Almanac of Story Tellers: Washington's Farewell Address

 Every day brings a new story.  And each day contributes to story telling -- in prose and in poetry, in art and in music, on the stage, on the screen, and, of course, in books. 

Today is the story of Sept. 19th

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    It is the 262nd day of the year, leaving 103 days remaining in 2022

    On this date in 1796, President George Washington gave his farewell address to the nation.

    He told his story, through the words of Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, in the American Daily Advertiser, a Philadelphia publication that was the first daily newspaper in the United States. It was quickly re-published in newspapers around the country. It was then published and made available in pamphlet form.

    In the address, Washington told his "friends and fellow citizens" alliances -- both in party politics and in foreign policy. He specifically warned against forming political parties, and to avoid "entangling alliances," particularly in Europe.

    The address was issued as a way for Washington to tell the nation that he was not running for a third term. He had wanted to retire after one term in 1792, but was persuaded then that his country needed his leadership or else would be torn asunder.

    But four years later, his mind could not be changed. In the address, he assured citizens that the country would survive with someone else as their leader. He said anything he had accomplished was because of the people's commitment and support. He said any errors in judgment were his own.

    Washington told the country their safety and liberty would continue only if they stayed united.

    The address later become one of the more popular documents of the founders. Many future presidents -- who all followed Washington's two-term limit until Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected to four terms during World War II -- echoed its sentiments as they neared the end of their own terms.

    The speech regained popularity as the Broadway musical Hamilton renewed interest in the Founding Fathers. Lin-Manuel Miranda and Christopher Jackson sang about it in One Last Time. 

    Later, a version was released with former President Obama speaking some of the words.