Washington's Vision for Civic Friendship in Democracy Referenced in Rhode Island Context An article discussing the importance of civic friendship in American democracy references President George Washington's 1790 letter to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, Rhode Island, in which he outlined a democratic creed emphasizing goodwill among citizens. The piece explores how Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln recognized that without a presumption of goodwill and civic affection, democratic politics cannot flourish, and argues that repairing America's civic friendship crisis can begin at the local level in schools, libraries, and communities.

Washington wrote to Newport’s Hebrew Congregation in 1790 about civic friendship as democracy’s glue. Can we rebuild that goodwill in RI today? Start local—in schools and libraries. What’s one way you’d spark connection? #RhodeIsland #CivicFriendship