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Will Bush Deliver Farewell Address?

December 22, 2008 1:02 PM

Abc_rick_klein_081203_mainABC News’ Rick Klein Reports: Eight years, two wars, a global financial mess, the worst terrorist attacks in the nation’s history, some of the most devastating natural disasters in memory -- an eventful tenure indeed for President Bush.

But might he slip back to Texas without saying goodbye?

The word out of the White House is that the president still hasn’t decided whether to deliver a farewell address, either from the Oval Office or some other location. Spokesman Tony Fratto said Monday that he “thinking about some ideas. But he hasn’t made that decision yet.

“I think if he feels that he has something important to say and it's the right way to say it, he will. But he just hasn't decided yet,” Fratto said.

The president told C-SPAN’s Steve Scully last week that he’d spoken to a speechwriter about the possibility of a formal farewell address, but still hadn’t decided whether it’s a good idea.

“A lot of Presidents have, and I'm giving it serious thought. I don't want it to be -- you know, kind of a real emotional goodbye. If I give it, it's going to be trying to leave behind some lessons learned,” Bush said. “I really haven't figured it out yet, but I have talked to a speechwriter about, should I decide to do it, what would we say -- and one thing, of course, is going to be we have to be vigilant and can't let our guard down because a terrorist threat still exists.”

There’s a tradition of formal presidential farewells going back to George Washington, who famously warned of excessive foreign entanglements in his 1796 farewell.

President Dwight Eisenhower gave one of the more famous addresses in this genre, with his warning against “unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex.”

President Ronald Reagan gave a farewell speech. So did Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.

Interestingly, President George H. W. Bush opted against a formal farewell -- aides said at the time that it was “just one of those things that didn't get done.”

He did, however, give a last speech at West Point in January 1993 that was treated as his valedictory, where he laid out his criteria for the use of military force. He said force was justified only “where and when force can be effective,” “where its application can be limited in scope and time,” and “where the potential benefits justify the potential costs and sacrifice.”

The current President Bush told C-SPAN’s Scully that he was thinking about some words of advice he could leave his successor and the nation:

“It makes sense to say, I've learned this and I wish my successor all the best; and, America needs to be on the lookout,” he said.

“One option for me is to talk about isolationism and protectionism, and that it's very important for us to resist those ‘isms.’ The world needs our presence. The people dying of AIDS on the continent of Africa need a robust response by the United States to save lives. We need voices calling upon coalition members to stay in the fight against the terrorists. And protectionism is rearing its ugly head -- witness the fact we had trouble getting good free trade agreements through the Congress with Panama and Colombia and South Korea.

“So maybe that's what I'll warn about as well -- thank you for giving me some ideas,” he added.

December 22, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (86)

User Comments

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Oh, my God, what will he say?... I found weapons of mass destruction in Iraq; I was the worst president ever; I captured Osama bin Laden; the fundamentals of the economy were sound...this farewell address will leave a lot of people speachless. Bush should do us all a favor: quietly crawl under a rock and disappear.

Posted by: what667 | Dec 22, 2008 3:52:19 PM

I see BDS is still in full bloom.

Posted by: JamesJ | Dec 22, 2008 3:56:44 PM

It's pretty ironic that GWH Bush's last speech laid out criteria for war which was defied by GW Bush.

Posted by: Kat | Dec 22, 2008 4:04:25 PM

Thank you President Bush for keeping our country safe for these past 7 years.


I read today that you have personally written every fallen soldier's family a letter and met with over 500 of these families, as well. Of course this story, along with anything else that might reflect positively on your presidency, is no where to be found in the headlines.


Posted by: dave | Dec 22, 2008 4:17:42 PM

I can hear Mr. Bush saying to all the liberals who have commented on this posting: KMA, please! Did I read somewhere today that Pelosi, Rockefeller, Daschle all voted warrantless wiretaps but lied about it when questioned by the MSM? I can hardly wait for the Messiah to take over. He won't know what hit him.

Posted by: mj loehrer | Dec 22, 2008 4:28:25 PM

Oh MOGO 111, for God's sake and the rest of us, keep your rediculous diatribe to yourself and stay on topic

Posted by: seansatx | Dec 22, 2008 4:51:09 PM

Bushed is and was the worst of all US presidents. Shameless and ignorant. He and cheny should be prosecuted for war crime which killed tens of thousands of human beings. They will be punished by their God as well as their conscience (I doubt) and wil be burnt in hell for the wicked deed they did to the whole world since 2001.

Posted by: royknng | Dec 22, 2008 5:16:16 PM

Bush is the worst US president ever. I stopped listening to him 7 years ago.

Posted by: becky (the real one) | Dec 22, 2008 5:25:32 PM

George Bush is a complete and utter failure. The damage he has brought to this country, our economy and our Constitution is catastrophic. The word INCOMPETENCE does not even come close to describing the destructive bungling and willful ignorance his administration subjected this country to. And the bizarre thing is some people still support this deficient alcoholic. We can only assume they are as deluded as he is. No, Mr. Bush, a farewell speach is definitely not called for. Head back to Texas. At least until the American people have their day in court with you...

