Final answer:
The name of the 1st US president is George Washington. Despite the natural degradation of memory over time, his legacy as a paragon of leadership and virtue does endure in U.S. collective memory and history.
Step-by-step explanation:
The conscious memory of the name of the 1st US president pertains to George Washington. Our memories, even strong ones like 'flashbulb memories', can become inaccurate over time, as seen in the case of President George W. Bush's recollections of 9/11 events, which changed on different occasions. Not only do individual memories degrade, but collective memories can also be influenced by cultural stories and legends, such as the fabled honesty of George Washington in the cherry tree story crafted by Mason Locke Weems. What remains consistently recognized is George Washington's significance as a figure of undoubted leadership and virtue, as evidenced by his immediate successors who were also part of Virginia's elite.