Realistic Visionary

Peter Henriques talked about his book Realistic Visionary: A Portrait of George Washington, published by the University of Virginia Press. The book is not a conventional biography but rather a series of essays on different aspects of President Washington’s life and thought developed from a series of lectures at Gatbys Tavern. In the book, Mr. Henriques sought to humanize President George Washington. He described President Washington’s mistakes, his sensitivity to criticism, and his pragmatist way of governing. During his discussion, he examined George Washington’s relationships with Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. Mr. Henriques also discussed George Washington’s contradictory views on slavery and his lack of religious references. He responded to questions from members of the audience. close