John Adams Influence On The Electoral College

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The Electoral College unanimously elected me, Washington, as the first president in 1789, and again in 1792. I remain the only president to receive the totality of electoral votes. John Adams, who received the next highest vote total, was elected Vice President. When I won the presidential election of 1789 with 69 votes in the electoral college, Adams came in second with 34 votes and became Vice President. Due to a delay in the decision of the electoral college, Adams first presided over the Senate on April 21. I was officially sworn in and gave my inaugural address on April 30. Beyond Adams' nominal position in the Senate (he was allotted a vote as tie breaker when required), he otherwise played a minor role in the politics of the early 1790s. …show more content…

Livingston: “I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Historian John R. Alden indicates that Washington added the words "So help me God. I was not a member of any political party and hoped that they would not be formed, fearing conflict that would undermine republicanism. My closest advisors formed two factions, setting the framework for the future First Party System. Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton had bold plans to establish the national credit and build a financially powerful nation, and formed the basis of the Federalist Party. Secretary of the State Thomas Jefferson, founder of the Jeffersonian Republicans, strenuously opposed Hamilton's agenda, but I typically favored Hamilton over Jefferson, and it was Hamilton's agenda that went into effect. Jefferson's political actions, his support of Philip Freneau's National Gazette, and his attempt to undermine Hamilton, nearly led me to dismiss Jefferson from his cabinet.[150] Though Jefferson left the cabinet voluntarily, I never forgave him, and I never spoke to him again.

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