President’s Day: Washington’s Farewell Address

Washington's Farewell Address, 1796 by Allyn Cox, Oil on Canvas, 1973-1974
{photo by the US Capitol / Public Domain}

Happy President’s Day! While we all enjoy a short break from the regular routine, we won't be sharing the usual Monday Mix-ins today, but we do have a few supplemental links you can explore with your kids. Let's look at a longstanding, time-honored tradition: the annual Senate reading of George Washington’s 1796 Farewell Address.

Each year since 1896, the United States Senate has recognized George Washington’s birthday (February 22) by selecting one senator to read aloud the address during a legislative session. Parties alternate each year, and it usually takes around 45 minutes to read.

This tradition actually began on February 22, 1862, when the speech was read to help boost morale during the difficult time of the Civil War. Later, in 1888, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the Constitution, the Senate remembered the 1862 reading and repeated the observance. Within a few years it became an annual custom in the Senate to read it aloud on Washington’s birthday.

In this speech to “Friends and Citizens,” Washington implores his fellow Americans to set aside divisive jealousies and unite under common national interests. He warns that our country’s stability is threatened by geographic sectionalism, political factions, and interference by foreign powers in our domestic affairs. After each year’s reading of this memorable, patriotic message, the designated senator signs his or her name and leaves a note in a black, leather-bound book. These entries range from brief remarks to more elaborate personal stories and comments. Many of these entries, along with a list of every senator who has read the address, can be found here at the United States Senate website.

Here’s a pdf of the full text of Washington’s Farewell Address.

See images of the first and last pages of Washington’s final manuscript of the Farewell Address here. 

There are modern versions of Washington’s speech, which of course lose much of the beautiful (though difficult) language, but are easier to understand – here’s one if you would like an easier version of his message for your kids or family to discuss.

Watch last year’s Senate reading of Washington’s Farewell Address:

And just for fun, here’s the song, “One Last Time” from the Broadway hit musical Hamilton, about Washington’s farewell, which includes excerpts from the actual Address:

We are thankful for the leadership, sacrifice, and inspiring words of President Washington as we honor him on this holiday!

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