When the President is Ignored

His 13-minute talk from the White House East Room, as a customary practice among American Presidents, but the nation was not paying attention.

The tradition of a farewell address began with George Washington. His stern defence of an independent America free of foreign entanglements and deaf to the intrigues of Europe was the nation's first great speech. Citizens in villages across the country staged annual recitations for decades after Washington's death. Dwight Eisenhower used his valedictory to issue a memorable warning against a permanent "military-industrial complex" - an alert more quoted than heeded.

Bush clearly had these examples in mind, as he wove an inventory of the familiar American virtues into the fabric of his urgent priorities. But the nation stopped paying attention and been oblivious to otherwise telecasted TV.

As my friend from US quoted: "Before last night, there were only two noteworthy presidential farewell addresses; Washington's and Eisenhower's. After last night there are STILL only two noteworthy presidential farewell addresses." Thanks, Monogamous