 He was followed by his Vice President John Adams.Washington's presidential inauguration in 1789 was celebrated on its 150th anniversary in 1939.It took place at Federal Hall in New York City, the first capital under the new Constitution for one year before it was moved to Philadelphia and then finally to Washington, D.C. Washington had been elected unanimously the commander in chief of the Continental Army, president of the Constitutional Convention, and President of the United States twice.