George Washington’s Leadership-Diplomatic Style

George Washington’s Leadership-Diplomatic Style

Washington the Diplomat

President Washington on many occasions proved that he was a man who preferred diplomacy over controversy. Not one but many of his actions illustrated this leadership trait. Thus in his appointments to the judiciary, his choices were always measured not to generate unnecessary controversy.

Above all, he tended to look for people from the same political and ideological underpinnings as his.  One common feature of many of his choices for the high court is that all the nominees had contributed immensely to the nation   during the revolution. That Washington was particularly impressed with Thomas Johnson’s war record while governor of Maryland is demonstrative that he wanted to keep people he could work with without so much tension.

In fact Washington is credited with having set the precedent of choosing judicial nominees solely from the president’s party.  This however is not conclusive to label Washington as one who did not accept other alternatives when diplomacy seemed to fail.

Washington’s knack for the diplomatic was tested during his second term in office and more so in the area of foreign policy. Early in 1793- about that time when the French Revolution was on-France declared war on Great Britain and appointed “Citizen” Edmond Genet minister to the United States.

Seeing that it would be in the best interest of the United States not to take sides, Washington proclaimed that America remain neutral in this dispute. This proclamation of neutrality however did not deter “Citizen Genet” from outfitting French

Privateers in American ports. And Washington, being the diplomat that he was, requested and indeed obtained the recall of Citizen Genet.  This was intended to give America time to concentrate on its own affairs until it was well positioned to meddle in the affairs of other countries. (Henry, 1999).

More articles exist on the topic of George Washington’s Leadership