Spot of Parchment, March 2020 - Introduction to The Cabinet

At eleven thirty in the morning on August 22, 1789, a large cream-colored coach pulled up to the front door of Federal Hall at 26 Wall Street in New York City. Six matching, perfectly groomed horses pulled the elegant carriage with sparkling gold trim. The coachman, outfitted in crisp white- and red-trimmed livery, jumped down from the back of the carriage and opened the door. An elegantly dressed man with powdered hair stepped down with a portfolio of papers under his arm. He towered over his companion, Henry Knox, the acting secretary of war, and his slaves tending to his horses. His ornate coach and his imposing presence drew curious stares from strangers passing by on the street. He walked up to the front door of Federal Hall and was immediately announced to the Senate. George Washington, the first president of the United States, had arrived for his first visit to the United States Senate.

This was no ordinary meeting. Two years earlier, the delegates at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia had agreed that the Senate would “advise and consent” on treaties and other questions of foreign policy. But in practice, how the president and the Senate would interact remained for the first officeholders to work out.

Washington’s relationship with the Senate was just one of countless governing details that he had to establish as the first president. Establishing precedent for every presidential action consumed his thoughts in the first few years of his administration. Not only would the American public and an international audience judge his every action, but his successors would be guided by his choices. The stakes could not have been higher; the future of the Republic rested on Washington making the right decisions. He approached every new situation with caution and took action only after consulting with his advisors. His first visit to the Senate was no different.

The tense relationship between Native American nations and the United States posed an immediate challenge after Washington’s inauguration on April 30, 1789. Most Native American nations had sided with the British during the Revolutionary War, recognizing the threat that American settlers posed to native land. On September 15, 1789, representatives from the national government, North and South Carolina, the Creeks, and the Cherokees planned to meet to discuss the controversial treaties signed between 1783 and 1789 and to negotiate a new treaty. Washington had to select the representatives to send on behalf of the federal government—another important first for the new president.

At his August 22 meeting with the Senate, Washington planned to seek advice about what instructions he should give to the commissioners. Because he considered Native American relations to fall under the heading of “foreign policy,” he followed the constitutional guidelines calling for him to meet with the Senate. On May 25, 1789, less than one month after his inauguration, Washington sent to the Senate all of the United States’ previous treaties with Indian nations, along with a number of supporting documents. After a brief discussion, the Senate postponed its consideration of these papers. At the beginning of August, the Senate created a committee to meet with Washington. The committee planned the minute details of the upcoming meeting, down to where Washington would sit and how he would enter the chamber. On August 20 and 21, Washington nominated commissioners to negotiate with the “Southern Indians.” On August 21, he sent an official note to the Senate announcing his visit the next day to discuss the terms of the proposed treaty.

When Washington and Knox arrived at Federal Hall at 11:30 a.m., the doorkeeper announced their arrival. Washington sat at the front of the chamber, and Knox took the chair to his right. Washington handed his remarks to Knox, who in turn handed them to Vice President John Adams. Adams read the statement, but as Senator William Maclay from Pennsylvania recalled, the senators could “not master . . . one Sentence of it.” Adams wasn’t known for his public speaking skills, but the senators’ struggles weren’t entirely his fault. The Senate gathered for their work in the large chambers that occupied the first floor of Federal Hall. Because of the August heat in New York City, the doorkeeper had opened the windows in search of a cooling breeze. But along with fresh air, noise from Wall Street’s pedestrians, carriages, peddlers, and horses flowed into the Senate chambers. The clamor overpowered Adams’s voice, so few senators could make out the words that Washington had carefully crafted. After a few complaints, Adams repeated the speech from the beginning. Washington’s remarks offered a brief synopsis of the current diplomatic state between the United States and the Southern Indians, and posed seven questions for the Senate to answer with an aye or a no.

Adams finished his recitation and sat. The seconds ticked by as the senators remained in awkward silence. A few shuffled papers or cleared their throats. Maclay speculated in his diary that his colleagues were so intimidated by Washington’s presence in the Senate chamber that they cowered in shameful silence. Eager to show that they could be active participants in the creation of foreign policy, Maclay stood up and suggested referring Washington’s seven questions to committee for discussion in detail. Washington lost his temper, stood up, and shouted, “This defeats every purpose of my coming here!” The senators fell into a stunned hush before Washington acquiesced to Maclay’s suggestion and offered to return to the Senate a few days later. Although he did return the following Monday, his first visit to the Senate was an inauspicious start to the executive-legislative relationship. As he returned to his carriage, Washington muttered under his breath that he would never return for advice. He kept his word—August 22, 1789, was the first and last time he visited the Senate to request guidance on foreign affairs. Unfortunately, the diplomatic challenges facing the United States during the Washington presidency were just beginning...

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That was the beginning of the introduction of my book. I hope it piqued your interest! This message will be the only time I directly sell you on my book, I promise. Next month I will be back with a non-book related story. But please bear with me for just a moment while I explain why pre-orders are so important.

Presses, media, and more decide what books to focus on based on the first week (maybe the first month) of sales. Pre-orders count in that first week! So in order to make a splash and get bookstores to carry your book or get reporters to cover your work, you need to sell a lot of books early.

That does not mean you have to buy on Amazon. In fact, asking your local bookstore actually makes a bigger impact. They will probably order more than one copy, it introduces the book to a new audience, and it is another unique purchase that the press will notice. 

If books aren't in your budget, that's ok! You can ask your library to buy it! They will also probably order more than one copy and it spreads the word. In fact, may I suggest you encourage your library to get it, even if you've already ordered your own copy?

If you like history, but the cabinet and Washington make you want to take a nap, perhaps a friend or family member might appreciate a copy for a birthday or holiday? Nothing screams "Easter!" like Washington. Who wants jelly beans anyway. :)

All of these factors take on additional importance in light of COVID-19. Unsurprisingly, my April events are all canceled and May is probably not far off. It's the right call and people need to try and be safe, but there's no denying that it's a lost opportunity to sell books.

If you are inspired to help, HERE is the Harvard site (they will ship first and fastest).

HERE is the best way to find a local store. Most will ship directly to you if you are social distancing.

HERE is Amazon, if that's your preference (which is great too!).

A few other ways to assist, if you are inspired to do so:

- leave a review on Amazon and Goodreads. To be clear, it doesn't have to be 5 stars. If you really hated it, I'd love to know why before you leave that review, but otherwise, be honest!

- tell your family and friends. Word of mouth is still the best way to sell books.

- recommend the book to your local newspapers, radio stations, favorite podcasts, etc. I love doing press and would welcome the recommendation.

Thank you for all of your help and support. It means the world to me. This book has been the greatest labor of love and it's been worth every moment. I can't wait to share it with you.