JAMES MADISON, 4TH PRESIDENT - James Madison was sworn in as our fourth President on March 4, 1809. He was the last of our founding fathers to serve as President and was the first President to be inaugurated in the chambers of the U.S. House of Representatives. He was also the first President to have his inaugural ball held on the day of his inauguration, and to have the U.S. Marine Band play at the inaugural ball. His presidency is best known for two things: one, the social life that his wife Dolley Madison brought to the White House, and two, the burning of the White House during the war of 1812 with Great Britain. While he is considered only an average President, Madison is one of the giants of America's founding because of the key role that he played in the Federal Convention of 1787 that drafted the U.S. Constitution, including his authoring the Virginia Plan which became the initial blueprint for the Constitution. After the adoption of the U.S. Constitution, as a Congressman he was responsible for drafting and pushing through the passage of the Bill of Rights. His essays in the Federalist papers arguing for the adoption of the U.S. Constitution are considered some of the best arguments for the republican form of government adopted by the United States. Madison quote: "What is government itself but the greatest of all reflections on human nature. If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the greatest difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.

THOMAS JEFFERSON, 3RD PRESIDENT - Thomas Jefferson was sworn in on March 4, 1801 as our third President. He was the first President to be sworn in at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. and was the only President in our nation's history to walk to and from his inauguration. He was re-elected and sworn in to a second term as President on March 4, 1805. During the American Revolution, he was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. During his presidency, he authorized the purchase of the Louisiana Purchase from France, doubling the size of the United States. After retiring as President, he founded the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. Jefferson quote: ". . the minority possess their equal rights, which equal laws must protect, and to violate which would be oppression."

INAUGURATION OF GEORGE WASHINGTON AS OUR FIRST PRESIDENT - Above are both a painting of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart as well as an illustration from Columbian Magazine dated May 1789 of the triumphal arch erected at Gray's Ferry to greet Washington as he approached the city of Philadelphia on his way to New York for his inaguration as the first President of the United States. A reception was held for Washington in Philadelphia on April 20, 1789. As described in the Columbian Magazine, the railings of the bridge at Gray's Ferry were decorated with laurels interwoven with cedar, while a 20 foot high arch was erected at each end of the bridge made of laurels and other evergreens. Eleven flags were planted at the north side of the bridge representing the eleven states that had ratified the Constitution. About noon the illustrious Washington appeared, to be greet by the cheers and acclamations of an immense crowd. After being saluted by a discharge of cannons, Washington was escorted into Philadelphia by a troop of soldiers and prominent citizens of the city. Washington was subsequently inaugurated on April 30, 1789 on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City. He set the precedent of taking the oath of office with his hand on a Bible, and adding the words "so help me god" after the official oath. That evening there was fireworks to celebrate his inauguration, while an inaugural ball was held on May 7, 1789. As with his initial election as President, Washington was unanimously re-elected for a second term as President. His second inaugural speech on March 4, 1793 was the shortest given by any President, consisting of only 135 words. Washington set a precedent for future Presidents, with the exception of Franklin Roosevelt, by serving only two terms as President and then stepping down and returning to life as a citizen. Washington quote: ". . it is yet to be decided, whether the Revolution is ultimately to be considered a blessing or a curse: a blessing or a curse, not to the present age alone, for with our fate will the destiny of unborn Millions be involved."