8/3/2019 Presidents' Day George Washington

1/2

8/3/2019 Presidents' Day George Washington

2/2

4.He was a man of few words, politically speakingAt 135 words, Washingtons second inaugural address was the shortest ever given by anincoming president. Here is the full text of his speech, which he delivered in the Senate Chamber

of Congress Hall in Philadelphia on March 4, 1793.

Fellow Citizens: 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 thehigh 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 thePresident 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 inany 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 thepresent solemn ceremony.

5.He was a man of many firstsNaturally, as the first president, Washington had many firsts in office. But a few of hisaccomplishments were things none of his successors ever did.

y Washington was the only president to have been unanimously elected by the ElectoralCollege, receiving all 69 votes in both the 1789 and 1792 elections. At the time, therewas no popular vote for the presidency.

y He was the only president who did not live in Washington, D.C. during his presidency.Instead, he was located first in New York and then spent the lions share of his

presidency in Philadelphia, which served as the temporary national capital for 10 years,while the District of Columbia was under construction.

y He was the only one of Americas founding fathers to free his slaves. He freed all 124 ofhis slaves in his will, and he left enough money in his estate to care for all of them

decades after his death.y Washington was also the only president who did not represent a political party.

The Christian Science Monitor. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service isprovided to you. Privacy Policy.