From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Feb. 22, 1972:

Students in Judy James’ third-grade classroom at Cordley School were interviewed this week about their impressions of George Washington. Today was an official holiday for Lawrence school children because of the birthday of the country’s first President. “He was commander when we got to be our own country,” said 9-year-old Paul Frink. “He used his head to win the war.” Julia Sutton, 8, explained that Washington had been a general “and he fought the war with British. If that war hadn’t happened, we’d still be British.” The children were in agreement about the fact that the duties of the U.S. President had changed since those early days. Nicki Garner, 9, summed up President Nixon’s job description as follows: “He travels.” Darla Jean Spencer agreed: “I read in the paper that he was going to China.” “He tries to think of ways to stop the war,” Paul added about Nixon, “and tries to make himself just as good as George. But even if he does stop the war, he’s still not going to be as famous as George Washington.”