Opinions on the manner of George Washington taking the oath of office - American History 1493-1945 - Adam Matthew Digital

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Field name	Value
Collection Reference Number	GLC02437.05840
From Archive Folder	The Henry Knox Papers [0117] January-March 1793
Title	Opinions on the manner of George Washington taking the oath of office
Date	1 March 1793
Author	Knox, Henry (1750-1806)
Additional authors	Randolph, Edmund (1753-1813) Hamilton, Alexander (ca. 1757-1804)
Document Type	Government document
Content Description	Signed and initialed by Knox. Marked "Copy." Knox and Randolph provide President Washington with opinions on the upcoming second presidential inauguration. Knox and Randolph believe that: the president should take the oath in public, that the time should be noon, that the place should be the Senate chamber, that the marshal of the district should inform the vice president that the Senate chamber will be used, that the vice president, governor, and foreign ministers be notified of the time of the oath, and that Mr. [William] Cushing administer the oath. Knox has signed for himself and on behalf of Randolph and then transcribed the opinion of Alexander Hamilton, who did not object to the ideas on the oath of office, but said "I am not however Satisfied that prudential considerations are not equally ballanced." Docket notes that Thomas Jefferson gave his opinion to the president verbally on 28 February. Jefferson thought the oath should take place at the president's house. Retained draft.
Subjects	Revolutionary War General President Oath Government and Civics Inauguration Vice President Congress Diplomacy Judiciary
People	Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Randolph, Edmund (1753-1813) Hamilton, Alexander (ca. 1757-1804) Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826)
Theme	Government & Politics; The Presidency
Sub-collection	The Henry Knox Papers
Copyright	The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module	Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859
Transcript	Show/hide Download PDF [draft] March 1. 1793 (Copy) It is our opinion 1. That the President ought to take the oath in Public. 2 That the time be on Monday next at 12 oclock in the forenoon 3 That the place be the Senate chamber 4th That the Marshall of the district inform the vice President that the Senate chamber being the usual place of the Presidents Public acts, it is supposed to be the best place for taking the oath; and that it is wished that the chamber be open 5 That it be uniformally notified to the vice President, Governor and foreign ministers that the oath is to be taken at the time and place above mentioned 6. That Mr. Cushing be requested to attend; and administer the oath 7 That the President go without form attended by such Gentlemen, as he may choose; and return without form, except that he be preceeded by the Marshall H Knox Edm: Randolph March 1. 1793 My opinion given yesterday was founded on prudential considerations of the moment; though I think it right in the abstract to give publicity to the act in question. If this is to be done on the present occasion I see no objection to the above form. I am not however Satisfied that prudential considerations are not equally ballanced A. Hamilton Sir I have the honor to enclose the [struck: are] opinions of [struck: Mr. Hamilton] Mr. Randolf and myself upon the time place and manner of the Presidents taking the oath and also Mr. Hamiltons qualified opinion on the same subject I am Sir with perfect respect yr [humble svt] HK The President of the US. [docket] Copy March 1. 1793. Mr Randoph and Mr Knoxs opinion on the time place and manner of the Presidents taking the oath [struck: off] of office and also Mr Hamiltons qualified opinion on the Same Subject - N.B. Mr Jefferson on the 28 gave his opinion verbaly that the President should have the oath administered to him in his own house-

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