9022. WASHINGTON (George), Oath of office.—
Knox, Randolph and myself met at Knox's where Hamilton was also to have met,
to consider the time manner and place of the
President's swearing in. [515]
Hamilton had been
there before [us] and had left his opinion with
Knox, to wit, that the President should ask a
judge to attend him in his own house to administer
the oath, in the presence of the heads of
Departments, which oath should be deposited
in the Secretary of State's office. I concurred
in this opinion. E. Randolph was for the President's
going to the Senate chamber to take the
oath, attended by the Marshal of the United
States who should then make proclamation, &c.
Knox was for this and for adding the House of
Representatives to the presence, as they would
not yet be departed. Our individual opinions
were written to be communicated to the President
out of which he might form one.—
The Anas. Washington ed. ix, 139.
Ford ed., i, 221.
(Feb. 1793)
