One month from now, we will celebrate Presidents Day. For one day of the year, we remember outstanding American presidents and their most important contributions to American history. 

Since 1879, Presidents Day has more specifically been the federal holiday honoring Founding Father George Washington. 

This pivotal figure in American history had his successes and setbacks. As Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, he won battles and lost battles. In his own time, he was criticized by those closest to him. And in our time, he is lionized in ways that would make the man turn in his grave. 

This year, Presidents Day feels particularly poignant because of one specific legacy that George Washington created. 

Washington willingly stepped down after only one term. By retiring to his home in Virginia, Washington initiated a tradition of peacefully transferring power between presidents that survived through the Civil war but died with the Insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021. 

Humility is an admirable characteristic of the greatest Presidents, and a characteristic we should applaud this Presidents Day. 

In his farewell speech, Washington said, “Though, in reviewing the incidents of my administration, I am unconscious of intentional error, I am nevertheless too sensible of my defects not to think it probable that I may have committed many errors. Whatever they may be, I fervently beseech the Almighty to avert or mitigate the evils to which they may tend.”

Washington understood that in the discharge of his duties, he was still a man — subject to every infirmity and defect. 

Today, many Americans reasonably worry that we are returning power to an autocrat. In contrast to Washington, Donald Trump is unable to recognize his own weaknesses. Instead he surrounds himself with acolytes. 

Billionaires are slated to fill the next president’s cabinet. Sycophants regularly visit him at his own version of the White House in Florida to “kiss the ring.” 

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, two more billionaires, will form a non-sanctioned and unaccountable office to “reform government.” It will more likely find ways to intimidate civil servants, deny government benefits to Americans in need and redirect tax dollars into the overstuffed pockets of the rich.

Consider the next president’s threats to withhold Federal Emergency Management Funds from states that vote Democratic, like California where Los Angeles is being destroyed by fire.

Do these characteristics resemble those of George Washington? Are they characteristics that we should applaud on Presidents Day?

Presidents Day is supposed to be a reminder of the end of monarchic rule. And Presidents Day reminds us of Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Emancipation Proclamation, the document that freed America’s 3.5 million chattel slaves. Great presidents have been champions of the self-evident truth that all people are born equal and deserve the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

This year, over the Presidents Day Holiday, both the Republican and Democratic parties will hold their largest annual fundraisers on the same evening — Saturday, Feb. 15. Kootenai County locals can choose between two distinctly different takes on Washington’s legacy. 

At the Democrat’s event, we will be privileged to hear from the Honorable Jim Jones, a Vietnam Veteran, former Attorney General and former Chief Justice of the Idaho Supreme Court.

Mr. Jones is a Republican whose columns appear regularly in the Coeur d’Alene Press. As a vigilant watchdog of Idaho politics, he will offer his own well-informed views. 

As we look forward to Presidents Day, we should remember that never in our country’s almost 250-year history has our Constitution been so endangered. Never have we witnessed the ascendance of so many unqualified wealthy plutocrats to powerful government positions. Never have we seen Supreme Court justices be credibly accused of corruption and open partisanship. Never have we seen one entire political party entirely beholden to a president, much less to a president who is a convicted felon.

Why might we be experiencing such widespread dangers and what can we do about them? How can we hold our government accountable when so many Republicans capitulate?

These are topics that deserve conversation and careful consideration. 

Make plans now to attend this year's Democracy Dinner Gala on Feb. 15. Tickets are available at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/2025DemocracyDinner. 

That’s one step you can take toward preserving a more perfect union.

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Evan Koch is chairman of the Kootenai County Democrats.