George Washington declines

[MaC]

role of being 1st President under the Constitution.  Who get's the role? Are they as good of a leader? How does their 1st presidency influence the rest of American history?

[12th Doctor]

Washington's Presidency, more or less, held the country together and gave the new government legitmacy in the eyes of most Americans.  That might have happened in his absence, but it is difficult to see who might have done a better job.  John Adams probably would have been the first President, but even I, as an Adams fan, will admit that he probably would have lacked the temperment for the job.

[PBrunsel]

Perhaps Ben Franklin?

Of course he wouldf die soon after excepting the job. Adams, hating Ben, may never had excepted the Vice Presidency,a nd history would be thrown off.

[MaC]

well, Madison was young at the time and despite he was very smart, he probably wouldn't make a good "1st" president.

Adams, wouldn't have done well either.  Not because I disagree with him on the Alien and Sedition Act, but he seems to have a lack in leadership the same way Washington had.

Only possiblilities I could think of would be Ben Franklin (although he was old at the time) or Thomas Jefferson.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Adams certainly would have been the first President in the absence of Washington.  However, Adams had been abroad for too long in 1789.  He needed a few years to get back in touch with America.  He was a much better President in 1797 than he would have been in 1789.

[ilikeverin]

Franklin would have been amusing.  Who would his First Lady be?

Ah, well, perhaps he would be remembered for establishing the time honored tradition of having a different First Lady for every day of the week