Augustine Washington

Augustine Washington (1694- April 12, 1743) was the father of George Washington, our first president. Something known only by Old School Sesame Street lovers is that he was paid a visit from Kermit the Frog in a season nine News Flash sketch. There he witnessed the young future president cutting down one of the 1776 cherry trees in his father's orchard with his little hatchet and then telling him the truth. Despite being frustrated about this ("How I wish we'd given him that wagon instead."), his father is also proud of the way he loves to tell the truth. He even predicts that one day his son will be something special, like the Father of His Country ("I bet he will," says Kermit). Finally, after witnessing the lad chopping down two of this cherry trees and proceeding to do the same to yet another one, Augustine says that there is one thing his son still has to learn: "To stop chopping down my cherry trees!" He runs off yelling at George to stop, but is too late.