1. Washington’s Farewell:
Then and now
Washington’s Farewell:
Vanessa B. Beasley
Department of Communication Studies
Department of Political Science
Dean, The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons
Vanderbilt University

2. When presidents leave…
August
END of Farewell to WH staff =
"And so I say to you on this occasion, as we leave, we leave proud of the people who have stood by us and worked for us and served this country.
We want you to be proud of what you have done. We want you to continue to serve in government, if that is your wish. Always give your best, never get discouraged, never be petty; always remember, others may hate you, but those who hate you don't win unless you hate them, and then you destroy yourself.
And so, we leave with high hopes, in good spirit, and with deep humility, and with very much gratefulness in our hearts. I can only say to each and every one of you, we come from many faiths, we pray perhaps to different gods -- but really the same God in a sense -- but I want to say for each and every one of you, not only will we always remember you, not only will we always be grateful to you but always you will be in our hearts and you will be in our prayers.”

3. Where do these norms come from?
Citation: “Presidents Creating the Presidency: Deeds Done in Words” by Karlyn Kohrs Campbell and Kathleen H. Jamieson (University of Chicago Press, 2008)

4. Washington’s Farewell, then…
HISTORICAL CONTEXT: 1796
Anxieties about future of the republic, about who could fill the president's shoes, about the impact of political ambition on the electoral process
Burgeoning civil religion
Government was full of “grand orators” using “sentimental style,” especially in White House (vs Congress)

5. Washington’s Farewell, then…
Washington’s Response: Three Warnings
Do not let geographic divisions threaten national unity.
Do not let political parties grow or become too powerful.
Do not create “entanglements” with other nations.
Example: “In contemplating the causes which may disturb our union, it occurs as a matter of serious concern that any ground should have been furnished for characterizing parties by geographical discriminations, Northern and Southern, Atlantic and Western, whence designing men may endeavor to excite a belief that there is a real difference of local interests and views.”
EX: “I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the state, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me know take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner, against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally…. The alternate domination of one faciton over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is iteself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and power in the absolute power of an individual....”
EX: “Observe good faith and justice towards all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all...It will be worthy of a free, enlightened, and at no distant period a great nation, to give to mankind the magnamous and too novel example of a people always gudied by an exalted justice and benevolence...The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nation is in extending our commerical relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible... It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world...”

6. Washington’s Farewell, now…
Song: “One last time” from “Hamilton” soundtrack

7. Washington’s Farewell, now…
Homework: Did Obama include “warnings” in his farewell, or did he do something else?