“A vivid portrait…A thoughtful consideration of Washington’s wisdom that couldn’t be timelier.†—Kirkus Reviews (starred review) George Washington’s Farewell Address was a prophetic letter from a “parting friend†to his fellow citizens about the forces he feared could destroy our democracy: hyper-partisanship; excessive debt; and foreign wars.Once celebrated as civic scripture; more widely reprinted than the Declaration of Independence; the Farewell Address is now almost forgotten. Its message remains starkly relevant. In Washington’s Farewell; John Avlon offers a stunning portrait of our first president and his battle to save America from self-destruction. At the end of his second term; Washington surprised Americans by publishing his Farewell message in a newspaper. The President called for unity among “citizens by birth or choice;†advocated moderation; defended religious pluralism; proposed a foreign policy of independence (not isolation); and proposed that education is essential to democracy. He established the precedent for the peaceful transfer of power. Washington’s urgent message was adopted by Jefferson after years of opposition and quoted by Lincoln in defense of the Union. Woodrow Wilson invoked it for nation-building; Eisenhower for Cold War; Reagan for religion. Now the Farewell Address may inspire a new generation to re-center our politics and reunite our nation through the lessons rooted in Washington’s experience. As John Avlon describes the perilous state of the new nation that Washington was preparing to leave as its leader; with enduring wisdom; he reveals him to be the indispensable Founding Father.
#941680 in Books 2012-03-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .61 x 6.00l; .81 #File Name: 147502049X244 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Rare first hand WW 2 accountBy timeoutThis is a fine first hand; personal; and surprisingly positive; account of what it was to be a part of the hopelessly outmanned and outgunned multinational force of allied naval ships; tasked by their governments with the last ditch defense of the Dutch West Indies from the advancing Japanese. It is a rare and wonderful book that adds the emotion and color of an American naval officer who was on the ground as a part of the operation. The author opines readily on the quality of area commanders and the thoughts and aspirations of the fighting men involved; as well as recognition deserved; but not given; to several of his countrymen. I read Playing for Time in concert with author Tom Womack's excellent and highly detailed The Allied Defense of the Malay Barrier 1941-1942 and found that Alford filled in many blanks and added much meaning and human emotion to the early war of which he was a part.5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Playing for TimeBy R. L. MahanPlaying for time by Capt Alford USN RET. Is a book I have wanted to read my whole life. Let me say up front that my father served on board the USS Stewart DD-224 during the time covered in the book as an RM3. So I had a personal interest in it's story.There are some nice works that cover the events that overcame the US Asiatic Fleet in the early days of World War 2. The Lonely Ships By Edwin P. Hoyt is one such work. Playing for time is different in that instead of covering the plans made by the Admirals in how to confront a vastly superior enemy. It is about the thoughts and feelings of the crew of one of the ships trying to carry out those plans. Always with the hope that the US Pacific Fleet would come to their aid and the bitter feelings when they realized that was not going to happen. It is the story of proud men and ships sailing into certain defeat even with the knowledge that their sacrifice can no longer serve a useful purpose.There is also a good bit of information of the Stewart's use by Japan after being raised and refitted as a patrol boat.The story of the USS Stewart DD-224 is one of the strangest in Naval History. Shoot up and bombed by Japan; scuttled by the US; re-floated by Japan; re-captured by the US and sunk for the last time by it's own US Navy off San Fransisco as a Bombing target. Hollywood couldn't make that up.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. I love information about early american fighting after Pearl Harbor and ...By Steven LeenertsI love information about early american fighting after Pearl Harbor and this book is full of it. A great book about the naval battles of the Asiatic Fleet in the Dutch East Indies and the only American warship to be captured by the enemy in World War 2.
