PORT ANGELES — A somewhat perplexed President George Washington contemplated the name of the state.
“I remember it only as the Northwest Territory,” he told the audience of about 70, glancing up to see his likeness on the Washingtonian flag.
“But then I wasn’t pleased when they named the capital Washington either.”
Washington was joined by Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt for the “News Conference with the Rushmore Presidents” on Saturday and Sunday.
The event brought history alive with professional actors playing the parts of the presidents.
Also on hand were Ulysses S. Grant, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison — who each spoke briefly at the event.
The event was a fundraiser for the Exchange Club of Port Angeles, which holds high the importance of history.
Each one contemplated the state of the government in his time and the progress the nation had made.
Each of the four Rushmore presidents were asked questions about their presidency from children and adults in the area.
Washington was portrayed by Dean Malissa of Philadelphia; Jefferson by William Barker of Williamsburg, Va.; Roosevelt by James Foote of Sea Cliff, N.Y.; Lincoln by James Getty of Gettysburg, Pa.; and Grant by Bob Channell of Hanover, Pa.
Actor Brian Coughenour played double duty playing both Hamilton and Madison.
Washington recounted the development of the young country from the battle cries of “Taxation without representation is tyranny” to when he was unanimously elected the first president.
He said he remembered writing upon his election that he was frightened of the vast task before him.
“I feel like a condemned man being led to his own execution,” he recounted writing.
Jefferson was asked whether he believed owning slaves was “OK.”
After confirming the meaning of “OK” he replied that he did not — though he owned slaves himself.
“I wish to see all men free,” he said.
He added that once people set foot on American soil he considered them free from their former lives, and that he had adamantly opposed the expansion of slavery and the institution of slavery starting in America.
Little by little he hoped to see it disappear as time went on, he said.
Lincoln spoke of the troubled time of the Civil War, but also reviewed his life, discussing the elections and jobs he had before.
Telling an anecdote about his debates with Stephen A. Douglas, which have now become famous, he spoke of when Douglas called him out on the issue of temperance.
Lincoln had spoken of owning a grocery store at which liquor was sold. Then Douglas said: “What he forgot to tell you was that he owned a liquor license at that time,” Lincoln recounted Douglas saying.
“There was a gasp in the audience that if I had been wearing my tall hat I think it would have been sucked right off,” Lincoln said.
“I knew I would have to reply and so I said that I was always on the back side of the counter; but what Mr. Douglas had forgotten to tell them was that he was on the other side.
“A sense of humor was always very important to me.”
Roosevelt complimented the mascot of Port Angeles High School where the group spoke.
Rough Riders — named after the group of troopers that Roosevelt led — was a fine mascot to have, he said.
The questions to Roosevelt were read by acting park Superintendent Sue McGill.
When asked about Native Americans who lived around Olympic National Park and his treatment of them, he said they were “fine stewards of the land and were always welcome to live there.”
He added he could not speak for his predecessors or followers, but that was his mission during his presidency.
He exalted in the benefits of fresh air, attributing that and exercise to his ability to deal with asthma.
Roosevelt, an avid hunter and outdoorsman, set aside the land under federal protection to set up Olympic National Park.
When the questions were over for Roosevelt, he wasn’t quite ready to sit down.
“I am reluctant to relinquish the podium just yet,” he said, and concluded the program with some of his famous words.
“So I will leave you with this.
“Do the best you can do with whatever you have where ever you are.
“Keep your eyes on the stars, but your feet on the ground.”
The Port Angeles High School Symphonic Orchestra played time-relevant songs to introduce each of the presidents.
