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Show ' W V i 04 sh ; NM v ft 9 1 ' 1 1 Washington's Inauguration as . the First Chief Executive George Washington waa inagurated first President of the United States April 30, 17S9, in New York city, which al thai time was the federal capital. During the ceremonies, the chancellor administered the oath with great deliberation and emphasis, em-phasis, after which Washington bowed down, seized the Bible, kissed it, and exclaimed ex-claimed with closed eyes and much devotion: devo-tion: "T swear; so help me God!" Thereupon ttie chancellor declared, "It is done." and turning to the crowd exclaimed: ex-claimed: "Long live George Washington, President of the United States!" The last named declaration on the part ot the chancellor was in imitation, of monarchical mon-archical custom. The error of this practice prac-tice was, however, Boon exposed and abandoned, but at the time th. crowd thought of nothing but the exciting solemnity solem-nity of the scene, and many who demonstratively demon-stratively waved their hats were too overcome over-come by emotion to join in the huzzas. |