Farewell Addresses by US Presidents and Other Notable Leaders: Parting Words Before the Political Afterlife

This collection prints and analyzes the 12 formal presidential farewell addresses in U.S. history, situating them within the context of biblical, classical, and other literary antecedents.

Presidents have numerous attempts to say hello, not simply when they give a victory speech on election night, but also when they announce their candidacies, accept their party's nominations, and otherwise campaign throughout the nation. Opportunities for saying goodbye are less regular, in part because presidents are sometimes struck down before the completion of their terms and in part because not all choose to do so in a formal speech. When presidents do choose to give a formal farewell address, however, the speech is an invaluable glimpse into not only the figure who gave it but also the larger political landscape of the time. This book details the evolution of the presidential farewell address, documenting how the genre has shifted and become more institutionalized over time.