Devil Doc
When Death smiles, Corpsmen smile back
It was on this day in 1789 that George Washington was sworn in as the first President of the United States of America.
The inauguration was held in New York City. Washington was reluctant to be inaugurated at all. He had very little experience as a politician, and he worried that he might be a complete failure as a president. He said, "I feel like a culprit who is going to the place of his execution."
He hoped to make a quiet entry into New York, with little ceremony. Instead, his weeklong journey from Virginia to New York became a giant parade, with crowds of people cheering him as he passed through each town on his route. In preparation for his arrival, portraits of Washington were posted all over New York City. Washington had to take a barge across the Hudson River from New Jersey to New York. A boat next to his was filled with musicians, but none of the music was audible over the sound of cannons being fired from the shore. Washington's barge landed at the foot of Wall Street on the East River, and the procession marched up Wall Street, turned on to Pearl Street, and then Cherry Street, where Washington arrived at the new Presidential Residence.
The inauguration ceremony was performed on the balcony of Federal Hall a few days later, on this day in 1789. Thousands of people gathered in the streets to watch Washington take the oath of office.
Many people had speculated about what he would wear: a military uniform or the clothes of a king. Instead, Washington wore a plain brown suit made with cloth from a mill in Connecticut. He took the oath, walked back inside the Federal Hall, and addressed the Senate chamber with one of the shortest inaugural speeches in American history, just 1200 words long.
The Bible he swore on is still owned by the order of the Masons in New York City, and several other presidents have used it at their own inaugurations, including Warren G. Harding, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter, and both Presidents Bush.
Doc
The inauguration was held in New York City. Washington was reluctant to be inaugurated at all. He had very little experience as a politician, and he worried that he might be a complete failure as a president. He said, "I feel like a culprit who is going to the place of his execution."
He hoped to make a quiet entry into New York, with little ceremony. Instead, his weeklong journey from Virginia to New York became a giant parade, with crowds of people cheering him as he passed through each town on his route. In preparation for his arrival, portraits of Washington were posted all over New York City. Washington had to take a barge across the Hudson River from New Jersey to New York. A boat next to his was filled with musicians, but none of the music was audible over the sound of cannons being fired from the shore. Washington's barge landed at the foot of Wall Street on the East River, and the procession marched up Wall Street, turned on to Pearl Street, and then Cherry Street, where Washington arrived at the new Presidential Residence.
The inauguration ceremony was performed on the balcony of Federal Hall a few days later, on this day in 1789. Thousands of people gathered in the streets to watch Washington take the oath of office.
Many people had speculated about what he would wear: a military uniform or the clothes of a king. Instead, Washington wore a plain brown suit made with cloth from a mill in Connecticut. He took the oath, walked back inside the Federal Hall, and addressed the Senate chamber with one of the shortest inaugural speeches in American history, just 1200 words long.
The Bible he swore on is still owned by the order of the Masons in New York City, and several other presidents have used it at their own inaugurations, including Warren G. Harding, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter, and both Presidents Bush.
Doc
