The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution
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Winner of the DAR Excellence in American History Book Award Winner of the Thomas J. Wilson Memorial Prize “Cogent, lucid, and concise…indispensable guide to the creation of the cabinet. With her groundbreaking study, we can now have a much greater appreciation of…one of the major legacies of George Washington’s enlightened statecraft.” ―Ron Chernow, author of Washington: A Life The US Constitution never established a presidential cabinet―the delegates to the Constitutional Convention explicitly rejected the idea. So how did George Washington create one of the most powerful bodies in the federal government? On November 26, 1791, George Washington convened his department secretaries―Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, Henry Knox, and Edmund Randolph―for the first cabinet meeting. Why did he wait two and a half years into his presidency to call his cabinet? Because the US Constitution did not create or provide for such a body. Washington was on his own. Faced with diplomatic crises, domestic insurrections, and constitutional challenges―and finding congressional help lacking―Washington decided he needed a group of advisors he could turn to. He modeled his new cabinet on the councils of war he had led as commander of the Continental Army. In the early days, the cabinet served at the president’s pleasure. Washington tinkered with its structure throughout his administration, at times calling regular meetings, at other times preferring written advice and individual discussions. Lindsay M. Chervinsky reveals the far-reaching consequences of Washington’s choice. The tensions in the cabinet between Hamilton and Jefferson heightened partisanship and contributed to the development of the first party system. And as Washington faced an increasingly recalcitrant Congress, he came to treat the cabinet as a private advisory body to summon as needed, greatly expanding the role of the president and the executive branch. Read more
Publisher : Belknap Press An Imprint of Harvard University Press
Publication date : April 7, 2020
Edition : First Edition
Language : English
Print length : 432 pages
ISBN-10 : 0674986482
ISBN-13 : 80
Item Weight : 1.5 pounds
Dimensions : 5.5 x 1.5 x 8.25 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #207,983 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #77 in General Elections & Political Process #194 in United States Executive Government #366 in U.S. Revolution & Founding History
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Top Amazon Reviews
Format: Hardcover
In Lindsay Chervinky's The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution, the reader is afforded the opportunity to learn how President George Washington utilized the managerial skills he learned as commander of the Continental Army and incorporated them into the creation of the first presidential cabinet. The cabinet, functioning in a similar fashion as Washington's most trusted military advisors from the Revolutionary War were essential in assisting the first president in the decision making process related to both domestic and international issues. The narrative highlights how Washington relied upon the opinions of Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, Henry Know, and Edmund Randolph both in oral and written form to guide him through his use of the executive powers of the presidency. Through detailed analysis of incidents such as Shays Rebellion, the Neutrality Crisis, the Whiskey Rebellion, and the Jay Treaty, Chervinsky shows the inner workings of the cabinet. More importantly, Chervinsky highlights Washington's skill in managing four differing personalities, who despite personal animosity between some (jefferson and Hamiliton) worked to ensure the executive branch was not merely a figurehead position, but one with relevant functions within the national government. Towards the end of Washington's presidency, we are introduced to new members of the cabinet and are shown how the president began to rely less on his cabinet, other than Randolph for important decisions. We see a president who by this point in his presidency has undergone intense criticism and dealt with government authorities (federal and state) who were unwilling to work with him for the good of the nation, but more so for the good of either the Federalist party or the Republican-Democratic party. We see the frustration in Washington as these political opponents often tried to undermine the executive power of the President. But we are also shown how Washington stuck to his foundation and used his cabinet and other advisors to defeat the opposition and achieve results for the good of the nation. While not all of the decisions may have been the correct one's, they were not made through impulsive acts. They were made through careful deliberations and consultations and a thorough review of evidence. Concluding the narrative, Chervinsky brings to light the influence Washington's use of the cabinet had on his successors up to the modern era. While not all presidents have had the same success as Washington had with his cabinet or have utilized the cabinet in the same manner as Washington, the tools and techniques he used within his own cabinet carried over to John Adams and Thomas Jefferson and many more presidents that followed. For those seeking an understanding of Washington's inner circle of advisors and how they along with the first President managed the first eight years of the executive office, this narrative is the perfect start.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2020 by Gerald
Format: Hardcover
