I love the newspaper named “Magazin.”
Excuse me, do you have The Magazin (Newspaper)? “Fără supărară. Aveți (Ziarul) Magazinul?”
It is a very informative newspaper, and normally gets things right. However, the more I talk to Europeans (or even young Americans and Brits) the more I wonder whether people know their history. They attribute false histories to people as recent as Reagan and Thatcher. And when it comes to European history, even the history of Romania, people just seem to accept whatever adjective a YouTube video throws at them. It is little wonder, then, that we find misunderstandings when talking about someone as long ago as George Washington.
A recent issue of Magazinul, from 30th of April, 2026, spoke about George Washington becoming president on 30th of April, 1789. From the first sentence, we question the author’s expertise in US history. “Come on, do you really believe that?” we ask ourselves.
“Pe 30 aprilie 1789 a avut loc unul dintre cele mai importante momente din istoria Statelor Unite: prima investitură prezidențială a lui George Washington, considerate părintele fondator al națiunii americane.”
If you want an exact translation, you can put that into a translator. There are facts that are correct in that sentence. Yes, George Washington did become the first official President of the United States. And the date for Washinton’s inauguration is probably right, it is cited elsewhere.
But, he is considered one of the founding fathers, not the founding father.
Why am I being so picky? Well, George Washington was a famous military general, during the revolution. As president, he was mostly a ceremonial figurehead. Unlike modern presidents from the past two centuries, he saw his job as to enforce the laws made by congress, to execute the wars put on by congress.
Washington didn’t throw around executive orders like a dictator. He was no Napoleon. But more importantly, by the time of his inauguration, the US had been secure for years.
Yes, there was a big celebration, just as we have celebrations on national days and on New Years and Easter and Christmas. And perhaps to some, the applause at the end of a performance is the most important part. But all the hard work had been done.
First, the ideology had been set with the Declaration of Independece, famously signed in 1776 but conceived beforehand, then independence was recognised by Great Britain in 1783, and after that the law was set out in the Constitution, written in 1787. All this happened long before the inauguration.
Washington’s most important work was complete when the war ended in 1783. He was a unifying figurehead because he was generally viewed as a hero, and not too political. (Or, he was seen as impartial enough to enforce the rule of law set out by Congress rather than putting his own interpretation of the law.)
There would be later tests of the country, during his presidency, and the first few presidencies afterwards. How President Washington reacted to crises such as the Whisky Rebellion, and international troubles that would lead to the Barbary Wars, the Quasi Wars, and the war of 1812, was still important. He said things that may have influenced the decisions of congress. But his most important decision was in not taking power. He remained chiefly the servant of Congress, the servant of the people, the servant of the constitution, and refused to run for a third term as President.
This decision, to limit his tenure as President to two terms, was a precident which lasted until the Great Depression and the Second World War. And when FDR broke the record, Congress made sure to create an ammendment stopping any other president from running too many terms (for fear that too many terms could create the kinds of dictatorships that the world had seen in Latin America, Asia and Europe.)
However, his inauguration was not among the most important moments. It was simply a party, a chance to celebrate. It is not commemorated in the United States, and it is hardly remembered. The big celebrations among Americans are July 4, the celebration of independence, and days like Labour Day, Veterans Day, and even President’s Day. But when people want to celebrate Washington in particular, they remember his battles during the revolutionary war, or on his birthday.
Americans remember the way George Washington responded with fairness, and neutrality. The most famous story (which some might call apocrypical) is when young George allegedly cut down the cherry tree in his father’s garden. When he saw his father angry, instead of blaming someone else or trying to hide his guilt (or himself), little George Washington owned up to it, ready to face the consequences of his action.
That cherry tree is like the crow and the ring which are linked to Matthias Corvin. It is a symbol of George Washington.
Washington was not a royal, he was not Napoleon, he was not into pomp or dynasties. So, it seems like the inauguration was not important.
Or, maybe it was. Perhaps one of the most important times in our lives is not when we are faced with crisis, nor when we are making important decisions, nor even when the danger has finally been averted and we have won our freedom, but when we take time off to celebrate.
What a Romanian says about America tells us more about Romania than about America. When Americans understand Nadia Comeci, we see their preoccupation with sport. When they talk about Ceausescu, we see that American fascination with the Cold War and dictatorship, and also Ceausescu’s links to American foreign policy. When Westerners talk about Dracula, we know about British and American popular culture, especially the love of the horror genre. One people usually sees itself in the history of another.
So, the article about Washington being proclaimed president might remind Romanians of Stefan Cel Mare, or Carol I, or perhaps the 1918 declaration at Alba Iulia. It gives us a clue as to what events are important in Romanian culture.
Coming soon: Mindfulness activities popular in Cluj.