October 3, 1789: Thanksgiving Proclamation

My wife (a history enthusiast) found several cool presidential speeches on this website from the Miller Center at UVA. This one from George Washington seemed timely for the beginning of November, with Thanksgiving coming up:

I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks, for his kind care and protection of the People of this country previous to their becoming a Nation, for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, … and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

This next part seemed particularly apropos this year. (Emphasis mine.)

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions, to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually, to render our national government a blessing to all the People…

Nov 2, 2025 · No comments yet