Barack Obama will give the 35th Farewell Address this evening in Chicago, where his career began.
All Presidents, except the eight Presidents who died in office, have given farewell addresses, although Richard Nixon’s final speech was awkward, and not really a Farewell Address.
Grover Cleveland had the chance to do it twice due to two nonconsecutive terms of office.
Most Farewell Addresses have been unmemorable, and one has to wonder what Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy might have said had they lived to retire from the Presidency.
But three Farewell Addresses in particular stand out.
George Washington (speaking out against political parties, and support of avoiding foreign entanglements).
Dwight D. Eisenhower (warning against the Military Industrial Complex dominating).
Jimmy Carter (speaking of the need to deal with the energy crisis, warning of the dangers of nuclear proliferation, and calling for continued pursuit of human rights around the world).
No one would ever say that Washington, Eisenhower, and Carter were great public speakers, but they all spoke words that have reverberated ever since.
Expect tonight that Barack Obama, who is a great public speaker, and has uttered many great speeches, will give a Farewell Address memorable for the ages, as he moves toward being part of history in ten days!
President Barack Obama has been the best, the most intelligent, clamorous, sophisticated President in our entire history. If it were not that Washington was the first President I would put Obama above Washington. Surely above Lincoln in eloquence, education and intelligence. Remember Lincoln wasn’t all about ending slavery he wanted to preserve the Union. Thus his moral character is beneath Obama. Obama is second to none. If it were up to me he should be elected indefinitely, he deserves it more than the American people who let him down last November. Most Americans do not realize the privilege they had of being governed by a person with such a superior intellect. Most Americans were just too stupid to understand his ideas his plans for us so we can all live better. Many just didn’t get his greatness. I don’t think we will ever at least in our life time be so lucky to have someone like him govern and guide us.
I agree with a lot of what you say, Depressed Democrat, but I would not rate Obama the best ever.
That is going too far in my view, but certainly outstanding, and he will be missed a great deal!
Rustbelt Democrat, Pragmatic Progressive, Former Republican, Rational Lefty, Southern Liberal and I second how you feel DD.
Wow! What a difference between that beautiful speech by Obama last night and Trump’s fiasco of a press conference this morning.
Today’s press conference juxtaposed brilliantly with Obama’s farewell last night. One leader became completely unhinged while the other demonstrated a calm, cool, and steady demeanor. It’s going to be a long four years.
If the GOP had any sense, they’d already have their secret “25th Amendment Invocation Committee†assembling. Â
Biden was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. I teared up while watching it. http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/12/politics/biden-awarded-presidential-medal-of-freedom/index.html
So did I, Southern Liberal!