Final answer:
George Washington was conflicted about being President, balancing the need for respectability with fears of appearing monarch-like, and promoting national unity while eventually deciding not to seek reelection due to the strains of partisanship.
Step-by-step explanation:
George Washington's feelings towards being President were complex. He sought to shape the role of the president to calm suspicions about the power of the chief executive, striving to balance developing respectability with avoiding the image of a would-be monarch. Washington promoted many national unity initiatives, such as improvements, the post office, and a national university. In his first term, the expectation of his leadership helped establish the executive branch, but by his second term, the growing political partisanship and the burden of public service led him to decide not to seek reelection after two terms. His Farewell Address focused on maintaining national unity, denouncing partisanship, and avoiding permanent foreign alliances, setting an enduring precedent.