[5] The Papers of George Washington: http://gwpapers.virginia.edu/