On this anniversary of the first presidential farewell speech, offered here is a small sample of hits and a miss.
George Washington / 1
The unity of government which constitutes you one people is also now dear to you. It is justly so, for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquility at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize. But as it is easy to foresee that, from different causes and from different quarters, much pains will be taken, many artifices employed to weaken in your minds the conviction of this truth; as this is the point in your political fortress against which the batteries of internal and external enemies will be most constantly and actively (though often covertly and insidiously) directed, it is of infinite moment that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national union to your collective and individual happiness; that you should cherish a cordial, habitual, and immovable attachment to it; accustoming yourselves to think and speak of it as of the palladium of your political safety and prosperity; watching for its preservation with jealous anxiety; discountenancing whatever may suggest even a suspicion that it can in any event be abandoned; and indignantly frowning upon the first dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together the various parts.
September 19, 1796.
Barack H. Obama / 44
My fellow Americans, Michelle and I have been so touched by all the well wishes that we’ve received over the past few weeks. But tonight, it’s my turn to say thanks. Whether we have seen eye-to-eye or rarely agreed at all, my conversations with you, the American people, in living rooms and in schools, at farms, on factory floors, at diners and on distant military outposts – those conversations are what have kept me honest, and kept me inspired, and kept me going. And every day, I have learned from you. You made me a better President, and you made me a better man.
* As the audience then chanted – Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
President Obama reminded all – “I can’t do that”.
January 10, 2017.
Donald J. Trump / 45
Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Me Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Me Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah I’m great Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Me Blah Blah Blah Blah Me Blah Blah Blah Me Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Me, I’m great Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Me Blah Blah Blah Me Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Me Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Me Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah I am the greatest President of all Presidents since Presidents were invented, the greatest Blah Blah Blah Blah Me Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Me.
January 19, 2021.
