sacrificed so much for the unity of our nation and the perpetuity of our institutions. at the heart of our republic is the guarantee of the peaceful transfer of power. members of congress are reminded of this every day as we pass through the capitol rotunda. there, eight magnificent paintings detail the earliest days of our republic. one painted by john trumbell, depicts the moment in 1793 when george washington resigned his commission handing control of the continental army back to congress. trumbell called this "one of the highest moral lessons ever given the world." with this noble act, george washington established the peaceful transfer of power in our nation. standing on the west front of the capitol in 1981, president ronald reagan described it this