Part 5, The President: Chapters 46-63 Summary and Analysis

Washington was alerted of his unanimous win as president by Charles Thompson and immediately set out for New York. Although the Constitution said nothing about an inaugural speech, Washington chose to make one to Congress shortly after accepting the oath of office.

Part of being president was the need to socialize with the people. To deal with his discomfort with strangers, Washington confined these meetings to a weekly levee he would hold in his home each Tuesday. On Fridays, Mrs. Washington would hold a similar reception for the ladies that Washington would attend as well.

Within a few months of taking the oath of office, Washington became ill with a tumor on his leg that had to be excised by a local surgeon. As Washington lay ill, his mother died.

Washington spent a...