'Executive Department' Activities Occurring at 190 High Street
Mueller J. 2003. 'Executive Department' Activities Occurring at 190 High Street
Summary: Intrigue, bribes, nepotism, resignations, dismissals, and re-organizations of executive officers ii characterized the presidencies of Washington (GW hereafter, unless quoted) and Adams at 190 High Street. Such governmental intrigue and ministerial shifts were also commonly-accepted parts of the modern era, Enlightenment governance that America inherited most directly from raucous English politics throughout the eighteenth century. The Washington and Adams administrations were also riddled with internal threats and besieged by external threats to test the power and resolve of the fledgling American nation. These characteristics are quite retrodictable, given the cultural-historical context. Most of Washington's and Adams' presidential activities were duties directly enumerated in Article II, Sections 2 and 3, of the Constitution, which is appended. These Constitutionally-enumerated activities that are discussed in this brief report and that took place at 190 High include commander-in-chief, written opinions of executive officers, reprieves and pardons, treaty-making, appointment of American ambassadors, judges, officers, etc.; state of the union information and recommendations, and reception of foreign ambassadors and public officials. One time-consuming activity of both presidents of this Age of Federalism (1790-1800) was resolving Cabinet differences. This resolution of opinions among his officers was an "implied" duty based on the Constitution statement, "He [the president] may require the opinion, in writing, of the principal officer of each of the executive department ... " The major points are made in the text, while the endnotes contain supporting details. A map showing locations of executive departments within INDE is also appended. Washington's Presidency The Following historical events are discussed in this firstsection: *1791-2, Cherokee Receptions and the Treaty of Holston *1794, Chickamauga Receptions and Treaty *1791-94, St. Clair and Wayne vs. Northwest Native Americans *1790-96, Annual State of the Union *1791-97, Employment of Washington's Family Members *1792, First Veto-1:30,000 Representation *1792-95, Hamilton-Jefferson Cabinet Differences *1793. Citizen Genet Affair *1794, Judiciary Consultation and the Whiskey Rebellion *1794, Jay Treaty and Confidentiality of Executive Treaty Papers *1796, Two-term Precedent *1792, GW--Personal