Garden Views E. 53The Virginia Way

The teaching of ethical conduct in government and the law is essential for every free society, most especially for America, where the concept first flourished in a college setting. The collaboration of Thomas Jefferson and his mentor George Wythe in forming America’s first leadership training program for future statesmen had a profound and far-reaching impact on assuring that the new government would succeed and last beyond the Founding Fathers’ lifetimes. After declaring independence in 1776, America faced two crises: an underfunded war against the western world’s mightiest military power and a dearth of good leaders in government. While many contributed to the nation’s developing success, this work focuses on the foresight of two exceptional individuals: Jefferson and Wythe, sometimes called the “Forgotten Founding Father.” This is a largely untold story, with important implications for today. Suzanne Munson has dedicated significant time and energy towards making sure we remeber George Wythe and the lessons he taught. We discuss ethics in government, now and then. As well as addressing some concerns we both share.