George Washington arrived as a delegate from Virginia to the
Second Continental Congress in May of 1775. By the time
Washington left public office for the last time almost a quarter
century later, he had been Commander in Chief of the Continental
Army, presided over the Constitutional Convention, and after
unanimous election in the Electoral College twice, President of
the United States. Few other Americans have played such a
pivotal role in our history than this great man. This issue
celebrates the 150th anniversary of Washington’s inauguration on
the steps of Federal Hall in New York City on Thursday April
30th, 1789. For Washington though one would think a day of great
joy and satisfaction, his first words of his inaugural address
were “Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and of the House of
Representatives: Among the vicissitudes incident to life no
event could have filled me with greater anxieties than that of
which the notification was transmitted by your order, and
received on the 14th day of the present mon