On this day in 1789, George Washington was inaugurated as the first President of the United States under the newly-ratified constitution. The inauguration was held nearly two months after the beginning of the first four-year term of George Washington as president. Chancellor of New York Robert Livingston administered the presidential oath of office on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City.
On April 6, the House and Senate first met in joint session and certified that Washington and Adams were elected as President and Vice-President respectively. Secretary of the Continental Congress Charles Thomson was appointed by the Senate to deliver to Washington the letter containing the news of his election.[5] Thomson delivered the official notification to Washington at Mount Vernon on April 14, 1789. Washington replied immediately, and set out two days later for New York City.
Along the way, Washington received triumphal welcomes in almost every town he passed through. These included Alexandria; Georgetown, Maryland (now part of Washington D.C.); Baltimore; and Havre de Grace.
George Washington had to borrow money just to get to New York City, which was the capital at the time. Although he owned 60,000 acres of land and 300 slaves, Washington had little in the way of cash, and could not get any by trading with other landowners, as they were equally strapped for cash. Washington said to his nephew that the salary was at least part of the reason why he accepted the presidency, “as my means are not adequate to the expense at which I have lived since my retirement.”
“Inauguration of George Washington”, 1898 painting by Ramon Elorriaga
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Before therapy: I hate everyone. After therapy: I am okay with hating everyone.
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Today is the birthday, in 1962, of Robert Reynolds, bassist from the American band The Mavericks who had the 1998 UK No.4 single ‘Dance The Night Away’. The Mavericks won a Grammy Award for the song ‘Here Comes the Rain’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UajuBAUkBs
