The First Presidents Club
The New York Times today writes about Bill Stanley, the head of the historical society in Norwich, Conn., and his campaign for a bit of recognition for the first president of the United States: Samuel Huntington.

He makes a point similar to one my dad made last year on his blog. History books like to simplify, and as a result, many of us mistakenly think the Americans beat the Brits and then President Washington was in charge. From my dad:

The most important and critical time -- and the most dangerous, as well -- of a new nation is its transition period between the time of a revolutionary military victory and the establishment of a civilian government. ... To forget the eight men who held that office of President prior to George Washington would be to forget the years between the end of the American Revolution and the ratification of the Constitution of 1789."

While Stanley up in Norwich favors Huntington as the first president, my dad makes a case for John Hanson.
- posted by Amy @ 6/02/2004 09:38:00 AM