| Bonaparte,
Napoleon, Emperor of France - Farewell to the Old
Guard, 1814: I have sacrificed all of my interests to those of the
country. I go, but you, my friends, will continue to serve France. Her
happiness was my only thought. It will still be the object of my wishes.
Do not regret my fate; if I have consented to survive, it is to serve your
glory. |
|
After his disastrous invasion of Russia and subsequent defeat by the
Allies at Leipzig, Napoleon lost the support of many of his generals.
The Allies then forced him to abdicate his throne and sent him to exile
on the island of Elba. Before he departed, Napoleon gave one final
address to his most loyal and devoted military unit, the Old Guard, many
of whom accompanied him into exile. |
|
For more information:
Farewell
to the Old Guard (text)
Napoleonic
Literature |
 |
Recommended reading:
Swords
Around a Throne: Napoleon's Grande Armee by John Robert Elting
The
Anatomy of Glory: Napoleon and His Guard by Henry Lachouque
Napoleon
Bonaparte: A Life by Alan Schom |
| Cohan,
George M. Cohan - Vaudeville Act Farewell: My
mother thanks you. My father thanks you. My sister thanks you.
And I thank you. |
|
Before George Cohan became a successful broadway composer, director
and star, he performed as part of his family's vaudeville act. At
the conclusion of each performance he took center stage to thank the audience. |
|
For more information:
Red, Hot, and Blue
Yankee Doodle Dandy
at Greatest Films |
 |
Recommended viewing:
Yankee
Doodle Dandy starring James Cagney |
| Edward
VIII, King of England - Abdication speech, 1936:
I
have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility .
. . without the help and support of the woman I love. |
|
King Edward VIII abdicated the throne of England on December 10,
1936, to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee. The following
day he he spoke to both his former subjects and a world-wide audience in
a radio broadcast. |
|
For more information:
Real
Audio recording of the the abdication broadcast
Edward VIII |
| Johnson,
Lyndon Baines - Announcement not to seek re-election,
1968: It is true that a house divided against itself is a
house that cannot stand. There is a division in the American house
now and believing this as I do, I have concluded that I should not permit
the Presidency to become involved in the partisan divisions that are now
developing this political year. Accordingly, I shall not seek, and
I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as President. |
|
After losing political support for his policy of escalating the war
in Vietnam, President Johnson announced his decision not to seek re-election
during a television address on 31 March 1968. |
|
For more information:
Lyndon
Baines Johnson Library and Museum |
|
Recommended reading:
Dereliction
of Duty: Johnson, McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Lies That
Led to Vietnam by H.R McMaster |
| Lee,
Robert E., General of the Army of Northern Virginia -Farewell
Address to his Soldiers, 1865: After four years of arduous
service marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude, the Army of Northern
Virginia has been compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers and resources.
. . . By the terms of the agreement, officers and men can return
to their homes and remain until exchanged. You will take with you the satisfaction
that proceeds from a consciousness of duty faithfully performed; and I
earnestly pray that a Merciful God will extend to you His blessings and
protection. |
|
Immediately after his unconditional surrender to General Grant, General
Lee published General Order No. 9 bidding his troops farewell. Following
the war, Lee accepted the presidency of Washington College--now Washington
and Lee University--and served there until his death in 1870. |
|
For more information;
General
Lee's Farewell (General Order No. 9)
Robert E. Lee |
|
Recommended reading:
Robert
E. Lee: A Biography by Emory M. Thomas |
| MacArthur,
Douglas, General - Departure from the Philippines:
The President of the United States ordered me to break through the
Japanese lines and proceed from Corregidor to Australia for the purpose,
as I understand it, of organizing the American offensive against Japan,
a primary object of which is the relief of the Philippines. I came
through, and I shall return. |
|
On 11 March 1942, MacArthur departed Corregidor in the face of mounting
Japanese pressure. He made it to Australia and after arriving at
Adelaide by train on 20 March, he promised to return and liberate the islands.
Thirty-one months later, on 20 October 1944, in a much rehearsed filming,
MacArthur landed at Leyte where he ceremoniously announced, "People of
the Philippines; I have returned. By the grace of Almighty God, our forces
stand again on Philippine soil consecrated in the blood of our two people.
