George Washington served as the first U.S. president from 1789 to 1797, establishing many constitutional practices and federal precedents. He organized the president's cabinet, exercised executive authority, and used the veto for the first time; his nonintervention policy during the French Revolutionary Wars and leadership during the Whiskey Rebellion also influenced early U.S. governance. He supported Hamiltonian programs, contributed to establishing the nation's capital site, and led the Bill of Rights' early implementation. He directed the Northwest Indian War and secured the Jay Treaty and the Treaty of San Lorenzo, strengthening frontier security. The Navy was re-established under the Naval Act of 1794 to protect commerce.