On this day in 1789, George Washington delivered the first
Presidential Inaugural Address. George Washington’s first
inauguration took place at Federal Hall in New York City, where
the first Congress was assembled. Keenly aware of the
momentousness of the occasion, Washington accepted the
Presidency and spoke of his determination to make the American
experiment a success. All eight pages of the speech delivered to
Congress are in George Washington’s own clear and distinctive
handwriting. Here are images of the opening of George
Washington’s first inaugural address, April 30, 1789; and a
portrait of President Washington hanging in the Oval Office of
the White House, 11/5/1946. ID #199469 Since the First Congress
in 1789, the records of the U.S. House of Representatives and
the U.S. Senate have documented the history of the legislative
branch. Discover the treasures in our holdings here! The Center
for Legislative Archives is part of the National Archives.