1789: First U.S. presidential election

[Jan 7]( THIS DAY IN HISTORY 1789 [First U.S. presidential election]( Congress sets January 7, 1789 as the date by which states are required to choose electors for the country's first-ever presidential election. A month later, on February 4, George Washington was elected president by state electors and sworn into office on April 30, 1789. [read more »]( Art, Literature, and Film History 1891 [Zora Neale Hurston is born »]( 1950 ["Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" is the #1 song on the U.S. pop charts »]( 1955 [Marian Anderson becomes first African American to perform at the Met Opera »]( Cold War 1959 [United States recognizes new Cuban government »]( Crime 1901 ["Colorado Cannibal" Alferd Packer is paroled »]( 1946 [A case of split personality in puzzling Chicago murders »]( Exploration 1785 [Two explorers cross the English Channel in a balloon »]( France 2015 [12 people die in shooting at "Charlie Hebdo" offices »]( Natural Disasters & Environment 1892 [Mine explodes in Oklahoma »]( Sports 1927 [Harlem Globetrotters play their first game »]( U.S. PRESIDENTS 1953 [President Truman announces U.S. has developed hydrogen bomb »]( 1999 [President Clinton's impeachment trial begins »]( Vietnam War 1979 [Pol Pot overthrown »]( [HISTORY.com]( [Subscribe]( | [Update Profile]( | [Contact Us](mailto:thc.newsletters@aetn.com) You received this message because {EMAIL} is subscribed to This Day In History email updates. If you DO NOT wish to receive these emails please [UNSUBSCRIBE](. Having trouble viewing this message? [View the web version](. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not junk folders) and view images, [please add us to your address book or safe/white list](. This is a promotional email from HISTORY and A+E Networks. © 2020 A&E Television Networks, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Email Marketing, 235 E 45th Street, New York, NY 10017 [( [TV Parental Guidelines]( | [Careers]( | [Terms of Use]( | [Privacy Notice]( | [Copyright Policy](