President’s Day 2022
President’s Day 2022
By: Carl H. Block, Esq.
February 21, 2022
The California Courts and Federal Courts are closed on President’s Day, February 21, 2022.
The holiday specifically honors George Washington, but also honors all of those who served our country as the President of the United States. California also celebrated President Lincoln’s Birthday as a separate holiday on February 11, 2022.
In 1862, the United States Senate started a tradition of reading George Washington’s Farewell Address. You can read George Washington’s Farewell Address in full in history books or on the internet. I summarize a few key portions below, to remind each of us what a great leader President Washington was, and how his legacy and wisdom affects us to this very day.
At the time Washington gave the Farewell Address, he was finishing his second term as President. He starts the address by stating that he will not run for a third term as President. The tradition of Presidents serving for a maximum of two terms stood until World War II with President Roosevelt. But shortly thereafter, the 22nd Amendment to the United States Constitution was approved, formally limiting to two terms the number of times a person is eligible for election to the office of President.
Washington supported the Union. Washington warned the American people about those who would promote abandoning the Union. He forewarns people to place their identity as Americans above regional identities or the bickering of political parties.
Washington thought our system of checks and balances was important. In his eloquent words, “It is important . . .that the habits of thinking in a free country should inspire caution in those entrusted with its administration to confine themselves within their respective constitutional spheres, avoiding in the exercise of the powers of one department to encroach upon another . . . the necessity of reciprocal checks in the exercise of political power, but dividing and distributing it into different depositories . . . has been evinced by experiments ancient and modern.”
Washington asserts that religion, morals, and education were of great value in promoting prosperity. “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.” On the subject of education, Washington wrote “Promote then, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge. In proportion as the structure of a government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened.”
Washington demonstrated humility. “Though in reviewing the incidents of my administration I am unconscious of intentional error, I am nevertheless too sensible of my defects not to think it probable that I may have committed many errors. Whatever they may be I fervently beseech the Almighty to avert or mitigate the evils to which they may attend.”
The key points above show a President who is very much concerned about the unity of America. Washington warns about threats to the union. He supports the idea of checks and balances as a mechanism to avoid despotism. And he asserts that religion, morals, and education are keys to maintaining our government and our freedoms. Finally, Washington demonstrates the importance of humility in a leader.
The citizens of the United States of America are forever indebted to President Washington for his leadership, vision, and wisdom, much of which continues to be applicable to this very day.
(Quotes are taken from Washington’s Farewell Address, published as Senate Document No. 106-21, Washington, 2000)
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President’s Day 2022
By: Carl H. Block, Esq.
February 21, 2022
The California Courts and Federal Courts are closed on President’s Day, February 21, 2022.
The holiday specifically honors George Washington, but also honors all of those who served our country as the President of the United States. California also celebrated President Lincoln’s Birthday as a separate holiday on February 11, 2022.
In 1862, the United States Senate started a tradition of reading George Washington’s Farewell Address. You can read George Washington’s Farewell Address in full in history books or on the internet. I summarize a few key portions below, to remind each of us what a great leader President Washington was, and how his legacy and wisdom affects us to this very day.
At the time Washington gave the Farewell Address, he was finishing his second term as President. He starts the address by stating that he will not run for a third term as President. The tradition of Presidents serving for a maximum of two terms stood until World War II with President Roosevelt. But shortly thereafter, the 22nd Amendment to the United States Constitution was approved, formally limiting to two terms the number of times a person is eligible for election to the office of President.
Washington supported the Union. Washington warned the American people about those who would promote abandoning the Union. He forewarns people to place their identity as Americans above regional identities or the bickering of political parties.
Washington thought our system of checks and balances was important. In his eloquent words, “It is important . . .that the habits of thinking in a free country should inspire caution in those entrusted with its administration to confine themselves within their respective constitutional spheres, avoiding in the exercise of the powers of one department to encroach upon another . . . the necessity of reciprocal checks in the exercise of political power, but dividing and distributing it into different depositories . . . has been evinced by experiments ancient and modern.”
Washington asserts that religion, morals, and education were of great value in promoting prosperity. “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.” On the subject of education, Washington wrote “Promote then, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge. In proportion as the structure of a government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened.”
Washington demonstrated humility. “Though in reviewing the incidents of my administration I am unconscious of intentional error, I am nevertheless too sensible of my defects not to think it probable that I may have committed many errors. Whatever they may be I fervently beseech the Almighty to avert or mitigate the evils to which they may attend.”
The key points above show a President who is very much concerned about the unity of America. Washington warns about threats to the union. He supports the idea of checks and balances as a mechanism to avoid despotism. And he asserts that religion, morals, and education are keys to maintaining our government and our freedoms. Finally, Washington demonstrates the importance of humility in a leader.
The citizens of the United States of America are forever indebted to President Washington for his leadership, vision, and wisdom, much of which continues to be applicable to this very day.
(Quotes are taken from Washington’s Farewell Address, published as Senate Document No. 106-21, Washington, 2000)
Recent and Popular Articles From Our Blog:
2020 Blogs:
- April 28 – A New Reality – Temporary or Permanent – Virtual Showings and Disclosures
- May 22 – Servant Leadership
- June 8 – Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act is Enacted
- June 10 – Impact to Credit Score After Filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
- June 26 – SBA Rolls Out Updated PPP Loan Forgiveness Application
- July 2 – Understanding the Home Equity Sales Contract Act 2020
- July 14 – Governor Rolls Back Re-Opening
- August 4 – August 2020 COVID-19 Update
- August 18 – Status Of Selected California State Operations re: COVID-19
- September 1 – COVID Update on Foreclosures and Evictions
- September 3 – State Passes AB 3088
- September 15 – Update on PPP Forgiveness and Impacts
- November 10 – Changes to the Fair Housing and Discrimination Advisory CAR Form
- November 24 – In a Season of Difficulty – We Choose Gratitude
- December 15 – Cal/OSHA Issues New COVID Prevention Rule
2021 Blogs:
- January 5 – Introduction to New Laws 2021
- January 26- Rain and the Prevalence of Failure to Disclose Claims
- February 2 – California Enacts COVID Tenant Relief Act (SB 91)
- March 9 – Understanding the Trust Exception to Real Estate Disclosures
- April 20 – Cash for Keys and SB 91
- May 4 – Help! Tenant Won’t Cooperate with Sale of Home
- May 11 – California Passes AB 80