The statement that gives precedents George Washington set as first President of the United States is the one that states that "He refused to serve more than two terms and promoted dignity in office".
George Washington (1732-1799) was the first President of the United States between 1789 and 1797 and commander-in-chief of the Revolutionary Continental Army in the War of Independence (1775-1783). He is considered one of the founding fathers of the United States along with John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.
The Electoral College unanimously elected Washington in the elections of 1789, and again in the elections of 1792, which is still the only president who has received 100% of the electoral votes. Washington took the oath of office as the first president under the Constitution of the United States of America on April 30, 1789, in the Federal Hall of New York, although, at first, he had not wanted the position.
The first Congress of the United States voted in favor of paying Washington a salary of USD 25,000 a year, a large sum in 1789. Washington, which was already rich, reduced his salary, since he valued his image as a disinterested public servant. At the behest of Congress, however, he finally accepted the payment, to avoid creating a precedent by which the presidency would be perceived as an independent office limited only to wealthy people who could serve without pay. Washington carefully attended to the pomp and ceremony of the office, making sure that the titles and republican symbols never emulated the European royal courts. To this end, he preferred the title "Mr. President" to more majestic suggested treatments.
Washington proved to be a skilled administrator, an excellent delegator of functions and a judge of talent and character, who held regular meetings to discuss cabinet issues before making a final decision. In the handling of routine tasks, he was "systematic, orderly, energetic, concerned about the opinion of others, but decisive, determined to the general objectives and with coherence in the particular actions with them".
Washington reluctantly served a second term as president. He refused to apply for a third party, thus establishing the usual policy of a maximum of two terms for a president, which later became law by the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution.
