Virginia Magazine of History and Biography
Volume 109 / Number 2
ABSTRACT:
The Art of Presidential Leadership: George Washington and the Jay Treaty
- By Todd Estes, pp. 127–58
This article examines George Washington's presidential leadership in
building support for the Jay Treaty and finds in his active role in that
endeavor additional support for revisionist accounts of his presidency.
Both supporters and opponents of the Jay Treaty of 1794 with Great Britain
have long credited President George Washington with having played a crucial
role in winning support for the measure. But it was not solely Washington's
unique stature--enormous and influential though that was--that helped build
a following for the document. At several critical junctures Washington
acted in decisive and timely ways: writing letters that were widely
reproduced publicly, waiting to submit the treaty until public opinion
shifted, and withholding materials from the House of Representatives on
constitutional grounds. All of these provided indispensable backing to the
pro-treaty campaign and ultimately hastened the treaty's acceptance. In
short, it was not only Washington's unmatched prestige, influence, and
stature that contributed to the triumph on the Jay Treaty but also his
skillful deployment of political talents. This essay's findings reinforce recent accounts of his presidency that see him as
much more engaged and active than earlier treatments suggested.
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