Thomas Jefferson

America showed/proved that they can transfer power from party to party and do it peacefully. Jefferson knew that if it was not done peacefully than the administration would not succeed, or the nation survive. He stated at his inauguration:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
-Decleration of Independence

With Congress Jefferson reduced taxes and cut the size of the Federal bureaucracy (department, and workers that make up the Federal government. He changed the size of the army to just 3000 men.