First in Peace

About this book

"Conor Cruise O'Brien, the distinguished international commentator and author, has been described as "a man who so persistently asks the right questions" (The Economist). In this book, written just before his death, Cruise O'Brien explores the presidency of George Washington and finds answers to the question of how early America's future was determined." "Exploring the dissension between Washington and Jefferson during the first U.S. presidency, First in Peace reveals Washington's clear-sighted political wisdom, and exposes the dangers of Jefferson's ideological support of the French Revolution - a theme Cruise O'Brien first explored in The Long Affair (1996). Cruise O'Brien makes the case that Washington, not Jefferson, was the true democrat, commending his clarity of vision in restoring good relations with Britain, his aversion to French political extremism, and his preference for order and pragmatism over the flaming rhetoric of the Jeffersonians." "The result is a final book that brilliantly displays Cruise O'Brien's analytical intellect and imaginative insight, and compels us to reconsider one of the most formative presidencies in American history." --Book Jacket.