The First Inauguration

The Constitution created an executive office but did not specify how it would operate. Washington arrived in New York on April 23, 1789. He was inaugurated a week later. The Senate and House had been meeting since early April, debating what to call the President and how to address him. They had not yet agreed when the ceremony took place.

Congress convened in early April 1789. One of the first debates was over what to call the President. The Senate, with Vice President Adams presiding, proposed titles including His Highness, His Excellency, and His Elective Majesty. The House of Representatives refused all titles and insisted on the plain form: the President of the United States. The Senate yielded. The episode is documented in the Senate Journal and in William Maclay's diary. It is covered in the Behind Closed Doors series.

Washington was escorted from Mount Vernon to New York over several days, receiving formal welcomes at each stop. He arrived by barge at the tip of Manhattan on April 23, 1789. The inauguration was set for April 30.

The ceremony took place on the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street. Robert R. Livingston, Chancellor of the State of New York, administered the oath. Washington placed his hand on a Bible opened to a random passage. After the oath, Livingston declared to the crowd: 'Long live George Washington, President of the United States.'

The First Congress had been in session since April 1. By the time of the inauguration, the Senate and House had already debated procedure, titles, and the mechanics of operating a new government. The Behind Closed Doors series covers what the First Congress actually did in its opening weeks.