George Washington was an effective commander in managing personnel despite having limited tactical skill as a battlefield leader.

“So actually on the battlefield, Washington is not a brilliant tactician at all. I mean, he loses most of his battles, but he is brilliant. I take my hats off to him. He is brilliant at managing his men.”

George Washington was a critical unifier who provided the necessary dignity and paternal stability for a new republic because he transcended regional and factional differences.

“They choose him, I think, because he's the only one of the founding fathers who has the dignity and the self-control and the kind of paternalistic vibe that allows him to transcend all the factional and regional differences.”