On April 30, 1789, history was made as George Washington took his inaugural oath, marking the beginning of not only his presidency but the operational start of the United States government under its newly ratified Constitution. This significant moment, while etched in the annals of history as a grand ceremony, had a rather humble prelude. It’s a lesser-known fact that George Washington, despite his vast landholdings and ownership of 300 slaves, was cash-strapped and had to borrow money for his journey to New York City, the then-capital, for his inauguration.
It may come as a surprise that Washington, a man of such prominence and wealth in land and property, found himself in a pinch for cash. His predicament speaks volumes about the economic conditions of the time and the personal sacrifices made by our Founding Fathers. Washington, who had retired to his estate at Mount Vernon, admitted to his nephew in a letter that “my means are not adequate to the expense at which I have lived since my retirement,” revealing that financial considerations partially influenced his acceptance of the presidency.
The inauguration was a grand event. After Charles Thomson informed Washington of his election on April 14 at Mount Vernon, Washington’s trip to New York City was marked by celebratory events in different cities. Each town he passed through, from Alexandria to Baltimore and beyond, greeted him as a hero. Upon his arrival in New York, he was welcomed by a flotilla of boats and salutes from artillery and foreign warships.
The day of the inauguration began early, with crowds gathering around Washington’s Cherry Street residence. Dressed in an American-made dark brown suit, white silk stockings, and silver shoe buckles, with a steel-hilted sword at his side, Washington exuded the gravitas expected of the nation’s first leader. The oath-taking ceremony was performed on the balcony of Federal Hall by Chancellor of New York Robert Livingston, who had been part of the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence. The Bible used in the ceremony was opened at random due to haste, landing on Genesis 49:13. Following the oath, Livingston proclaimed, “Long live George Washington, President of the United States!” to which the crowd responded with cheers and a 13-gun salute.
The inaugural address that Washington subsequently delivered in the Senate chamber was replete with calls for national unity and governance under the auspices of the new Constitution. It set a precedent for presidential addresses that has been followed ever since. Notably absent from the day’s proceedings were the now-traditional inaugural balls, which only came a week later.
Washington’s financial constraints and the splendor of his inaugural journey reflect the complexities and sacrifices inherent in the birth of the nation. Despite personal reservations and financial inadequacies, Washington’s commitment to duty and service led him to accept the presidency and lay down the path for American leadership—a journey funded not just by monetary loans but by an unwavering dedication to country and principle.
Relevant articles:
– First inauguration of George Washington