Washington the jerk

Journey location: Chapter four of John Ferling's "The Ascent of George Washington."

George Washington was a jerk.

The nation's first president could be unfair, dishonest and yes, a jerk - at least early in his military and political life.

As a colonel in the Virginia army in 1756, Washington ordered soldiers to confiscate goods from civilians, blamed others for his own military mistakes and took credit for the success of others. Later, he organized a land scheme that robbed land from other soldiers and lied about the value of land so he could purchase it cheaply.

And that's why I've been engulfed with John Ferling's "The Ascent of George Washington." When you think of Washington today in 2013, you think of the dollar bill, the Revolution and Mount Rushmore. We are taught to think of only good things. The book gives you another side of Washington - a more political, self-serving and calculating side of our nation's No. 1.

This side is a particularly interesting contrast coming from just finishing reading about Lincoln in "Team of Rivals." (Editor's note: The idea for reading a book about each president in order came while reading "Team of Rivals," which is why this blog begins with Lincoln and not Washington. John Adams will be next after the conclusion of "Ascent.") Where Lincoln was humble, honest and ready to listen to others, Washington early in life was nearly the exact opposite.

But Washington's character changes as he is appointed by Congress as commander of the Continental army. Ferling notes, "Gone was the pleasure-seeking, consumer-oriented planter. Gone was the man who, in an earlier war, had abandoned his men repeatedly to look after his person interests. Gone was the man who had been too busy with private pursuits to tend to his obligations in the assembly. The times and the cause demanded that he recast himself. He became General Washington, the self-denying and unstinting warrior who was focused on the national interest and on victory."

Washington was a jerk. Was being the key word.