Did he really throw a coin across the Potomac? Or say he couldn't tell a lie? Or tell his chief artillery officer to shift his keister, using more colorful and direct language, to trim the boat that Christmas night crossing the Delaware River?
Maybe so, and maybe not. Those are just some of the tales about the nation's first commander in chief that Dr. Peter Henriques, will address during his April 16 lecture at Gadsby's Tavern Museum entitled "I Can't Tell A Lie: Myths about George Washington that Should be Discarded."
A noted George Washington historian, Dr. Henriques, Associate Professor Emeritus of History, George Mason University, will dispel many myths associated with the Father of our Country at the very tavern he loved to visit. It is part of a series of lectures presented by Dr. Henriques on early American history.
"I really worked on this talk for two reasons. One is that as a historian I believe we should strive to portray as accurately as possible — we can't find the Truth with a capital 'T,' and sadly we will never be completely accurate in our reconstruction of the past, although we can strive toward that goal," Henriques said.
"But I also worked on it because for too many people the George Washington myth is one of suffocating dullness. Most Americans today, while they may see him as some shadowy hero from the past, greatly underestimate him and view him as cold and remote and, frankly, something of a bore. He was anything but," he noted.
"In addition to examining the cherry tree myth in some detail, I examine a number of other questions involving Washington. Did he pray on his knees in the snow at Valley Forge? Was he a great curser? Was he a womanizer? Did he put down Alexander Hamilton for being too familiar with him? And I will have to at least mention his wooden teeth," Henriques said.
IN THE LATE 18th and early 19th centuries, Gadsby's Tavern was the center of social and political life in both Alexandria and the new Federal City of Washington. It served as the premier gathering place for residents — including George Washington — and visitors to eat, drink, learn, and influence history.
Gadsby's Tavern Museum is located at 134 N. Royal St., just across Royal Street from Alexandria City Hall, in the heart of Old Town. Doors for the lecture will open at 7 p.m. with Dr. Henriques beginning his presentation at 7:30 p.m.
Admission is $12 per person and $10 for Gadsby's Tavern Museum Society members. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 703-838-4242. Tickets may be purchased by phone, at the door, or through the online shop at www.gadsbystavern.org.
As America's first true "spymaster" and the innovator of "dis-information," could he really not tell a lie?
As they say, truth is often stranger than fiction.