Why Presidents' Day is observed
Remembering the great people from our past and what they stood for has likely never been more crucial as we move toward a more united future.
Today, February 20, 2023, is Presidents' Day, which is now a widely recognized holiday. The day is now widely regarded as a day to honor all US presidents, past and present. It was first declared a national holiday in 1885 to honor President George Washington.
Numerous names for one holiday
Despite being a federal holiday, there are more than a dozen different official names for the third Monday in February in the US. Several variations make specific reference to Washington, whose actual birthday was February 22, 1732, and others make specific reference to Abraham Lincoln (born February 12, 1809). More unusually, Alabama proudly honors another great president on what it officially refers to as "George Washington/Thomas Jefferson Birthday" (Jefferson's birthday is actually in April), while Washington shares the honors in Arkansas with civil rights activist Daisy Gatson Bates. This wide range of names seems appropriate in a country that was founded and thrives on diversity. What unites them all is the notion that it is important for us, as a nation, to comprehend our past and how it shaped the nation we live in today.
Washington, the first democratic president
Presidents' Day has historical roots that span more than 200 years. George Washington's birthday became a regular day of remembrance and a source of pride for the country after his passing in 1799. Washington's birthday didn't become one of only five federal holidays that are recognized nationwide until 1885 (when New York Life was already a well-established company; the others are Christmas Day, New Year's Day, the Fourth of July, and Thanksgiving). Martin Luther King Jr. Day was the only federal holiday to honor an individual American's life until it was declared a national holiday in 1983.
Why do we still commemorate a man who passed away more than 200 years ago? Maybe because, despite being a man of his time, Washington embodies many of the ideals that our country was founded on and that still hold true today. "At the center of events for 24 years, he never lied, fudged, or cheated," observes historian Stephen E. Ambrose. 4 He was steadfastly optimistic, set an exemplary example, shared the suffering of his soldiers in battle, resisted attempts to elevate him to the position of king, and voluntarily ceded power by setting the precedent that no man should hold the office of president for more than two terms. Of course, it would be incorrect to ignore the fact that, despite frequently expressing his desire to put an end to the practice of slavery, Washington himself owned slaves.
Lincoln: A Distinctively Contemporary Patriot
Lincoln would be the president that most people would name as the best president of all time, even if Washington were a great man. The Chicago Tribune asked 49 political scientists and historians to rank every president from George Washington to Jimmy Carter on five different criteria in 1982. These categories were leadership qualities, accomplishments/crisis management skills, political skills, appointments, and character/integrity. Not only did Lincoln come in first place overall, but none of the following seven presidents were better than him in any category. 5
Lincoln may be deserving of the top spot just for his part in keeping the Union together; the fact that he left behind the United States that was not only complete but also, and this is important, and more democratic, solidifies his status for most as the American president to remember. By putting out the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, Lincoln started the process that led to the 13th Amendment, which ended slavery. Two years later.
Of course, we can't forget that both Washington and Lincoln were products of their times, and their ideas don't match up with modern ideas of democracy and morality. For example, Lincoln thought slavery was morally wrong, but he didn't think black people should have the right to vote. However, the laws they helped create and the moral standards they upheld paved the way for the democracy we enjoy today.