Summary
On April 30, 1789, Washington took the oath of office
and began his new job as President of the United States of America.
He had traveled from Mount Vernon to New York City slowly, accompanied
by celebrations, cannon salutes, and parades. Soon afterwards he
fell very ill. A tumor was discovered in his leg. When the surgeons went
to remove it (they had no anesthesia then) they were certain they
would kill him. Jefferson feared that his death would sink the government.
But Washington recovered, and within a month he was back on the
job.
At first he had little to do. He began by appointing his
cabinet: Henry Knox as Secretary of War, John Jay as Secretary
of Foreign Affairs, Alexander Hamilton as Secretary of the Treasury,
Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State, and Edmund Randolph as
Attorney General. He was happy with this group, though less happy
with his Vice President, John Adams. Washington and Adams did not
get along, and they mostly ignored each other.
He devoted much of his time to working out the details
of his office, such as how and when to receive visitors. Otherwise
he waited for Congress to present him with bills to bring into
law. Because he felt it was his duty as president to make a decision
for the good of everyone, he did not try to influence Congress
when it considered a bill. For the same reason, he refused to veto
a law unless he believed it contradicted the Federal Constitution.
The first session of Congress considered several issues,
most important of which was Hamilton's financial plan. Merchants
and traders, mostly based in the north, generally approved of Hamilton's
plans. Many farmers, including southern planters such as Jefferson
and Madison, opposed it. Though a planter, Washington supported
Hamilton's plan because he believed it would strengthen the nation.
His kept his opinions to himself, however, so as not to influence
the Congress. Finally, Jefferson brokered a compromise: he would
persuade southern Congressmen to vote for Hamilton's plan if Hamilton
would persuade northerners to support moving the national capital
to the South. A deal was reached, and Washington selected the site
for the future capital of Washington, D.C. He chose a spot on the
banks of the Potomac, not far from Mount Vernon.
During this time, Washington's mother died. Mary Ball
Washington had lived to the ripe age of eighty-one. She had been
a willful woman, eager to control her son. She even objected to
his job of president, complaining that his duties caused him to
neglect her. Washington's relationship to Mary was rocky, but he
mourned her death.
In his first term Washington also made two tours of the
new country. He went first to New England, where he was greeted
with cheers everywhere, then to the South, where he traveled almost alone.
He returned convinced that the nation was more prosperous as a
united nation.
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