ABSTRACT
The old Confederation Congress had decided that the government under the new Constitution would begin in New York on the first Wednesday in March, 1789. When that day arrived, neither House of Congress had the quorum that was needed. It was 6 April before a sufficient number of representatives and senators assembled to fulfill their constitutional duty of opening and counting the ballots for the office of president. There had never been any doubt about the result of the presidential vote. All 69 presidential electors who voted had given their vote to George Washington. In leading the armies to victory in the War ofIndependence, Washington had achieved a legendary status. When the delegates at Philadelphia had created a powerful presidency, they had no other candidate in mind. In a time of crisis, they expected him to preserve the republic that he had made possible.
