Inspired by Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, perhaps the most famous of all presidential speeches, here are nine other instances of powerful presidential rhetoric on topics ranging from political parties to foreign policy to race relations.
 Portrait of George Washington (Painted by Gilbert Stuart) |
George Washington’s Farewell Address, 1796 Washington wrote this farewell address toward the end of this second term to say he would not run for a third term. It was printed in newspapers and circulated in pamphlet form. “There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the government and serve to keep alive the spirit of liberty. This within certain limits is probably true; and in governments of a monarchical cast, patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, in governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume.” |
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