A Different George on Bigotry

The Providence Journal (ProJo) in Rhode Island (projo.com | Providence, R.I. | Opinion: Contributors) had this little story about George Washington and a visit he made to the first synagogue in the U.S. in Newport, RI:

During his stroll around town that day, Washington had gone to Touro Synagogue. In gratitude for the warm welcome he received from Newport’s small Jewish community, the president later wrote his now famous letter in which he assured the congregation that “happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens.”

George 45 would do well to listen to the words of George 1.