The President's message to his advisors and the American people was, "Unity at home, neutrality abroad." He established a group of self-appointed advisors in his Cabinet. There were only four members of the first presidential Cabinet! He stepped down after serving 2 consecutive terms as president - even though his supporters begged him not to do it! Washington told them that he didn't fight an American Revolution, against unreasonable king, to become a monarch himself. He said it was time for our country to witness the peaceful transfer of power from one president to another...and indeed it did, from Washington himself to the second U.S. President, John Adams.