Washington's Birthday

[davedove]

So it is only from the 2nd half of the 20th Century until today that stepping down after 2 terms is a requirement of the law.

So it was President Washington's voluntary decision to leave power after only 2 terms that was truly revolutionary and taught both our own nation and democratic nations around the world the lesson that leaders should have to leave office after a certain number of years. It is that realization that he did something of virtue without being required to do so which makes the act eve more virtuous and heroic.

You are correct about Washington, in that what he did was completely voluntary. He probably could have been voted back into office until he died. So it was even more notable that he stepped down. (Now if we could just get some other politicians to think like that.:rolleyes: )