  We present the first results from an ongoing survey for multiplicity among
the bright stars using the Navy Precision Optical Interferometer (NPOI). We
first present a summary of NPOI observations of known multiple systems,
including the first detection of the companion of $\beta$ Scuti with precise
relative astrometry, to illustrate the instrument's detection sensitivity for
binaries at magnitude differences $\Delta$$m$ $\lessapprox$ 3 over the range of
angular separation 3 - 860 milliarcseconds (mas). A limiting $\Delta$$m_{700}$
$\sim$ 3.5 is likely for binaries where the component spectral types differ by
less than two. Model fits to these data show good agreement with published
orbits, and we additionally present a new orbit solution for one of these
stars, $\sigma$ Her. We then discuss early results of the survey of bright
stars at $\delta$ $\geq$ -20$\deg$. This survey, which complements previous
surveys of the bright stars by speckle interferometry, initially emphasizes
bright stars of spectral types F0 through K2. We report observations of 41
stars of apparent visual magnitude $m_V$ $\leq$ 4.30, all having been observed
on multiple nights. Analysis of these data produces fitted angular separations,
position angles, and component magnitude differences for six previously known
visual binaries. Three additional systems were examined as possible binaries,
but no conclusive detection could be made. No evidence of close stellar
companions within our detection limit of $\Delta$$m$ $\approx$ 3 was found for
the remaining 32 stars observed; however, uniform-disk angular diameters are
reported for 11 of the resolved stars in this last group.
