Washington: A Life

Back at Mount Vernon, Washington undertook costly repairs, coped with constant visitors, organized his vast papers, and—under manager James Anderson—oversaw a new (and highly productive) whiskey distillery amid persistent financial strain. Politics intruded: Jefferson’s Mazzei letter (1797) deepened their break; Washington quietly backed Hamilton during the Reynolds scandal; and French depredations led to the XYZ Affair, a naval buildup, and the Quasi-War. Adams named Washington commander of a provisional army, sparking a rancorous struggle over ranking major generals (Hamilton versus Knox/Pinckney) and testing relations among Washington, Adams, and old comrades. He also urged Federalist candidates like John Marshall to run.

The chapter traces Federalist overreach during the Quasi‑War, including the Alien and Sedition Acts, which Washington privately supported. Adams pivoted to diplomacy (the Murray mission), sapping momentum for Hamilton’s new army, which was soon disbanded. Washington increasingly backed Federalist candidates (e.g., John Marshall), managed details of the new federal city, and confronted its reliance on enslaved labor. At home, Nelly married; Washy faltered; finances worsened, prompting loans and asset sales. Repeatedly urged to return to office, Washington declined, citing age, health, and exhaustion, and planned to simplify Mount Vernon’s operations by 1800.