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A PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY FOR AMERICA’S INDISPENSABLE MAN The Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington opens at Mount Vernon
David Rubenstein
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n 1787, shortly after retiring from the presidency, in a letter to a friend, James McHenry, his former secretary of war, George Washington expressed a desire to build a library. “I have not houses yet to build, except one,” he wrote, “which I must erect for the accommodation and security of my military, civil and private papers, which are voluminous and may be interesting.” More than 200 years have passed and Washington finally has his wish. On September 27, I traveled out to Mount Vernon for the opening of The Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington. I supported this library because it places the first president in the spotlight in a powerful new way. In addition to safeguarding his original books and manuscripts, the library is also taking innovative approaches to educational outreach and leadership training; in this domain, Washington is an endless source of new material and a time-honored case study. After all, there is no American president who provides us a better example of selfless leadership and decisive action than our first president, who again and again put his own interests aside in order to answer the call of his country.
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Just as Washington’s life is inspiring, so considering what they read. An examination too is the story behind his library. Unlike of Washington’s books hints at his broad most presidential libraries, Mount Vernon’s approach to learning and reveals his wide new facility is funded entirely by more than range of interests, from gardening to military $106 million in private contributions from tactics to the classics. He was a man of the more than 7,000 individuals, foundations and enlightenment, and he believed that human corporations. This money was raised through beings could improve the world around them, the tireless work of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ in all spheres of life. He was never satisfied Association. Formed in the 1850s when the with the status quo. mansion had fallen into complete disrepair There is so much we can learn from and the government refused to act, the Washington — the single man most responsible Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association appealed for creating our country. But perhaps this to the American people to save the estate. commitment to improvement — of himself Throughout its 150-year history, and without and of his world — will point us to some of any government funding, the association has the most powerful lessons. He lived through a proudly carried out its mission to preserve complicated age of revolution but nevertheless Washington’s home and advance his legacy. worked for improvement for the public good. The association has been remarkably successful, I believe that every American citizen should welcoming more than one million visitors a know the story of the father of our country. year and cementing Mount Vernon’s position True to Washington’s words, the lessons he as the most visited historic home in America. learned, the notes he took, the books he With the opening of this library, George read, and the letters he wrote were no doubt Washington’s Mount Vernon begins a new “voluminous.” Through this library, we will chapter as a center for the creation and soon discover just how “interesting” and dissemination of new knowledge about timeless they can be. Washington and the era in which he lived. I am proud and honored to be a supporter of We can look forward to an impressive slate of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association and this symposia, lectures, conferences, and publications new library. I encourage all Americans, and all that shed new light on our nation’s founding. freedom-loving people, to visit Mount Vernon. We can also anticipate innovative programs that Their lives will be enriched by doing so. bring business, military and political leaders together to draw inspiration from Washington’s life. Those who access the library’s resources — either in person or digitally — will develop a deeper appreciation and understanding of the larger-than-life man on the dollar bill. After all, you can The Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington tell a lot about a person by
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