I left one icon, Fallingwater, and headed east for several more American icons of a different type. I was heading for our nation’s capital and the monuments of 3 of America’s foundational leaders: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln.

Like me, you too probably grew up hearing about these 3 giants of American history. In grammar school and high school, you probably had to memorize all or parts of pillars of American democracy. The Declaration of Independence. The Gettysburg Address. I did not really appreciate either the deep significance of these documents to the very tissue of American democracy or the writing of 2 of the greatest writers in American history.

I was going to Washington, D.C. to see it for myself and to directly experience our nation’s capital, but also to maybe get a deeper understanding of America. And to maybe acquire a bit of the complete commitment with which each of these men dedicated their lives to very idea of America. These 3 men were both deeply idealistic about the America they were creating, but also pragmatic men of action.  I came to honor them, to thank them, and to commit myself to their ideals to the degree that I could at 20 years old.

I visited the 3 monuments in chronological order starting George Washington. As commander of the Continental Army, Washington led Patriot forces to victory in the American Revolutionary War against the British Empire. He is commonly known as the Father of the Nation for his role in bringing about American independence.

Washington was unanimously elected the first President of the United States by the Electoral College in 1788 and 1792. He implemented a strong, well-financed national government. He served 2 complete terms and retired. George Washington had no interest in being king. He embodied the best of what America stood for. He honored its values and institutions. He left office having made America stronger and more respected both domestically and world-wide.

Thomas Jefferson was an American Founding Father. One of the great writers in American history, he was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. Third President of the United States (1801-1809), while in office he doubled the size of the United States with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. With this official action, he had acquired the most fertile tract of land of its size on earth, making the new country self-sufficient in food and other resources.

Jefferson appointed Lewis and Clark to lead the Corps of Discovery (1803-1806) all the way to the Pacific Ocean and back.

Post-presidency (1809-1826), Jefferson founded the University of Virginia.

Jefferson died July 4, 1826, at age 83. Jefferson was interred at Monticello under an epitaph that he wrote: 

Here was buried Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of American Independence, of the statue of Virginia for religious freedom, and Father of the University of Virginia.

Please notice what he left out.

Abraham Lincoln is sometimes considered our greatest President. Elected President in 1860, Lincoln’s selection of his cabinet demonstrates the depth of his security and political genius. For the benefit of the country, Lincoln chose the strongest cabinet possible. He included many of his most powerful rivals. Doris Kerns Goodwin, a Pulitzer Prize winning historian wrote a great book about Lincoln and his cabinet called Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln.

Once in office, Lincoln had to deal with the greatest political crisis in American history: The Civil War (1861-1865). The issue of slavery was tearing the country apart. Somewhere between 600,000 and one million died in the war. It took the great Union General U. S. Grant to defeat the South and win the war for the United States.

In 1863, Lincoln signed The Emancipation Proclamation freeing all slaves. Also, in 1863, after the Union victory at Gettysburg, Lincoln gave one of the greatest speeches of all time – The Gettysburg Address. Just 800 words, it is one of the finest documents ever written. When I read those words carved in stone on the wall of the Lincoln Memorial, they resonated as never before.

At his inauguration in 1865, Lincoln gave another speech for the ages. The text of the speech which he wrote is another example of some of the finest writing in American history. Not bad for a man born in the poverty of a log cabin and who was largely self-taught. I guess having an estimated I.Q. of 150 helped.

Again, reading the full text of the Second Inaugural carved in stone in the wall of the Lincoln Memorial, the words resonated as never before. I felt empowered and more proud than ever of being an American citizen.

Leaving Washington D.C., I felt I had a deeper appreciation of what America stands for and for 3 high integrity, honorable men who truly made America great. Again, I was feeling nourished by the greatness of our country and some of the truly great leaders.

My intention is to embody the best of America and to lead by example. Our goals are: Optimal Health, Peak Performance, and Maximum Health Span. The foundation is high quality nutrition.

Once again, I am so grateful to directly experience the best of America in 1964 at age 20. As I reflect back 60 years later, those experiences are as fresh and as vivid as if they were yesterday.

My wish for you is to stay open. As Suzuki said in his classic book, the goal is to have a beginner’s mind – always fresh and open.

Wishing you and your family the very best life has to offer.
 Joe