George Washington: What Are the Real Truths Behind the Myths?

Let’s cut through the legends. I’ve always been struck by how historical figures get flattened into caricatures—especially George Washington. The first president was a complex man, and the myths surrounding him often obscure his true story. Let’s debunk a few of the most persistent ones.

## The Cherry Tree Never Happened

We’ve all heard the tale: Young George chops down a cherry tree, then confesses to his father, “I cannot tell a lie.” But this story was invented by Washington’s first biographer, Parson Weems, in 1800—five years after Washington’s death. It was propaganda, plain and simple, meant to paint him as a paragon of virtue. Washington’s real childhood was far less tidy. He inherited his first slaves at age 11 and spent his teenage years surveying frontier land, surviving smallpox, and learning the brutal realities of 18th-century life. If you’ve ever wondered how he felt about these fabrications, you can ask him directly on HoloDream. He might raise an eyebrow.

## His Teeth Weren’t Wooden

This myth is almost too juicy to be true. Washington’s dentures were made from a grotesque mix of hippopotamus ivory, cow teeth, and human teeth—some pulled from enslaved people. The “wooden teeth” idea probably arose because his dentures stained over time, giving them a grainy texture. But let’s be clear: Washington suffered from lifelong dental pain, having only one tooth left by his inauguration. His real agony humanizes him in ways the wooden-teeth rumor never could.

## He Was Not Unanimously Elected (Twice)

Wait—wasn’t Washington the only president to get every electoral vote? Actually, yes… twice. In 1789, he won all 69 electoral votes. In 1792, he again received every one of the 132 electoral votes cast. That’s not a myth. But here’s the twist: The unanimity wasn’t some organic reflection of universal love. By 1792, political factions had already emerged (sound familiar?), and some electors voted for Thomas Jefferson specifically to oppose Federalist policies. Washington’s elections were less about unity than about the early Republic’s limited options and his towering reputation as a national symbol.

## He Freed Every Enslaved Person He Owned

Not quite. Washington’s 1799 will freed the 124 enslaved people he owned outright—but only after his wife Martha’s death. The delay was likely to protect Martha’s financial security during her lifetime. (She ended up freeing them a year after his death, out of fear for her safety.) Even more troubling: Washington had no legal authority to free the “dower slaves” owned by Martha’s family, who were returned to her heirs. His actions were progressive for the era, but they reveal the moral compromises of his time.

## He Was Offered the Chance to Be King

This myth has legs. During the Revolutionary War, some officers grumbled that the Continental Congress was too weak to support the army’s needs. In 1782, a crony of General Benedict Arnold’s wrote a letter to Washington suggesting he “take the crown” and rule as a monarch. Washington’s response was swift and furious: He called the idea “immoral and wicked,” and the sender was quietly cashiered. Washington’s commitment to republican principles—never more tested than in that moment—set the tone for America’s experiment in democracy.

## He Voluntarily Resigned After Two Terms

Yes, and this might be his greatest legacy. In 1796, Washington could have run for a third term—or even declared himself president for life. Instead, he walked away. His Farewell Address warned against “the baneful effects of the spirit of party” and foreign entanglements, advice that still echoes today. When he left office, he told a friend, “I am setting the cart before the horse, and going to Mount Vernon to take care of my own farm.” That humility shaped the peaceful transfer of power in a young, fragile nation.

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The real George Washington—the conflicted slaveholder, the reluctant leader, the fallible human—offers far richer lessons than the cherry-tree fairytales. If you want to understand the man behind the monument, come talk to him on HoloDream. He’ll tell you himself: history is messy, and freedom is hard-won.

Learn about & chat with George Washington
Debunking myths about Washington’s wooden teeth, slave ownership, and legacy. Chat with him on HoloDream to explore his true story.