7. He Stepped Down After Two Terms To Set A Precedent And Prevent Tyranny
Ok, so maybe the prevention of tyranny is using hindsight a bit too much, but the point stands that he had to support to win a third term, yet he chose to retire and allow the public the choice of a new leader. Washington's precedent has been enshrined in the constitution due to the threat of FDR's overwhelming popularity and the election of him for a third term. Whether Washington chose to step down for the sake of democracy or because of the personal toll of leading the country cannot be known. But it is evident that he set such a strong example that almost every President since him has tried to emulate his success.