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© Copyright 1998, Jim Loy
Some reference books say that George Washington was elected "unopposed" for President, for both of his terms, in 1789 and 1792. They record that he got all of the electoral vote, 69 votes in 1789 and 132 in 1792. Most reference books say that he was elected unanimously, by the electoral college. There is apparently no record of the popular vote in the first nine elections.
Back then (up until 1804, when the 12th Ammendment was ratified), the person who got the greatest number of electoral votes became President. The second place finisher became Vice-President. John Adams was elected Vice-President, in both of those elections. This is a little confusing (see addendum, below), if John Adams received no electoral votes.
Addendum:
I have been informed, by Richard White who was browsing my pages, that each elector cast two votes, in those elections, one for Washington, and one for a second choice. Thus, Washington was elected unanimously. Also, Washington did not campaign for president.
Richard remembered that from high school American History. I seem to remember it, too, now that he jogged my memory. I could not find that info in the World Almanac or my encyclopedia.
Incidentally, almost certainly, Washington did not have wooden teeth, he never threw a dollar across the Potomac River, and he never chopped down a cherry tree.