Well aren't you a Chatty Charlie: Inauguration Day Speeches, George Washington's 1793 Speech

With Inauguration Day upon us, let us look back on yesteryear when presidents actually wrote their own speeches and kept it pretty pithy.

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The first president of the United States of America was also the first president have have a second inauguration. George Washington's first inauguration speech in 1789 was--at the time--a lengthy 1,428 words, akin to about six double-spaced typed pages.

Upon his second election and inauguration in 1793, Washington kept it simple--so simple and to the point that it only took him 135 words to offer his feelings leading into his second term.

Washington's speech in its entirety:

Fellow Citizens:

I am again called upon by the voice of my country to execute the functions of its Chief Magistrate. When the occasion proper for it shall arrive, I shall endeavor to express the high sense I entertain of this distinguished honor, and of the confidence which has been reposed in me by the people of united America.

Previous to the execution of any official act of the President the Constitution requires an oath of office. This oath I am now about to take, and in your presence: That if it shall be found during my administration of the Government I have in any instance violated willingly or knowingly the injunctions thereof, I may (besides incurring constitutional punishment) be subject to the upbraidings of all who are now witnesses of the present solemn ceremony.

I like how he ends on a downer of a note. "If I end up jerking around as president, feel free to not only legally punish me, but everyone here has the right to ofer up their own form of a creative beatdown."

Aww, that Georgie was a cutie.