Inauguration of VP Adams

John Adams arrived in New York City at 4:00 p.m. on 4/20/1789. Several members of Congress met him at Kingsbridge and accompanied him to John Jay's house. [Daily Advertiser, 4/21/1789]. The following morning, the NYC Mayor and the city Corporation members met with Adams and congratulated him on his election [Gazette of the United States, 4/25/1789]. Sens. Strong and Izard visited Adams and conducted him to the Senate chamber. There, PPT Langdon left the speaker's chair; Adams took it and then addressed the Senate [Daily Advertiser, 4/22/1789]. The newspapers did not mention that Adams took an oath of office.

Inauguration of President Washington

George Washington arrived in NYC on 4/25/1789 just after 2:00 p.m. Three US Senators and five Representatives met Washington at Elizabethtown and accompanied him on a special barge steered by 13 men across the bay. Hundreds of people lined the streets to observe Washington's arrival. Washington dined with Gov. Clinton [Gazette of the United States, 4/25/1789]. The congressional committee inquired of Washington about his wishes regarding taking the oath of office (time, place, and who would administer), and the committee reported near the end of the session that day that Washington felt it appropriate for the Congress to make all arrangements [New York Weekly Museum, 5/2/1789]. In the evening of 4/25, Washington dined at the City Tavern and received well wishers. Four ships in the harbor were decorated in his honor, and fireworks brought the city's welcome to an end [New-York Packet, 4/28/1789].

Congress, in session when Washington arrived in the city, chose 4/30/1789 as the day of his inauguration. Washington spent the intervening five days receiving other well-wishers, including the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce [New-York Packet, 4/28/1789].

Inauguration Day began with prayer services held by various denominations at 9:00 a.m. At noon, a procession began at the Federal State House, consisting of selected dignitaries and members of Congress. When the procession reached the President's House, Washington "joined the procession in his carriage and four" and proceeded to the State House. As he neared the building, his route was lined by soldiers. Washington entered the Senate chamber and greeted the members of Congress. Around 2:00 p.m., Washington walked onto the balcony attached to the Senate chamber and facing onto Broad Street. The balcony "was decorated with a canopy and curtains of red interstreaked with white for the solemn occasion" [New-York Packet, 5/1/1789]. Robert R. Livingston, Chancellor of the State of New York, administered the oath to Washington. At the end of the oath, Livingston proclaimed "Long live George Washington, President of the United States!" [New-York Daily Gazette, 5/1/1789]. Thirteen cannon fired to mark the event as the crowd of onlookers cheered. Washington then retired inside and gave his inaugural address to members of Congress. Upon his conclusion, Washington, Adams, and the Congress adjourned to St. Paul's Chapel for a time of worship [Gazette of the United States, 5/2/1789]. The dignitaries then retired to their homes for a brief rest. The day ended with another fireworks display organized by Col. Bauman and described as "the most brilliant exhibition of fireworks ever exhibited in this city" [New-York Journal, 4/23/1789].

Adams Takes the first VP Oath

The first VP oath was passed by Congress on 6/1/1789. It was drafted as part of a bill entitled "An Act to regulate the Time and Manner of administering certain Oaths." The text of the oath was "I, A.B., do solemnly swear or affirm (as the case may be) that I will support the Constitution of the United States." Pres. Washington signed the bill into law, and on 6/3/1789, PPT Langdon administered the oath to VP Adams. Adams then administered the oath to the Senators [Senate Minutes].

Historic Trivia

• The first presidential inauguration took place 57 days after it was originally scheduled (3/4/1789). Thus Washington's term of office was just shy of eight years.
• VP Adams was inaugurated nine days before Pres. Washington.
• VP Adams took his oath of office after serving a month and a half.
• It appears that Pres. Washington did not say "so help me God" at the end of his oath of office. Only one source mentions him saying that, and that one was not recorded for several decades following the event. By contrast, the various newspapers of New York City provide many details of the day, including portions of speeches of other dignitaries, and none report that Washington said these four words. The words "so help me God" were a standard phrase of 18th century oaths, and on occasion later Presidents added it to the oath. The last time a President did not say the phrase was Hoover in 1929.
• The day that Washington was inaugurated was election day in New York State. At the time, New York elections spanned three days, and inauguration day was the last of the three days. NY Governor George Clinton, an opponent of the newly established federal government, was narrowly re-elected over Robert Yates, who supported it.
• The inauguration of Washington and Adams in 1789 was the only time that the President and Vice President were inaugurated in New York City.

Popular Vote of 1789

Electoral Vote of 1789

2d Presidential Inaugural (1793)