Washington’s End: The Final Years and Forgotten Struggle

Horn (The Man Who Would Not Be Washington), a former speechwriter for George W. Bush, chronicles George Washington’s post-presidency years in this insightful if somewhat meandering biography. Beginning with the March 1797 transfer of power between Washington and his successor, John Adams, Horn follows the ex-president home to his Mount Vernon estate, where he planned to occupy himself with, in his words, “rural amusements,” but instead was drawn into political squabbles between Republicans and Federalists and rising tensions between the U.S. and France. Asked by Adams to resume command of the armed forces in preparation for a French invasion that never happened, Washington agreed so long as he could select his own general staff. His decision to install Alexander Hamilton as his second-in-command infuriated Adams and led to a string of disputes between the current and former presidents that lasted until Washington’s death in 1799. Quoting extensively from diaries, letters, newspaper accounts, and memoirs, Horn presents an intimate portrait of Washington’s relationships with his wife, Martha; his nieces and nephews; his friend and rumored romantic interest, Sally Fairfax; and his political rivals and supporters. Though general interest readers may be disappointed by the book’s lack of drama, presidential history buffs curious about this neglected chapter of Washington’s life will savor this immersive account. (Feb.)