POLITICKING ABOUT BIRTHDAY WISHES FOR GEORGE WASHINGTON. I have posted, for example here, about legislative maneuvers, such as cowcatcher bills to increase contributions from those affected and Christmas tree bills, which are popular bills on which other less popular measures can be hung. These examples are often considered to be evidence of how badly our legislative standards have declined.
Robert K Landers had a review in the Wall Street Journal (April 3) of WASHINGTON’S CIRCLE by David S. Heidler and Jeanne T. Heidler which gives some perspective on Congessional activities in the early days of our republic. From the review I learned that:
“In February 1796, a House resolution to extend best wishes to [President Washington] on his 64th birthday was shockingly defeated by a huge margin, 52 to 38.”
But what bill finally passed? What did they attach to it, to make it “acceptable”? Is there
any way to find out? Or did George just have to settle for Martha’s good wishes, while the legislators went home and said to each other, “I’ve heard enough about effin’ Valley Forge to last me the rest of my life.”