George Washington took the oath of office as the first president of the United States at Federal Hall in New York City.

George Washington was a Founding Father and the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. As commander of the Continental Army, Washington led Patriot forces to victory in the American Revolutionary War against the British Empire. He is commonly known as the Father of the Nation for his role in bringing about American independence.

The oath of office of the president of the United States is the oath or affirmation that the president of the United States takes upon assuming office. The wording of the oath is specified in Article II, Section One, Clause 8, of the United States Constitution, and a new president is required to take it before exercising or carrying out any official powers or duties.

George Washington's tenure as the inaugural president of the United States began on April 30, 1789, the day of his first inauguration, and ended on March 4, 1797. Washington took office after he was elected unanimously by the Electoral College in the 1788–1789 presidential election, the nation's first quadrennial presidential election. Washington was re-elected unanimously in 1792 and chose to retire after two terms. He was succeeded by his vice president, John Adams of the Federalist Party.

Federal Hall was the first capitol building of the United States established under the Constitution. Serving as the meeting place of the First United States Congress and the site of George Washington's first presidential inauguration, the building was located at the intersection of Wall and Broad streets in Lower Manhattan, New York City, from 1703 to 1812. The site is occupied by the Federal Hall National Memorial, a Greek Revival–style building completed in 1842 as the Federal Custom House, 26 Wall Street in the Financial District of Manhattan. The National Park Service now operates the building as a national memorial commemorating the historic events that occurred at Federal Hall.