A farewell speech or farewell address is a speech given by an individual leaving a position or place. They are often used by public figures such as politicians as a capstone to the preceding career, or as statements delivered by persons relating to reasons for their leaving. The term is often used as a euphemism for "retirement speech," though it is broader in that it may include geographical or even biological conclusion.

Napoleon saying farewell to the Old Guard at the Palace of Fontainebleau, after his first abdication (1814)

In the Classics, a term for a dignified and poetic farewell speech is apobaterion (ἀποβατήριον), standing opposed to the epibaterion, the corresponding speech made upon arrival.[1]

U.S. presidential farewell addresses

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Many U.S. presidential speeches have been given the moniker "farewell address" since George Washington's address in 1796.[2] Some notable examples:

Other notable farewell speeches

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References

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  1. ^ a b   One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainChambers, Ephraim, ed. (1728). "Apobatedion". Cyclopædia, or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences (1st ed.). James and John Knapton, et al. p. 115.
  2. ^ "Barack Obama's Farewell Address and 6 Other Memorable Presidential Goodbyes". Time. 9 January 2017. Archived from the original on 2018-05-01. Retrieved 2018-06-19.
  3. ^ "Remarks by President Trump In Farewell Address to the Nation". The White House. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  4. ^ Chandra, G. (2008). Narrating Violence, Constructing Collective Identities. Palgrave MacMillan UK. p. 134.