In 1789 the first Senate debated how to address George Washington. A majority favored “His Highness the President of the United States of America and Protector of their Liberties.” The House of Representatives disagreed. It resolved that “it is not proper to annex any style or title to the respective styles or titles of office expressed in the Constitution.”
On May 14 the Senate gave way. The title remained “President of the United States.” Senator Ralph Izard began calling Vice President John Adams, who had pressed for titles, “His Rotundity.”