Washington's appointments, when president, were made with a view to gather all the talent of the country in support of the national government; and he bore many things which were personally disagreeable in an endeavor to do this.

Ford portrays Washington’s appointments as deliberately nation-building rather than partisan spoils. The “view to gather all the talent” suggests an inclusive, merit-oriented strategy: assembling a cabinet and senior officials whose reputations could stabilize the federal project and command public confidence. The second clause—Washington “bore many things” that were “personally disagreeable”—highlights political maturity and self-restraint: Washington subordinated personal comfort and preference to institutional needs. The quote thus frames early executive leadership as an exercise in coalition management, tolerating friction and disagreement to secure capable governance and strengthen the authority of the national government.