The Genevan who watches over the White House

The United States is going through a period of deep division. As I strolled through the capital, my gaze came to rest on the statue of Albert Gallatin: the life of this Swiss man, forgotten in the country of his birth, offers a valuable lesson for today's America.

Visiting Washington D.C. around the time of the 2024 elections, I felt the need to see the White House for real. A symbol of power both familiar and distant. On my way there, I came across a man from Geneva: Albert Gallatin (1761-1849). His large bronze statue stands alone in front of the Treasury Building, headquarters of the U.S. Treasury Department. The building stands right next to the presidential residence. On the pedestal, the tourist reads with surprise that Gallatin was a «genius of finance» and a «champion of democracy». Intrigued, I wondered what could have earned Gallatin such a tribute.