George Washington was inaugurated into office on April 30, 1789. Within six months of taking the oath, President Washington had staffed the new government. During his two terms, Washington would do innumerable things to influence the future of the presidency. One of the first things that he did wi

The first session of the 1789 Congress saw two important foreign policy precedents established by President Washington. He had thought of his constitutional power to negotiate treaties "with the advice and consent of the Senate" as requiring him to appear personally before the Senate to seek such advice before starting to negotiate a treaty. He tried this procedure once, in connection with a proposed treaty with the Creek nation. But the senators argued over every little detail, and Washington went away muttering that he would never try this again. He concluded instead that it was better for the chief executive to carry through the delicate process of treaty negotiation first, and then submit the finished product for the Senate's advice and consent. This procedure has been followed ever since.

Eventually, the resolution of the debate fell into Washington's hands, when he was given the bill to sign. Washington had frequently made clear his unshakable belief that a strong central government was essential to the survival of the United States. Since strong government required reasonable freedom of action due to unexpected situations, Washington decided that a more liberal interpretation of the Constitution was needed on some points. Hence, he signed the bill in February 1791, creating the first Bank of the United States.

Feeling as strongly as he did on these points, it is significant that Washington used such restraint in letting Congress know of his sentiments. He held himself in check because he was resolved above all else not to overstep the limits of his branch of government, established by the Constitution. He scrupulously respected the independence of the legislative and judicial branches of government. He was especially anxious to set no precedents that would start a dangerous trend toward monarchy or any form of dictatorship, but at the same time he was determined to be a strong president, not merely a figurehead. In this way, Washington was slowly molding the presidency into a working machine. He was creating a model for future presidents that would restrict them where necessary, yet allow them to work freely within their mandate.

Possibly the greatest contribution to the formation of the United States government that Washington ever made was setting a precedent as to whether the Constitution should be rigidly or flexibly interpreted. In the December of 1790, Alexander Hamilton, who was requested by Congress to report any action necessary to establish public credit, submitted a proposal for the chartering of a national bank with a capital stock of $10 million. This proposition immediately inflamed a whirlwind of opposition from those who said that a strict reading of the Constitution yielded no power to Congress to charter a national bank. Hamilton vigorously ex

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