George Washington held the office of the first U.S. president from 1789 to 1797, setting many constitutional practices and federal precedents. He organized the president's cabinet, defended executive authority, and used the veto for the first time; his neutrality policy during the French Revolutionary Wars and leadership during the Whiskey Rebellion also shaped early U.S. governance. He supported Hamiltonian programs, helped establish the nation's capital site, and led the Bill of Rights' early implementation. He oversaw the Northwest Indian War and secured the Jay Treaty and the Treaty of San Lorenzo, strengthening frontier security. The Navy recreated under the Naval Act of 1794 to protect commerce.