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Compared to what we have today, the first president of the United States, George Washington, seems like he was from another planet. The true character of Washington is beautifully crafted in Joseph Ellis' biography of the man, "His Excellency: George Washington." First published in 2005, it's now out in paperback and is not to be missed.

In it, Ellis describes what might be Washington's greatest moment - when he was confronting his mutinous officers at Newburgh, New York, in March of 1783. Because the war was basically over, his men were furious that they hadn't been paid and wanted to march on the Continental Congress and declare Washington king. But our first president would have none of it, and in a famous line that disarmed his restless officers, he remarked, while reading from his prepared text, "Gentlemen, you must pardon me. I have grown gray in your service and now find myself growing blind."

In effect, what Washington had done was something that no other dictator had ever contemplated - that is, he gave up his "crown" for the people. King George III of England actually remarked that if it were true that Washington had passed on crowning himself king, then that would make him the "greatest man in the world."

Our first president viewed the Presidency as an epilogue to his career, not the crowning achievement. That might be a lesson sorely needed by our current King George.

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