Posted by: DaveM | Dec 22, 2008 5:44:15 PM

"I read today that you have personally written every fallen soldier's family a letter and met with over 500 of these families, as well."

He personally wrote them letters? If you believe that I've got some beachfront property for sale in Barstow.

Posted by: Silky | Dec 22, 2008 5:49:46 PM

If he's going to insist on a fairwell speech, I would like to throw a comment into the suggestion box, requesting it be very short and to the point. With no tricky phrases or words. It is literally agonizing to watch him speak.

Posted by: Silky | Dec 22, 2008 5:52:23 PM

I think you dumb ass people are so stupid about talking bad about Bush that you are sick .You just wait until GOD #2 GETS IN OFFICE You are in for a big surprise. And the Finance has been in control of the sorry Democrats for the last 2 years that is the problem and i used to be a DEmocrat . The US is really going to be sorry with Hussein Obama

Posted by: lee conyers | Dec 22, 2008 6:39:14 PM

I think a farewell speech from George W. Bush would be quite entertaining. I would want to watch it over and over, and I would laugh and laugh at anything he might have to say to us at this point. He's the worst figurehead ever, in the history of the U.S., but he's so FUNNY when he tries to be smart!

Posted by: Cxle | Dec 22, 2008 6:43:43 PM

“I think if he feels that he has something important to say and it's the right way to say it, he will."

If Bush feel like he have something important to say, I hope he say it the right way without mangling subject verb agreement too much.


Posted by: kat | Dec 22, 2008 6:57:48 PM

I'm sure he only speaks behind shoe deflectors. Just go away you worthless low-life. No one is the least bit interested in what you have to say. You ruined the country just like all of the businesses that daddy handed you. Dear-in-the-headlights approach to governing until CHeney told him what to do. Just go away and don't worry about how history will judge, the American people already have.

Posted by: bill1037 | Dec 22, 2008 6:59:58 PM

"And the childrens shall learn"!

Posted by: bob | Dec 22, 2008 7:15:06 PM

There's no doubt he was a grave disappointment, but let's be clear here. He in fact did inherit Bin Laden--Clinton was offered his head on a platter and he did *nothing* about it.

His top advisors told him that Iraq *did* have WMDs. Hindsight proves that was bad info, but I personally don't think we should gone to war again even if they did. And I think it goes without saying that terrorism has spiked in large part because of the war, and our response to 9/11. That part is tough. I honestly don't know how we *should* have responded, but obviously hurling harsh words at the human garbage terrorists would have had no effect.

The economic disaster is not his fault either, as much as people would like to blame him. If you know anybody who bought a larger house than he can afford, with two (or more) interest-only loans, who has a boat he can't afford, and who is buying an RV he can't afford, then you know who is responsible for our financial meltdown. That guy, and all of the idiots who were willing to give him the loans for the stuff he can't afford. There was a time where loan officers would be fired for being that reckless, but the lunacy went all the way to the top. They should all be fired, and potentially jailed.

And let's not forget that America is not a dictatorship. The president cannot simply say "Attack!" and suddenly we're at war. The reason we are fighting two wars is because Congress voted for and approved them. Keep that in mind. If you want to fix the real problem, fire everybody in Congress. Get rid of all the career politicians and start over.

I have the highest hopes for the Obama administration. At first I considered McCain, since he has so much more experience. But I've changed my mind. Partisan politics is an absolute failure. The truth always lies somewhere in between the extremes.

I would love to see a rebuilding of infrastructure. Stop outsourcing everything! Let's regain some national pride and expertise, and regain our position as the leader of the free world, as a country to be respected, not reviled.

Let's all support Obama now, and try to rebuild the American Dream. When he struggles--and he will--let's be easier on him than we have been with Bush. Granted, he has limited experience. But if he surrounds himself with the best and the brightest (as he seems to be), and he continues to lead with the right attitude, I think our future could be a lot brighter than it is today.

Posted by: bob | Dec 22, 2008 7:31:37 PM

Let's see: (1) We had the Afrans war won and almost got OBL but diverted our resources to Iraq, (2) started the Iraq war using excuses the administration knew to be false, (3) imprisoned over 900 detainees at GITMO (we released over 650 of them with 250 still to get trials after years of imprisonment), (3) a national debt that has virtually bankrupted us, (4) great loss of credibility overseas, (5) a President who has the lowest approval rating in history. Would he talk about any of these things? Would he recover from self denial?

Mr. President Bush - please go gently into that dark night and take you minions with you. Allow us the time to recover from your years in office. Please do not make a farewell speech. Frankly, you do not bear all of the blame. After all, we did reelect you in 2004.

Posted by: Beto | Dec 22, 2008 7:37:52 PM

Why not just read us a story, Mr. President?

http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/the-protection-racket/

Posted by: dragon | Dec 22, 2008 8:25:36 PM

Bush,

NOBODY gives a #$^& what you say, think or do.


JUST GET OUT !!!!!!!!

Posted by: Order | Dec 22, 2008 9:25:33 PM

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