10 Facts about George Washington’s Presidency
1. Washington is the only president to have been unanimously elected by the Electoral
College
In both the election of 1789 and 1792 Washington received all votes from the Electoral College. During the first
election, Washington won the electors of all ten eligible states. Three states, however, did not contribute to the
vote total. Both North Carolina and Rhode Island were ineligible; neither had ratified the Constitution yet. In
addition, New York was unable to participate in the election, as the legislature had not passed a bill in time to
appoint its eight electors. In 1792, Washington received all 132 electoral votes, winning each of the fifteen states.
2. Washington was the only president inaugurated in two cities
However, neither of those cities was Washington, D.C., as the seat of government did not move there until 1800.
Washington’s first inauguration occurred in New York City on the portico of Federal Hall in Lower Manhattan on
April 30, 1789. The second inauguration was in Philadelphia, held in the Senate Chamber of Congress Hall on
March 4, 1793.
3. George Washington was strapped for cash during his presidency
Washington was frequently short on cash, with much of his wealth tied up in land holdings. In order to afford the
move to New York City to become president, Washington borrowed £600 on a promissory note to cover his
relocation expenses for the move from Mount Vernon to the presidential household at 3 Cherry Street in
Manhattan. Washington explained that the situation forced him “to do what I never expected to be driven to, that
is, to borrow money on Interest."
Despite Washington’s difficulties in liquid finance, he was initially reticent to accept a salary as President.
Washington had previously refused payment as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army and struggled with
the ethics of receiving payment for public service. He eventually relented, believing that denying a salary would
set a poor precedent. Washington's annual salary as President was $25,000, and despite his unease with receiving
compensation, he also complained that his pay was not sufficient to cover the expenses of his household and at
times he even had to pay expenses out of pocket.
4. George Washington established the tradition of a cabinet of advisors
While the Constitution calls for the creation of executive departments, it only explained that the heads of
executive departments were unelected officials who had to answer to the president. Washington defined how
these roles would function.
While the current presidential cabinet includes sixteen members (fifteen heads of executive agencies and the vice
president), Washington’s cabinet included just four original members: Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson,
Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of War Henry Knox, and Attorney General Edmund Randolph.
Washington set the precedence for how these roles would interact with the presidency, establishing the cabinet
as the chief executive’s private, trusted advisors. Further, Washington sought to include multiple perspectives in
the cabinet, perhaps best exhibited by the political spectrum ranging from Hamilton to Jefferson.
While variance helped ensure that differing ideas would be aired, it also created tensions, particularly regarding
debates over the establishment of a national bank. Despite the harsh disagreements, Jefferson believed that the
tone had little impact on quality of governance, explaining that "The pain was for Hamilton and myself, but the
public experienced no inconvenience."
5. Washington signed into law the first copyright law
On May 31, 1790, President Washington signed the Copyright Act of 1790 into law. Formally titled, “An act for the
encouragement of learning by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of
such copies, during the times therein mentioned,” the legislation was the first law protecting copyright in the
United States. The act explained that it intended to protect “the author and authors of any map, chart, book or
books already printed within these United States,” and that authors would “have the sole right and liberty of
printing, reprinting, publishing and vending such map, chart, book or books.” Copies of the law bearing
Washington’s signature were re-printed in newspapers throughout the country.
6. Washington set precedents for the social life of the president
Washington was concerned that the presidents of the Confederation Congress had been overwhelmed by visitors
in the past. As a result, during the presidency Washington set aside the late afternoon for meetings with the
public and evenings for dinner parties with invited guests. On Tuesday afternoons Washington received male
callers from three until four o'clock in the afternoon. The reception was a series of gentlemanly introductions and
greetings where Washington was visited in a formal manner as President of the United States. Friday evenings
included both women and men and were less formal affairs featuring interaction with colleagues and other
politicians.
7. The first Thanksgiving Proclamation was issued by President Washington
Days of thanksgiving were celebrated since the beginning of European settlement in North America. In 1789,
President Washington formalized the holiday by issuing a proclamation designating November 26 as a national
day of thanksgiving. Washington declared that the day sprung from the Almighty’s care of Americans both during
and after the Revolution. The proclamation was distributed to state governors, requesting that they announce
and observe the day within their states. Newspapers subsequently published the proclamation and celebrations
were held throughout the United States. Washington himself marked the day by attending services at St. Paul's
Chapel in New York City, and subsequently donating beer and food to imprisoned debtors in the city.
8. Washington vetoed only two bills while President
Washington rejected both pieces of legislation based on ideological concerns and in each instance Congress was
unable to overturn the veto. The first bill that Washington vetoed was the Apportionment Bill of April 5, 1792
which aimed at providing guidelines for the number of congressional representatives based on the results of 1790
census. Washington vetoed the legislation based on constitutional concerns, believing that the law would not
divide each state’s population evenly when determining representation. Further, Washington argued that the law
had unfairly “allotted to eight of the States, more than one [representative] for thirty thousand,” potentially
creating an imbalance in power.
On February 28, 1797 (shortly before leaving office), Washington vetoed a bill aimed at cutting the size and cost of
the military. The veto was utilized based on the advice of Secretary of War James McHenry and was policy-driven,
objecting to one specific provision that dissolved two companies of light cavalry.
9. Washington’s second inaugural address is the shortest ever delivered
Washington’s second inaugural, delivered March 4, 1793, clocked in at less than two minutes and was only 135
words in length. The text of that ever-so-brief address reads:
“I am again called upon by the voice of my country to execute the functions of its Chief Magistrate. When the
occasion proper for it shall arrive, I shall endeavor to express the high sense I entertain of this distinguished honor,
and of the confidence which has been reposed in me by the people of united America.”
“ Previous to the execution of any official act of the President the Constitution requires an oath of office. This oath I
am now about to take, and in your presence: That if it shall be found during my administration of the Government
I have in any instance violated willingly or knowingly the injunctions thereof, I may (besides incurring constitutional
punishment) be subject to the upbraidings of all who are now witnesses of the present solemn ceremony.”
10. Washington’s Farewell Address is one of the most celebrated speeches in American history.
Washington’s Farewell Address, which warned against “the baneful effects of the Spirit of Party,” encouraged a
focus on education and morality, cautioned against sectionalism within the nation, and admonished against
entangling foreign alliances, has continued to have influence over American culture and political debates long past
when it was first published.
In the midst of the Civil War, on February 19, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation calling on
Americans to mark Washington’s birthday. Lincoln “recommended to the people of the United States that they
assemble in their customary places of meeting for public solemnities on the 22d day of February” to “celebrate
the anniversary of the birth of the Father of his Country by causing to be read to them his immortal Farewell
Address.”