On 4 March 1789 the first Congress under the new Constitution convened in New York City, and on 30 April George Washington and John Adams were inaugurated as the first president and vice president of the United States, respectively. One of the first issues Congress debated, from 23 April to 14 May, was the necessity of titles for the president and vice president. Members of the Senate, supported by Vice President Adams, suggested such titles for the president as "His Elective Highness" or "His Highness the President of the United States of America and Protector of Their Liberties." Members of the House were horrified by monarchical titles in a republican government. The Senate agreed to abandon fancy titles in the interest of harmony but also perhaps because they agreed with Sen. William Maclay of Pennsylvania that it was "impossible to add to the respect entertained for General...