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In 1789 George Washington was again called to serve his country, this time in the role of its first President. Upon hearing the news, he wrote a friend that he felt like a "prisoner going to his own execution." About a month after her husband left for New York on April 16 for his inauguration, Mrs. Washington followed him bringing her two grandchildren with her. She was initially reluctant to go back into public life, complaining of feeling like a "state prisoner" because of the restrictions placed on her in the role as first lady. However, first in New York, and later in Philadelphia, she settled into the job and became a great asset to the President in his official entertaining. Her warm and friendly presence made a good balance to her reserved spouse, and the relative informality of her weekly Friday levees gave those who attended their only opportunity to freely socialize with the president. It was said that while "George Washington was the "head" of the government, Martha Washington was its "heart".