The post-presidency of George Washington began on March 4, 1797. The first U.S. president under the U.S. Constitution, Washington had served two consecutive terms in office. He returned to his beloved home, Mount Vernon, on March 15. Immediately, he began months of repair because of neglect and mismanagement. In time, he was able to restore the Mount Vernon mansion house, but the salvaging of his farms proved to be problematic. Throughout his retirement, Washington entertained local friends; former official associates; and strangers who wished to converse and see the first president, the Revolutionary War hero, and founder of the nation.