INAUGURAL ADDRESSES OF THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES
FROM GEORGE WASHINGTON TO BILL CLINTON





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George Washington


FIRST INAUGURAL ADDRESS IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK


THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1789

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The Nation's first chief executive took his oath of office in
April in New York City on the balcony of the Senate Chamber at
Federal Hall on Wall Street. General Washington had been
unanimously elected President by the first electoral college, and
John Adams was elected Vice President because he received the
second greatest number of votes. Under the rules, each elector
cast two votes. The Chancellor of New York and fellow Freemason,
Robert R. Livingston administered the oath of office. The Bible on
which the oath was sworn belonged to New York's St. John's Masonic
Lodge. The new President gave his inaugural address before a joint
session of the two Houses of Congress assembled inside the Senate