Remarks as prepared for delivery at the
55th Annual George Washington Ball
Chargé d’Affaires Joseph A. Mussomeli
February 21, 2004

It is a pleasure and honor to address the members, friends and supporters of the American Association of the Philippines.

I want to first thank Serge for his leadership and commitment in the service of Americans in the Philippines. Without him much of the work AAP has done over the last few years would not have been possible.

Adlai Stevenson referring to patriotism, once said, “What we mean is a sense of national responsibility, a patriotism which is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.” This epitomizes the AAP. Its goal since its humble beginnings in 1949 -- to provide aid to Americans in need -- is a noble and patriotic act of unselfishness. The dedication that the AAP has demonstrated over the years is a proud legacy that continues through the activities of today’s members.

Now if I could take a minute to talk about George Washington himself, I think his life is particularly relevant to the election season that has just gotten underway in the Philippines. When people think about Washington they tend to think him great for all the wrong reasons: that he defeated the British army, that he won the war, that he was our first president. Significant accomplishments perhaps, but not such a big deal.

There are really only two acts by Washington that set him apart from everyone else. And it is these two acts that made historians refer to him as the “indispensable man.” One of these events took pace at the end of his military career; the other at the end of his political career.

Most people don’t know that at the end of the Revolution, much of the American army had not been paid for many months. That they were still in rags, ill-equipped, ill-trained, ignored and all but forgotten. Morale was low and hatred for the government was intense—and not altogether unjustified. So a military conspiracy developed—now called the Newburgh Conspiracy—in which the American military, frustrated with the ingratitude of the government sought to overthrow it and make Washington king. Rumors of “dangerous conspiracies” and “sinister practices” pervaded the atmosphere.

Washington would have no part of it. He knew his troops had some just complaints against the government, but he knew the dangers of allowing the military to interfere in political affairs. He thought it shameful for the military to do so and he realized that even though military action could be beneficial in the short-term, in the long run it would be disastrous. It is breathtaking to realize just how close American democracy came to dying before it even had a chance to exist.

But we weathered that crisis—thanks to Washington—and he became our first president. He wanted to retire after his first term, but felt obliged for the good of the country to stay on for a second term. Then, after his second term, he was pressed to take a third term. Again, it probably would have been better for the country in the short-term if he had stayed on for a third term, but he knew that setting a precedent for limiting presidential terms was better in the long-run for the Republic. He knew that power corrupts even the best of men, and it was important to put the interest of the country above his own self-interests. Ironically, Washington was “indispensable” primarily because he forced himself to be dispensed with, both as a military leader who would save his country and as the political leader who would guide his country into the future.

One of Washington’s successors, Harry Truman, was president when the 22nd amendment forbade anyone—other than Truman—from seeking a third term as president. Asked whether he would run again, Truman said no, warning that: “There is a lure to power. It can get into a man’s blood just as gambling or lust for money have known to do.”

Truman, and more so Washington, understood how corrupting an influence power can be, how important it is even in times of crisis to obey the rule of law, and most especially how imperative it is for every true patriot to sacrifice his own advancement in order to preserve the security of the country.

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