George Washington's Expense Account

A journalist takes a close look at the Founding Father’s creative accounting skills in “a very funny book” ( The New York Times Book Review ).   George Washington made a noble gesture of refusing payment for his services as commander in chief of the Continental Army—but as this book reveals, he also took it as an opportunity to indulge his insatiable lust for fine food and drink, extravagant clothing, and lavish accommodations.   In a close analysis of the document that financed our Re