Today in History—April 30: The First Inauguration of an American President

April 30, 1789: After the oath, the cheers, and the fireworks, the president walked home

The day began gray and overcast as a sunrise military salute from nearby Fort George broke the silence over New York City. At 9 am church bells pealed. By noon the skies had cleared, and it was 59 °F.

On April 30, 1789, at 12:30 pm, a grand procession formed: mounted troops, grenadiers, Scottish Highlanders, and light infantry. At the center was President-elect George Washington in a horse-drawn coach. The parade wound toward Federal Hall, where Washington would swear the first-ever oath of office as president of the United States.

He had won the election weeks ago, on April 6. When word of his selection for the top job reached him in Virginia, he promptly traveled to New York City, being feted by cities along the way. Martha Washington didn’t make the trip for the inauguration, but diplomats from France and Spain did.

The 30-minute ride through the city was pure pomp and circumstance. Guards formed columns to flank Washington’s coach, and Vice President-elect John Adams bid Washington a formal welcome.

At 2 pm, Washington was led to the second-floor balcony of Federal Hall, as a crowd watched from the streets below. The balcony had been outfitted with a canopy and red and white curtains.

Robert R. Livingston, chancellor of New York—we didn’t have any Supreme Court justices yet—administered the oath, while Samuel Otis, secretary of the Senate, held a Masonic Bible, which Washington kissed after he completed the oath.

Fun Fact

Private donors paid $32,000 (about $1.2 million today) to quickly remodel Federal Hall before Washington’s inauguration.

Livingston turned to the crowd on Wall and Broad streets and shouted, “Long live George Washington, president of the United States!”

Washington bowed, his hand on his heart, and then retreated to the Senate chamber to give his inaugural address. Flustered and overcome, he spoke so quietly that congressmen inched to the edges of their seats, straining to hear him.

The new president next traveled to St. Paul’s Church for a service, then dined alone.

Fireworks marked the end of the day—paid for by private citizens. Washington and his aides tried to return to the new presidential mansion by carriage, but the streets teemed with people. They abandoned their ride, and the tired president ended his inauguration day by walking home among his people.