Part III - Retirement: 1797–1799

Summary

Part III covers the years of Washington’s brief final retirement from public life (1797–1799). As is well known, he hoped at last to find relief from the mental strain that had almost constantly accompanied him through many years of consequential, perplexing, and often perilous public service. This hope was not, however, perfectly realized. Even in retirement Washington continued to follow politics closely, forming and expressing opinions on the events of the day, worrying about the dangers of party spirit at home and war abroad. The latter concern drew him one last time into a position of official responsibility: he accepted when President John Adams appointed him commander-in-chief of the provisional army that was planned in the event of open war with France.