The First George W.

Is Peter Byrnes also suggesting that when my children asked about that aspect of life at Mount Vernon, I should have told them that if they kept doing so people such as himself would insist they be sent to Baghdad? Is that his view of the kind of freedoms we enjoy in this country? Is that what he thinks President Washington would have wanted?

Conservatives claim their world view is informed by the hard realities of life and history. So be a true conservative Mr. Byrnes and acknowledge the importance of this "lurid" but crucial part of our collective history. By the way, are there any other aspects of that history which he would like to "whitewash"?

What a refreshing bit of history. Having been to Mount Vernon, it's pretty easy to understand why George Washington loved the place so much. The view of the Potomac and the grounds are lovely. Also, the Ladies do an excellent job in keeping it in meticulous museum quality and providing what must be a painfully accurate picture of who this man was.

The comments of the readers were also enjoyable, but the comment by Mr. Platzer is much like the backhanded whining he often does. Mr. Platzer is not happy unless he and everyone else feel guilty and ashamed of America's past, present and future.

Mr. Platzer, please enjoy history and culture for what they are, rather than looking for the lurid details to be the major lesson. As a nation, we've done things of which we are not proud, but we've done infinitely more for the freedom of all people since that time.

And if the misery of slavery still concerns you so deeply, please lay aside your opposition to military action to remove the Butcher of Baghdad who has killed and tortured millions for his pleasure. If, however, you will not, I would invite you to move there. President Washington fought for your freedom too, but we'd just as soon have you go to a place of unmitigated misery so that you can finally be happy.

It would be helpful if the writings of George Washington (and others) could be collected and published so that we can see what they thought and wrote. Far too much of the Founding Fathers' writings have disappeared from public availability.

Great article, I believe that our modern day George W. will be seen in history as a man who had the same vision for America in the 21st century as did Washington in his time. If you believe in divine intervention then there was a reason why Al Gore was defeated.

It was in 1980 when I visited Mount Vernon on my first trip to the east coast. It was May and memorable. I was struck by the magnificent view of the Potomac. The mansion overwhelmed me too, it's furnishings and the whole atmosphere simply cried out "George Washington really did slept here."

Now Mr. Miniter writes the Mount Vernon Ladies Association is going to great lengths to educate the public not only on the estate and the buildings but on the man who lived on the land of his beloved Virginia and helped build the nation which he later led, a nation unlike any the world had ever seen.

Bless the women of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association for their far reaching goals of letting the citizens of America really get to know and appreciate the man as well as the general and first president of this country. Especially in these uncertain times of American history, we need an example of integrity, of loyalty, of faith, of sacrifice, of honor, of courage. George Washington was a man with these character traits.

Thanks Mr. Miniter for sharing your insights into what is being done along the Potomac to bring history to life. I can't wait to go back and look at Mount Vernon in a new light. I am taking a copy of this article with me for reference.

It is interesting to note that George Washington's collection of swords and guns is sheltered from public scrutiny. Our Founding Fathers knew that arms were necessary first to gain freedom and then to protect it. Hence the wisdom of our Second Amendment that provides each citizen the right to bear arms. The public would do well to be reacquainted with the times and wisdom of Mr. Washington.

Thank you, Mr. Miniter, after reading mainstream press and watching mainstream news, it's nice to read an article which reminds me of the goodness and intelligence which founded the United States of America, and Mr. Washington embodied that. Mt. Vernon is a testament to his talents, his intellect, and his eye for great beauty, and it's lovely to think that, in this day and age, people are spending so much time and money in making sure we don't forget what a good start we had.

Bravo! It's way past time that we learn and teach the ideas that motivated the men we call our Founding Fathers. While many would like everyone to believe they are just dead white simpletons, they were some of the intellectual giants of human history who shunned ivory tower idealism, and also geniuses who had their feet firmly shod with the boots of realism, necessity and practicality. Shout this message from the rooftops!

It's been years since I visited Mount Vernon but Mr. Miniter's piece makes another trip sound inviting.

I only hope my family can make it before the PC crowd litigates successfully and forces the Mount Vernon Ladies to allow a Michael Moore-type to "rehabilitate" the place.

The last time I visited Mt. Vernon with my children I was somewhat troubled by the fact that the kindly tour guides from the Ladies Association didn't much want to answer their perfectly legitimate questions about life within the slave quarters on the estate. So upon reading Mr. Miniter's account of all the changes being made there to help us better understand our nation's history I was somewhat dismayed to discover that he never addressed the question of whether that kind of important information will now be more readily available. By the time I take my grandchildren there in another decade or so I hope that still won't be the case.