(AMERICAN THINKER) -- One of the greatest speeches ever given on U.S. soil was President George Washington’s Farewell Address in 1796. The speech itself was written by Washington, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton.
While it covers many themes, two of those themes are particularly relevant to today -- the problems inherent in political parties to the national interest and the danger of foreign entanglements.
It was that second topic that really animated much of the speech, with over 1700 words dedicated to it. This speech was Washington’s last opportunity to provide advice to future generations of Americans before retiring from public life for the good of the nation.
Advertisement - story continues below
Washington warned America to “steer clear of permanent alliance with any portion of the foreign world,” while Thomas Jefferson’s inaugural pledge was “peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations -- entangling alliance with none.”
