Excerpt from "Farewell Address"

Written in September 1796
Published in The Writings of George Washington, volume 35, edited by
John C. Fitzpatrick, 1940

After serving two terms as the first president of the United States, George Washington (1732–1799; served 1789–97) decided it was time to retire. He had contributed forty-five years of his life to public service. Washington was the most popular public figure in America in the late eighteenth century. In fact, many people supported ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1788 with the understanding that Washington would automatically fill the position of president. Washington proved to be a very capable and effective president in dealing with both domestic and foreign crises.

Washington considered retiring after his first term. In 1792, fellow Virginian and chief author of the U.S. Constitution James Madison (1751–1836) prepared notes for Washington as he began thinking of a farewell speech. Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) and...