Taking the boring out of George Washington [audio 8min]

Outside George Washington's Mount Vernon home in Virginia, we asked visitors to take out a dollar bill and tell us their impression of the first president. We heard "leader," "sleepy-eyed" and "lawyerly." These words are daggers to the heart of Jim Rees, executive director of Mount Vernon. "There are some people who've commented that Washington must have been born old," Rees says. "Occasionally, they use the word 'boring.' And that really hurts us." Rees says it's high time for a George Washington makeover. ~Webpage includes extended report by Melissa Block, essay by Vikki Valentine, photos.