# Washington's First Inaugural Address, 1789

In 1789, the nation's first inauguration featured a surprise -- George Washington made a speech after taking the oath of office, although no one was expecting it. The inaugural address became an instant tradition. Julie Miller, the Library's early American historian, explains how Washington made history and precedent.

- Kind: Talk
- Year: 2021
- By: Library Of Congress
- Archive: [Library of Congress](https://www.loc.gov/item/2024697345/)
- Licence or status: Rights statement at the Library of Congress (as the archive states it)
- Credit: Library of Congress
- Who can watch: Tweens profiles and older (the archive gives no rating; placed by Invisible Network from its collection and subjects)

[Watch now](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/watch/archive/loc/2024697345?play=1)