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George Washington was the first elected president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. He was unanimously elected by the Electoral College in the first presidential election, establishing a precedent for the role and authority of the presidency. Washington's leadership during the American Revolution and his role in the framing of the U.S. Constitution helped earn him widespread respect and support among the populace, making him a natural choice for the position. His presidency was marked by significant challenges, including setting up the new government and establishing the nation's policies, which laid the foundation for the future office holders.

The other figures listed were notable presidents, but they came into office later and under different circumstances. Thomas Jefferson, while a key founding father and the author of the Declaration of Independence, was the third president. Abraham Lincoln, renowned for his leadership during the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation, was the nation's sixteenth president. Theodore Roosevelt, the twenty-sixth president, is known for significant domestic policy changes and an assertive foreign policy. Each of these presidents made important contributions to U.S. history, but none was the first to hold the office after the establishment of the presidency in 1789.