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First Journal of the Senate of the United States of America, entry for April 6, 1789

National Archives and Records Administration, Records of the U.S. Senate

March 4, 1789, was the opening date for the new Congress. Unfortunately, when the representatives and senators gathered that day, there were not enough members of either body to constitute a quorum. The House began its business on April 1 and the Senate on April 6. After electing its temporary President, the Senate fulfilled its constitutional duty, counting the electoral ballots for President and Vice President of the United States. This page shows the results of that election: George Washington of Virginia was elected President and John Adams of Massachusetts, who finished second in the balloting, was elected Vice President.