What Was George Washington’s Inauguration Like?
Every four years, a new United States presidential administration commences with an inauguration ceremony on the western front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Held on January 20, or January 21 if the traditional date falls on a Sunday, the inauguration begins around noon with the vice president-elect reciting the oath of office.
That’s followed by the only constitutionally mandated component of the inauguration, the president’s oath of office, typically administered by the chief justice of the United States. The president-elect repeats the words: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
The president then delivers their inaugural address, followed by a luncheon in the Capitol’s Statuary Hall, and a parade that takes the chief executive and their party to the White House. The evening’s events include varying numbers of official and unofficial balls, held in hotels and government buildings throughout the city.
While the roots of these traditions go back to the very first U.S. presidential inauguration — that of George Washington in 1789 — the events of that particular day were noticeably different from what transpires now. In fact, the ceremonies surrounding this landmark moment of American history weren’t even formalized until just a few days before it all unfolded.
A Military Procession Escorted George Washington to New York City
Following a week’s journey from his beloved Virginia plantation Mount Vernon, which saw him feted by residents of every town he passed through, Washington arrived at his new home in what was then the federal capital, New York City, on April 23, 1789. His wife, Martha Washington, who was still tending to business at Mount Vernon, did not join him for another month.
With the president’s safety secured, a joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives met to hammer out details of where the inauguration would take place, who would administer the oath of office, and seating arrangements. On April 25, Congress adopted the committee’s recommendations for ceremonies to be held five days later.
At sunrise on the determined day of April 30, a military salute was discharged at Fort George near the southern tip of Manhattan. At 9 a.m., church bells sounded throughout the city for approximately half an hour, summoning their congregants for a morning service.
Meanwhile, Washington, who’d had barely any downtime since adjusting to his accommodations in a three-story brick building on Cherry Street, dressed in a Connecticut-made brown broadcloth suit, adorned with gilt buttons engraved with the arms of the United States, as he awaited the military procession that would escort him to Federal Hall on Wall Street.
The escorts arrived around noon and set off with the president in his coach about half an hour later. Numbering some 500 men in total, the procession included two companies of grenadiers, a company of light infantry, members of the Senate and House committees, and the Spanish and French ministers.
Within 200 yards of Federal Hall, the procession split into lines on either side of the street, its participants presenting arms and lowering flags as Washington and his party passed between them on foot and entered the federal building.
Inside the Senate Chamber, Washington was greeted by his vice president, John Adams, and members of both the Senate and House of Representatives. At about 2 p.m., Adams informed Washington that it was time to take the oath of office, and the gathered congressmen escorted the president to a canopy-covered balcony decorated with red and white curtains.
Before a crowd of spectators gathered on the streets below, and on the roofs and balconies of neighboring buildings, Washington placed his right hand on an open Bible supplied by St. John’s Masonic Lodge of New York and repeated the oath of office administered by the chancellor of New York, Robert R. Livingston. After the president finished by kissing the Bible, Chancellor Livingston turned to the crowd and ignited a celebratory roar by proclaiming, “It is done; long live George Washington, president of the United States.”
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Washington Delivered a Low-Key but “Touching” Address
With all elected representatives back in the Senate Chamber, Washington stood before them to read the nation's first presidential address. The speech was originally written with the help of his aide David Humphreys, but Washington ultimately eschewed that lengthy draft in favor of a far shorter version crafted by James Madison.
With his usual self-effacing manner, the president revealed his feelings of inadequacy over his ability to handle the role of president, and requested no payment for his services. Still, he left no doubt about his grasp of the tasks that faced the country in the days to come: "The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the republican model of government are justly considered as deeply and perhaps finally staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people," he said.
To the distinguished figures present, the man of the moment seemed surprisingly nervous. Massachusetts Representative Fisher Ames noted the president's manner as "grave, almost to sadness; his modesty, actually shaking; his voice deep, a little tremulous, and so low as to call for close attention." But the congressman also described it as a "very touching scene," the address producing "emotions of the most affecting kind upon the members."
Afterward, Washington, Adams, and the assembled congressmen proceeded to St. Paul's Chapel for a service overseen by Reverend Samuel Provoost, the episcopal bishop of New York and chaplain to the Senate.
The Celebrations Concluded With Fireworks Over Manhattan
After dining alone at the Presidential Mansion, Washington again journeyed out to watch a show of fireworks from the homes of Chancellor Livingston and his old Revolutionary War comrade Henry Knox. Boston merchant John May described the fireworks over Lower Manhattan as "well executed" and "greeted with tumultuous applause," but he seemed especially impressed by the lighting displays of various buildings.
"The Spanish Ambassador's house was illuminated so as to represent Wisdom, Justice, Fortitude, Sun, Moon, Stars, Spanish Arms, etc.," May wrote in a letter the following day. "Federal Hall also presented a fine appearance. The likeness of our Hero [Washington], illuminated, was presented in the window of a house, at a little distance. The best likeness I have yet seen of him, so much like him that one could hardly distinguish it from life — excepting for the situation, over a beer-house, a place he never frequents."
At about 10 p.m., the tired president retreated to his carriage in an attempt to return to his new home. However, the crowded streets forced him to abandon his ride and complete his task on foot, a sure sign that there would be little time to rest with the world watching his every move as the first president of the United States of America.
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