A bronze statue of George Washington looks out along Broad St. and the New York Stock Exchange from the steps of New York's Federal Hall, where the nation's first president was sworn into office on April 30, 1789. (AP Photo/Ed Bailey, file)

by Frank James

It was 219 years ago today, April 30, 1789, that George Washington took the oath of office to become the first president of the United States, kicking off the first in a quadrennial series of ceremonies that will continue next January with the inauguration of the 44th president.

By now, a presidential inauguration is a fairly standard if lavish affair, with the grand spectacle on the west front of the U.S. Capitol, the pageantry of the inaugural parade and all the inaugural parties.

But of course when Washington took the oath of office in New York, the presidency had just been invented, so he was creating the ceremonies surrounding the office pretty much on the fly. At first, other members of the government didn't even know what they should call him. "His excellency" was suggested. They settled on "Mr. President."

He didn't get everything right. He didn't shake hands. Beneath the dignity of the head of state, he thought. He wouldn't accept the invitation of New York Gov. George Clinton to stay at his house since he evidently thought that would diminish the American presideny as well.

Wonder what he would make of of our glad-handling presidents who have no qualms about staying at the homes of their wealthy friends and supporters?

But those are small things compared to his strengths in the office, which were many, including his good judgment, a quality the current presidential candidates are trying to convince voters they possess as well.

Britannica.com has this description of Washington's inaugural:

He came across the Hudson River in a specially built barge decorated in red, white, and blue. The inaugural ceremony was performed on Wall Street, near the spot now marked by John Quincy Adams Ward's statue of Washington. A great crowd broke into cheers as, standing on the balcony of Federal Hall, he took the oath administered by Chancellor Robert Livingston and retired indoors to read Congress his inaugural address. Washington was clad in a brown suit of American manufacture, but he wore white stockings and a sword after the fashion of European courts.

The sword probably won't make a comeback although stockings could make another appearance on the new president next year if Sen. Hillary Clinton can somehow get past all the imposing obstacles between her and the White House.