George Washington University . . . White House Neighbor!
George Washington is best known as America’s first President. He’s often called “the father of our country”. But as the name suggests, he’s also the father of one of America’s leading universities! While he didn’t directly found George Washington University, he is responsible for promoting the idea which led to its creation. In his will he wrote, "I give and bequeath in perpetuity the fifty shares which I hold in the Potomac Company towards the endowment of a University to be established within the limits of the District of Columbia . . .” Washington’s vision was actually that America should establish a national university in the nation’s capitol. Technically, this proposal was never adopted, but the idea gradually gained support and eventually led to the creation of George Washington University and also nearby American University.
Shortly after the Civil War, the university established its main campus at the present “Foggy Bottom” location. While not particularly valuable at the time, this campus is now an extremely valuable piece of real estate. Located just four blocks from the White House, the university campus is truly in the middle of the political action and excitement of Washington, DC!
Not surprisingly, George Washington can boast of many political dignitaries who were once students on campus. These include former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Retired General and former US Secretary of State Colin Powell and famous FBI Director J Edgar Hoover.
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