Every now and then you read a history book and think, “why didn’t I think of writing about that?” Well, Lindsay Chervinsky has done just that and written a wonderful history of how President George Washington not only set precedents for how the office of President of the United States should operate, but also how the directors of the various newly created departments served as advisors. They became the President’s Cabinet. She does an amazing job in recreating the scenes of how General Washington managed his War Council and how that translated to how he would manage his department heads…which became known as the Cabinet. She highlights the rivalry between Jefferson and Hamilton, bringing to life that 18th century cabinet drama. Perhaps my favorite chapter in the book is “Setting the Stage” where she goes through the development of the British cabinet which served King George III. We learn how much American distrusted that system and how Washington needed to be well aware of this when he came president. Indeed, the word “Cabinet” was not used at first, and it is also not found in the Constitution. A fantastic book for all scholars of the American Revolution. One side note, Chervinsky apparently received a little criticism for adding a little present day politics into her Epilogue. However, it is very small and a very helpful addition to her Epilogue. As she writes at the end, “Although the cabinet has grown and evolved in step with the expansion of the executive branch and the federal government over the last two centuries, Washington’s legacy remains. And that is at the heart of this well written book.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2020 by Steven Rogers
Format: Hardcover
I read this book right after I read David S. Heidler and Jeanne T. Heidler's 2015 book "Washington's Circle," which I enjoyed, but I couldn't help wondering while reading if it might have been better as a more tightly focused story of George Washington's Cabinet as opposed to a more wide-ranging story of all the family, friends, colleagues and advisers who influenced him. Well, "The Cabinet" is exactly that - a tightly focused story on Washington's Cabinet, how it came to be, how its members came to be a part of it, and how it evolved into Washington's go-to advisory board. It's a very thorough, well-researched history that provides a window into Washington's management style, as well as the personalities of - and the occasional clashes between - those who served him. I would say the writing style is somewhat more prosaic than lyrical. Topics are clearly signposted at the beginning of each chapter, points are made, restated and summarized, and every chapter ends with a point-by-point review of "what we've learned." So it's more of an academic work than a general-interest read - there's a lot more storytelling and insightful, revealing anecdotes in the Heidlers' work, for example - but that's not to say that "The Cabinet" is a heavy lift. For a serious history, it's still very readable and not at all dense. It's just the kind of book to read if you want to learn something, not if you're just looking to be entertained. I think the other side of the coin in how Washington created the idea of the Cabinet as a presidential advisory board, is why it's not really used that way today. The Cabinet has become so large, and has been largely supplanted by non-Cabinet confidantes like the Chief of Staff, National Security Advisor, President's counsel, various strategists and assistants to the President, etc., that the Cabinet itself simply isn't used in the way that it was in Washington's time. I would have liked for the epilogue to get into this a bit. Instead, the epilogue explains how Adams and Jefferson largely followed Washington's lead with their own Cabinets - then makes the dizzying, sweeping statement that every other president pretty much followed the same pattern until Trump came along. I think the book wades into potentially treacherous territory with the Trump references in the epilogue. One, it dates the book - this book should stand as the definitive history of Washington's Cabinet, but it's going to feel outdated once Trump is out of office. And two, while I don't necessarily dispute the characterizations of Trump's Cabinet as compared to other presidents' (nor with what I perceived as a subtle dig in the end notes, saying Jefferson's Republican Party "should not be confused with the Republican Party that emerged in the 1850's, nor the Republican Party of the twenty-first century"), it's too simplistic to suggest that every Presidential Cabinet in history has been wonderful until Trump came along. Either trace the evolution of the Cabinet from Washington to Trump, or it would have been better to just leave Trump out of it altogether and keep the entire book focused on Washington's time. Ultimately, this is a good companion piece to "Washington's Circle," though I would read "The Cabinet" first for the nuts and bolts, and then "Washington's Circle" for a broader view. As a first-time author, Dr. Chervinsky has done a great job. And as a young, female Washington biographer, she's to be commended for doing the hard work and letting that work speak for itself, as compared to a certain one of her contemporaries whose Washington book came out at about the same time, and who spends far too much time patting herself on the back for being a young, female Washington biographer. I look forward to Dr. Chervinsky's next book, whatever it might be, and hopefully many more to come.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2020 by wcw
Format: Kindle
I enjoy Dr. Chervinsky on the "Thomas Jefferson Hour" podcast. She is witty, learned, interesting and has a take no nonsense attitude. That is what I was expecting here. Instead we got her classroom lecture, which was informative and instructional but none of the scathing humor I was expecting. Dr. Chervinsky is well prepared. She makes a statement and then she proves it, thoroughly. She avoids opinion and presents facts. It is not open to interpretation, this is what was said and done. Washington's thoughts and motivations are clearly presented and explored. This is a slow read. Chervinsky wants to make sure we are prepared for her message, which we don't get until the epilogue. I get the idea that this book was motivated by concern regarding how Donald Trump created and used his Cabinet. Trump organized his Cabinet to suit his leadership style. Which is fine, that is what every president since Washington has done. Chervinsky's message, I believe, is that the Cabinet MUST also reflect America, which did not happen under Trump. I believe Dr. Chervinsky's concern is well founded. Our government MUST reflect who we are, how we think, how we live. Which is why I wish that she had been stronger about pushing her message. I understand her caution. She does not want to be dismissed simply as yet another Trump hater. Her message is important and needs to be heard. Perhaps she can publish a 2nd edition, after Mr. Trump is, um, no longer a public figure. She could include a forword or an afterword focusing deeper into Mr. Trump's Cabinet. Or simply write a book on Trump's presidency. Yes, I do recommend reading this book, it is well worth the effort.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2023 by Old Time Tales
