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This Day in History: November 13

On November 13, 1789, George Washington returns to Washington at the conclusion of his first presidential tour. He'd been inaugurated as the first president of the United States in April,

For four weeks, Washington traveled by stagecoach through New England, visiting all the northern states that had ratified the U.S. Constitution. Washington, the great Revolutionary War general and first leader of the new republic, was greeted by exuberant crowds. Major William Jackson, who was Washington’s aide-de-camp during the Revolutionary War, accompanied the president, along with a private secretary and nine servants, including several slaves. The group traveled as far north as Kittery, Maine, which, at the time, was still a part of Massachusetts.

Two years later, President Washington set off on his first presidential visit to the southern states, making a nearly-2,000-mile round-trip journey from his estate at Mount Vernon, Virginia.

One thing I've asked myself -- especially after witnessing one of the nastiest presidential campaigns in American history this year, is whether the country will ever have someone even close to Washington's caliber as president. Alas, the answer is probably no. When you're up against the man who was "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen," you're bound to come up a little short. Not to mention the fact that he was courageous, gallant, intelligent, and respectful of those who disagreed with them -- something that's hard to find in the contentious political climate of today.

I would give anything to go back in time and see the world through Washington's eyes, who graces our $1 bill. And with brilliant minds like Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Alexander Hamilton at his side, it's easy to see why Washington's administration is regarded as one of the best in the nation's history.

Is there a period in history you'd love to experience for yourself?
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