Presidential Inauguration

 

Presidential Inauguration

As we gear up for next week’s Presidential Inaugural festivities, let’s take a moment to reflect on the very first Presidential inauguration in 1789. 

Following the ratification of the U.S. Constitution on June 21, 1788, states were tasked with selecting electors by January's first Wednesday and choosing a President by February's first Wednesday. Congress would then gather in New York City that March.

Due to the non-ratification of the Constitution by Rhode Island and North Carolina, along with New York's delay in appointing electors, only 10 states participated in America’s first Presidential election. 

The electoral votes were sent to New York City for counting by Congress, which finally convened on April 6 instead of March 4 due to travel issues. 

George Washington was unanimously elected President with 69 votes; John Adams became Vice President with 34 votes (this later changed via the 12th Amendment).

Congress appointed Charles Thomson, their veteran secretary, to inform Washington of his election. After a week’s travel, he reached Northern Virginia on April 14.

On April 16, Washington set off for New York City with Col. David Humphreys and Thomson. They passed through several cities before arriving in New York on April 23.

Thomson then documented their discussions and journey details. Charles Thomson’s Report regarding the notification of George Washington being Elected the First President of the United States, April 24, 1789.  The National Archives holds the original journey details documents of Charles Thomson within their records gallery.

While Congress established a joint committee to organize Washington's oath of office, April 30 was selected for the ceremony. It took place at Federal Hall’s outer gallery.

On Inauguration Day, Washington appeared in a brown wool suit, stepping from General to President. Chancellor Robert Livingston administered the oath. Though optional, he delivered an inaugural address—his own and the nation’s first—setting a crucial precedent. He expressed deep concerns about his new duties and urged Congress to ensure personal liberties through a “bill of rights.” He also requested just enough salary to cover expenses.

Here are his words from that speech:

“Among the vicissitudes incident to life, no event could have filled me with greater anxieties than that of which the notification was transmitted by your order and received on the 14th day of the present month. On the one hand, I was summoned by my Country, whose voice I can never hear but with veneration and love, from a retreat which I had chosen with the fondest predilection, and, in my flattering hopes, with an immutable decision, as the asylum of my declining years—a retreat which was rendered every day more necessary as well as more dear to me by the addition of habit to inclination, and of frequent interruptions in my health to the gradual waste committed on it by time. On the other hand, the magnitude and difficulty of the trust to which the voice of my country called me, being sufficient to awaken in the wisest and most experienced of her citizens a distrustful scrutiny into his qualifications, could not but overwhelm with despondence one who (inheriting inferior endowments from nature and unpracticed in the duties of civil administration) ought to be peculiarly conscious of his own deficiencies.” George Washington, Federal Hall, New York April 30^th, 1789.

Once he finished speaking, his message was preserved in the Senate records and remains part of them to this day.

In 1937, the documents were transferred to the National Archives as Record Group 46. 

On April 30, 1789, George Washington was inaugurated as the first president of the United States in New York City. He famously remarked, "I walk on untrodden ground."

The event featured ceremonial artillery and church bells. The inaugural traditions have since evolved, highlighting national unity and inclusion while reflecting America's diverse heritage through parades and celebrations.

Presidents now embrace various ways to commemorate this democratic transition!

In 1801, Thomas Jefferson became the first president sworn in at Washington, D.C., marking the capital's permanent site. His second inauguration in 1805 featured a festive ride from the Capitol to the President's House—a precursor to today's inaugural parades. Over time, these events have transformed into grand celebrations reflecting national diversity and democratic ideals. Modern inaugurations honor not just the leaders but also America's rich history.

Inaugural events, like parades, have transformed into grand spectacles over time. Presidents use these occasions to express their values—like Lincoln did with African American participants in 1865. From Washington’s minuet to inclusive celebrations today, inaugurations symbolize the democratic spirit and reflect America’s diverse heritage as power transitions are honored across the nation.

Since George Washington's inaugural minuet, presidents have celebrated in unique ways. James Madison and Dolley were honored at the first official ball in D.C. Today’s festivities are inclusive, showcasing diverse American voices. Modern inaugurations honor not just a leader but also our democratic history and the peaceful transfer of power.

Here are a few historical firsts of previous Inaugurations: 

1845 inauguration of James K. Polk, the first inauguration to be covered by telegraph, and the first known newspaper illustration of a presidential inauguration (The Illustrated London News)

1857 inauguration of James Buchanan, the first inauguration known to have been photographed

1897 first inauguration of William McKinley, the first inauguration to be recorded on film

1905 second inauguration of Theodore Roosevelt, the first time that telephones were installed on the Capitol Grounds for an inauguration

1925 second inauguration of Calvin Coolidge, the first inauguration to be broadcast nationally by radio

1929 inauguration of Herbert Hoover, the first inauguration to be recorded by a talking newsreel

1949 second inauguration of Harry S. Truman, the first inauguration to be televised

1961 inauguration of John F. Kennedy, the first inauguration to be televised in color

1981 first inauguration of Ronald Reagan, the first closed captioning of television broadcast for the deaf and hard of hearing

1997 second inauguration of Bill Clinton, the first time that the ceremony was broadcast live on the Internet

This week marks another historic moment in presidential inaugurations.  For the first time, we will witness a former President taking the oath for a second term after their predecessor's departure, creating an intriguing scenario of transitional leadership.

As President Trump takes his second oath of office, we wish him and his team a safe and prosperous term. America Needs stability and honor after four years of dereliction of duty by the predecessor and his team. 

Elizabeth Kilbride is a Writer and Editor with forty years of experience in writing with 12 of those years in the online content sphere. Author of 5 books and a Graduate with an Associate of Arts from Phoenix University in Business Management, then a degree. Mass Communication and Cyber Analysis from Phoenix University, then on to Walden University for her master’s in criminology with emphasis on Cybercrime and Identity Theft, and is currently studying for her Ph.D. degree in Criminology. Her work portfolio includes coverage of politics, current affairs, elections, history, and true crime. Elizabeth is also a gourmet cook, life coach, and avid artist in her spare time, proficient in watercolor, acrylic, oil, pen and ink, Gouche, and pastels. As a political operative having worked on over 300 campaigns during her career, Elizabeth has turned many life events into books and movie scripts while using history to weave interesting storylines. She also runs 7 blogs that range from art to life coaching, to food, to writing, Gardening, and opinion or history pieces each week.