Format: Hardcover
I enjoyed this book. Joseph Ellis will always be my gold standard when it comes to the founding fathers, however Lindsay Chervinsky covers a topic that I have not read about. She clearly outlines her conclusions and uses examples to back it up! I really enjoyed her summarizing the topic after she went into detail! I will be buying her new book on John Adams as well! Easy to follow and well written. If you want to learn more about Washington and especially a time where not only was a decision reached, but a Parrell line of thought was occurring on the precedent that was sent by our founding fathers! It was also interesting to think about how Trump went against many of the precedents created and the disaster it created.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2023 by Dan Borchardt
Format: Hardcover
I had been wanting to read this for so long. Since lockdown began I have attended eight (count em, EIGHT) online talks with Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky and I was always impressed by the depth of her knowledge and her command of the subject. So I grabbed the opportunity to order the book (and also the signed bookplate Dr. Chervinsky so generously offers from her webpage) and finally last week was able to finish it. I was not at all disappointed. I've read and studied Washington and his presidency for decades now and still I found myself able to learn from this new perspective. Dr, Chervinsky offers a good background to the development of an American institution. Instead of focusing just on the disputes between Hamilton and Jefferson, she highlights the feelings of Americans towards the British Cabinet (hostile) and other paths Washington might have chosen for advice (the Senate, which went hysterically wrong early on in his career, and the Supreme Court, which might have violated the separation of powers). She then highlights how the Cabinet helped to defend executive supremacy over domestic and foreign policy at the expense of Congress and the states and even hints at how other Presidents have used the Cabinet to further their policy ends. I know she is currently working on a book contrasting Adams' and Jefferson's approach to the Cabinet but I really hope this might become a series that takes us through the scope of American History and how this unique institution has shaped us! Highly recommend!
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Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2020 by A. Carman
Format: Hardcover
Dr. Chervinsky has given us another team of rivals to explain the major influences George Washington still has on the American presidency and as her reflection back to Doris Goodwin’s award-winning work on Lincoln’s leadership. Surprisingly, this institution has had little attention. Oh, what glories for a historian to find a subject like this. The Cabinet explores the origins of an American Institution created during the fluid time of George Washington’s first administration. The Constitution Convention’s discussions of a formal cabinet, like the British maintained, were rejected out of memories of the too recent Revolutionary War and suspicions of British institutions. As the first President and the most respected leader from the Revolution, Washington was the only expected person to tackle the ominous task of putting life into the Constitutional language of the American presidency. Everything he did, he knew, would become precedent. Washington did not begin his administration with a cabinet in mind, but it had been his practice from earlier military service to assemble a Council of War at which to gain group support, new ideas, or diverse opinions and expertise. As any good leader, he selected advice and opinions from strong personalities not fearful of his reputation but men of strong ego as well. The cabinet was assembled, like his former commanding officers in the Continental Army, of secretaries of each federal department managed within the Executive Branch. At first, the Senate was the assumed official advisors for the president, especially in foreign affairs. This proved fruitless and Washington instead selected the Secretaries he had already chosen to discuss affairs in their departments. This grew through each national crisis into an advisory body and support group. This team, composed of men of very divergent opinions and large egos included Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, Henry Knox, and Edmund Randolph. Dr. Chervinsky demonstrates Washington’s leadership mastery through his ability to curb the arguments, and personalities of these four dominating men. They were all members of the political elite. Each prided on previous histories with Washington and their Revolutionary credentials. Even though this fellowship did not survive the two terms it set an expected precedent that allowed later Presidents to select their own favored advisors. It also set up the practice of powerful executives that were not dependent on the legislature but capable of creating a check to that branch. It would be a very sloppy history to move directly from Washington’s administration to current politics without fully reviewing the two centuries of change between. This is the origins of an important American political institution most of us have watched. The numbers are much larger, and they are no longer all men, but the egos if feel have not shrunk.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2020 Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2020 by Thomas D. Mackie Ph.D.
Format: Kindle
This book was a straight forward informative thesis on the creation of the first cabinet. It included background information on why George Washington chose this institution the way he did and the inner workings of this body. It was well written but did read like an academic paper in many ways. I found it very informative if not stale at times. It is recommended as a one time read in anyone’s library.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2023 by Brian Paukert