George Washington's Final Battle

At the end of America's Revolutionary War, the new nation's government was weak and almost fatally divided by bitter disputes. Inherent in the divides was disagreement about where to place the nation's seat of government. It is little remembered that George Washington took the lead on settling this question that moved the capital from New York, to Philadelphia, and finally to the city that bears his name. Robert Watson has written an engaging history of Washington's underappreciated political acumen andthe fascinating story behind the creation of Washington, DC. Few know how personally involved Washington was in even the smallest details of planning DC. He quietly worked behind the scenes to push for a Potomac River locations. He oversaw surveying, negotiated land deals, raised funds, selected the architect, chose the plan, and changed the designs. Washington visited the construction sites for the rest of his life, even after leaving the presidency in 1797, making the federal city itself his last greatcontribution to public life. He died less than a year before President Adams moved into the White House in 1800. Washington's vision, influence, and feel for political compromise made it possible to build a permanent capital and to begin forming a sense of nationhood--