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The Cabinet
The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution | Lindsay M. Chervinsky
1 post | 1 read
The US Constitution never established a presidential cabinetthe delegates to the Constitutional Convention explicitly rejected the idea. So how did George Washington create one of the most powerful bodies in the federal government? On November 26, 1791, George Washington convened his department secretariesAlexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, Henry Knox, and Edmund Randolphfor the first cabinet meeting. Why did he wait two and a half years into his presidency to call his cabinet? Because the US Constitution did not create or provide for such a body. Washington was on his own. Faced with diplomatic crises, domestic insurrections, and constitutional challengesand finding congressional help lackingWashington decided he needed a group of advisors he could turn to. He modeled his new cabinet on the councils of war he had led as commander of the Continental Army. In the early days, the cabinet served at the presidents pleasure. Washington tinkered with its structure throughout his administration, at times calling regular meetings, at other times preferring written advice and individual discussions. Lindsay M. Chervinsky reveals the far-reaching consequences of Washingtons choice. The tensions in the cabinet between Hamilton and Jefferson heightened partisanship and contributed to the development of the first party system. And as Washington faced an increasingly recalcitrant Congress, he came to treat the cabinet as a private advisory body to summon as needed, greatly expanding the role of the president and the executive branch.
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ValerieAndBooks
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Got to visit George Washington‘s Mount Vernon last weekend (scaffolding is for repairs to the back of the house). We were there 5 hours and still didn‘t get to see everything! And had to rush through the shop so didn‘t have time to browse their book selection as I normally would. But did grab an autographed copy of the tagged book which is a DAR book club selection. About GW and his first cabinet.

@mrsmarch have you read it yet?

LeahBergen Ooo, I‘d love to visit! 👍 2y
mrp27 Fun! I‘d love to visit. (edited) 2y
mabell Lovely! 😍 2y
See All 14 Comments
Bookwormjillk I‘m lucky and live near here. He had a great view! 2y
BkClubCare Is that where they carved the siding to look like stone? Weird what I am reminded of. 2y
mrsmarch I have a signed copy from the DAR store with a fancy gold seal on the cover but haven‘t read it yet 🤦🏼‍♀️ 2y
ValerieAndBooks @LeahBergen I hope you get to visit someday! 2y
ValerieAndBooks @mrp27 it was so interesting. Hope you visit! 2y
ValerieAndBooks @mabell it was a beautiful day! Very warm though. 2y
ValerieAndBooks @Bookwormjillk that‘s cool that you live near there! Yes, the river views are amazing. 2y
ValerieAndBooks @BkClubCare Yes!! And mixed sand in the paint to make it look even more stone-like. 2y
ValerieAndBooks @mrsmarch so many books, so little time, right?! 2y
CarolynM Happy memories of a visit there a few years ago. Such an interesting place (and a beautiful river cruise). 2y
ValerieAndBooks @CarolynM ooh, you got to do the cruise 😊! We didn‘t have time for that…next time! 2y
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