We have come, dedicated and committed to the task of destroying every vestige
of enemy control over your people. The hour of your redemption is
here. Your patriots have demonstrated an unswerving and resolute devotion
to the principles of freedom that challenges the best that is written on
the pages of human history. I now call upon your supreme effort, that the
enemy may know, from the temper of an aroused people within, that he has
a force there to contend with no less violent than is the force committed
from without. Rally to me. Let the indomitable spirit of Bataan and
Corregidor lead on. As the line of battle rolls forward to bring you within
the zone of operations, rise and strike. Strike at every favorable opportunity.
For future generations of your sons and daughters, strike! In the name
of your sacred dead, strike! Let no heart be faint. Let every arm be steeled,
the guidance of the Divine God points the way. Follow His name to the Holy
Grail of righteous victory." |
|
For more information:
Douglas
MacArthur |
|
Recommended reading:
Old
Soldiers Never Die: The Life of Douglas MacArthur by Geoffrey Perret
American
Caesar by William Manchester |
|
Recommended viewing:
The
American Experience: MacArthur
MacArthur
starring Gregory Peck |
| MacArthur,
Douglas, General - Farewell address to the U.S. Congress:
And, like the old soldier of that ballad, I now close my military career
and just fade away, an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave
him the light to see that duty. Goodbye. |
|
President Harry Truman relieved the general from his military duties
on April 10, 1951 for "insubordination" after MacArthur--on his own initiative--issued
an ultimatum to the Chinese Communists to withdraw from conflict in Korea
or risk attacks upon their "coastal areas and interior bases." As
Truman was about to issue the relief order, on of his advisors suggested
that it might be better to allow MacArthur to voluntary resign; Truman
is said to have replied, "The son of a bitch isn't going to resign on me,
I want him fired." Opposition, throughout the country, to Truman's
action was overwhelming, and the House of Representatives invited MacArthur
to address a joint session of Congress. A record 30 million Americans
watched the speech on television. It was, as suggested by Truman's
biographer, David McCullough, "MacArthur's finest hour." The following
day nearly 8 million New Yorkers--more than for Lindbergh or Eisenhower--turned
out to cheer during MacArthur's ticker tape parade. |
|
In 1962, MacArthur returned to the United States Military Academy at
West Point and addressed the corps of cadets one final time closing his
emotional speech, Today marks my final roll call with you. But
I want you to know that when I cross the river, my last conscious thought
will be of the corps, and the corps, and the corps. I bid you farewell. |
|
For more information:
Full motion
video of MacArthur's Congressional speech
General
MacArthur's Thayer Award Speech at West Point
The MacArthur Memorial |
|
Recommended reading:
Old
Soldiers Never Die: The Life of Douglas MacArthur by Geoffrey Perret
American
Caesar by William Manchester |
|
Recommended viewing:
The
American Experience: MacArthur
MacArthur
starring Gregory Peck |
| Nicholas
II, Czar of Russia - Abdication, 1917:
In
these days of terrible struggle against the foreign enemy who has been
trying for three years to impose his will upon Our Fatherland, God has
willed that Russia should be faced with a new and formidable trial. Troubles
at home threaten to have a fatal effect on the ultimate course of this
hard-fought war. . . . At this moment, a moment so decisive for existence
of Russia, Our conscience bids Us to facilitate the closest union of Our
subjects and the organization of all their forces for the speedy attainment
of victory. For that reason We think it right-and the Imperial Duma shares
Our view - to abdicate the crown of the Russian State and resign the supreme
power. |
|
Nicholas II's stubborn refusal to allow political reforms and the disastrous
ending of the war with Japan led directly to the Russian revolution
of 1905. Desperate to hold power, he conceded numerous freedoms to
the people only to annul them when his position was once more secured.
With World War I came massive casualties, loss of territory, and
domestic turmoil which led directly to the Second Russian Revolution in
February, 1917, and the Czar's abdication. Following the abdication,
Nicholas and the royal family first remained in Czarskoe Selo until the
interim government decided to move them to Siberia in 1918. After
the Bolsheviks usurped power, the family was transported to Ekaterinbug
in the Urals where they were all executed on July 17, 1918. |
|
For more information:
Abdication
Manifesto of Nicholas II
Nicholas
II |
|
Recommended reading:
The
Last Tsar: The Life and Death of Nicholas II by Edvard Radzinsky
The
Fall of the Romanovs by Mark D. Steinberg |
| Nixon,
Richard M., California politician - Concession speech
and farewell, 1962: Just think how much you're gonna be missing.
