Washington Elected Unanimously: First President Chosen
George Washington took the oath of office on April 30, 1789, in New York City, becoming the first president under the new Constitution. The Electoral College had chosen him unanimously, a distinction no other president has matched. Washington deliberately shaped the office's customs and precedents, knowing that everything he did would set a template for his successors. He chose the modest title 'Mr. President' over the ornate alternatives proposed by the Senate, including 'His Highness the President of the United States and Protector of Their Liberties.' He accepted a salary of ,000 only under pressure from Congress, understanding that refusing pay would restrict the presidency to independently wealthy men. His most consequential precedent was voluntarily stepping down after two terms, a tradition so powerful it held for 150 years before being codified as a constitutional amendment after FDR broke it.
February 4, 1789
237 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on February 4
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