You don't have Nixon to kick around anymore. |
|
Following former Vice-President Nixon's defeat in the 1962 California
gubernatorial race, he pointed out the bias of the media, especially television. |
|
For more information:
Nixon Concedes
(transcript and audio files)
The Richard
M. Nixon Page |
| Nixon,
Richard M., President of the United States - Resignation,
1974: I have felt it was my duty to persevere, to make every possible
effort to complete the term of office to which you elected me. In
the past few days, however, it has become evident to me, that I no longer
have a strong enough political base in the Congress to justify continuing
that effort. . . . I would have preferred to carry through to the
finish, whatever the personal agony it would have involved. . . . But the
interest of the Nation must always come before any personal considerations.
. . . Therefor, I shall resign the Presidency effective at noon tomorrow.
Vice President Ford will be sworn in as President at that hour in this
office. |
|
The burglary of the Democratic Party offices in the Washington, DC,
Watergate Complex during the 1972 presidential campaign was subsequently
linked to the White House. The House of Representatives was preparing
to impeach President Nixon when he resigned. |
|
For more information:
Nixon's Resignation-Farewell
Speech (text)
Nixon's Resignation-Farewell
Speech (audio file excerpts)
The Richard
M. Nixon Page |
|
Recommended reading:
The
Final Days by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein
Nixon:
A Life by Jonathan Aitken |
|
Recommended viewing:
All
the President's Men starring Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford |
| Washington,
George, General - Farewell to his officers, 1783:
With a heart full of love and gratitude, I now take leave of you.
I most devoutly wish that your later days may be as prosperous and happy
as your former ones have been glorious and honorable. I cannot--I
cannot come to each of you but shall feel obliged if each of you will come
and take me by the hand. |
|
By late November, 1783, the last of the British forces departed for
Nova Scotia or England, and on December 4, all of the principal officers
of the Continental Army gathered at Faunces Tavern in New York City to
meet with General Washington for the last time. As Washington entered
the room, they snapped to attention and tucked their hats under their left
arms. After a few words of welcome, the silence became long and uncomfortable.
Finally, Washington motioned to the elaborate buffet of food, but few officers
filled plates. Washington charged a glass, and the others quickly
followed. As he began his farewell toast, tears trickled down his
cheeks and he struggled to maintain composure. Soon Baron von Steuben
and Benjamin Tallmadge were crying as well. Chief of Artillery Henry
Knox was the first to move toward Washington's outstretched hand, but when
he reached Washington they embraced instead. Each of the other officers
followed in turn. After Washington's departure, a formal farewell
was issued to the soldiers. |
|
For more information:
Washington's Farewell to
his Armies
George Washington
The Papers of
George Washington |
| Washington,
George, President of the United States - Farewell
to the nation, 1796: Observe good faith and justice towards
all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all. . . . Against
the insidious wiles of foreign influence . . . the jealousy of a free people
ought to be constantly awake, since history and experience prove that foreign
influence is one of the most baneful foes of republican government. . .
. Taking care always to keep ourselves, by suitable establishment,
on a respectably defensive posture, we may safely trust to temporary alliances
for extraordinary emergencies. |
|
Despite the pleas of many, Washington decided to retire from the Presidency
after two terms. On September 17, 1796, he delivered his farewell
address which was soon published in newspapers throughout the country.
In addition to declaring his decision not to seek a third term, he warned
against partisan dissension and foreign subterfuge. |
|
For more information:
Washington's
Final Manuscript of the Farewell Address
George Washington
The Papers of
George Washington |
|
Recommended reading:
A
Sacred Union of Citizens: George Washington's Farewell Address and the
American Character by Matthew Spalding and Patrick J. Garrity
Founding
Father: Rediscovering George Washington by Richard Brookhiser
The
Presidency of George Washington by Forrest McDonald |
| Wilhelm
II, Kaiser of Germany - Abdication, 1918:
I
herewith renounce for all time claims to the throne of Prussia and to the
German Imperial throne connected therewith. |
|
Kaiser Wilhelm's popularity plummeted during the final years of World
War I. In October, 1918, when U.S. President Wilson suggested that
peace would be impossible with Wilhelm on the throne, he was strongly encouraged
to abdicate by his generals and cabinet. Wilhelm resisted until the
Socialists declared a German Republic on November 9, 1918, when it was
clear that the Hohenzollern dynasty was over. |
|
For more information:
Abdication
Proclamation of Kaiser Wilhelm II
World War I Document Archive
Wilhelm
II, King of Prussia and German Kaiser |
|
