Presidents Say Goodbye: Top Moments in Farewell Speeches from George Washington to Donald Trump

Two presidents. Two eulogies. For each other.   Political opponents who became friends. Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford.   Here's Jimmy Carter's eulogy for Gerald Ford in 2007.   For myself and for our nation, I want to thank my predecessor for all he has done to heal our land." Those were the first words I spoke as president. And I still hate to admit that they received more applause than any other words in my inaugural address.    And here's Gerald Ford, through his son Steven, in 2025   As for myself, Jimmy, I'm looking forward to our reunion. We have much to catch up on. Thank you, Mr. President. Welcome home, old friend.  Jimmy Carter – a Democrat - and Gerald Ford – a Republican - ran against each in 1976.  So how did they become friends?   And how did they end up writing eulogies for each other?   And – what did they say about each other?   Find out in the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly."    Find C-SPAN's "The Weekly" wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During the first two weeks of March 1989, the U.S. Senate debated President George Bush's nominee for Defense Secretary, John Tower.   Among the Senators who spoke about former Senator Tower – one of his former colleagues -- Alaska Republican Ted Stevens …    "my mind went back again to some Senators I have known here in the Senate who have been impaired. I saved one Senator one day who almost fell in the path of a subway, he was so intoxicated. I have spent time in the steam room with Senators who were intoxicated. One of my great friends from the past, who is now deceased, the first day I was in the Senate, he was so intoxicated he had to lean on my shoulder to walk over to the other building, to the Senate Office Building."   Why did Senator Ted Stevens talk about drunk Senators during debate over John Tower? Which other Senators talked about alcohol during floor debate over the Defense Secretary nominee? Which legendary Washington DC watering holes were mentioned during the debate? And why did Senators repeatedly cite Winston Churchill? Find out in the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly" – As we prepare for Senate debate over Donald Trump's nomination of Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary, it's a look back at the lengthy and angry debate in 1989 over George Bush's pick … Senators citing reports of John Tower drinking ––asking whether it was relevant to his nomination – and pointing fingers at each other. Find C-SPAN's "The Weekly" wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Getting ready for January 20th – and the presidential inauguration? Then you might also be getting ready for fun facts about the swearing-in ceremony. Like in 2009 – when swearing-in President Barack Obama – Chief Justice John Roberts got the oath wrong. What did he get wrong? And -- what are some other inauguration fun facts? Like: • Which Chief Justice has administered the most oaths of office? • Which Chief Justice has administered the second most oaths of office? • Who was the first woman Supreme Court justice to conduct a swearing-in – and for whom? • How many times has a Black justice conducted a swearing-in – and for whom? • How many House Speakers have done it? • And which football star administered the oath of office? The answers – and a whole lot more – in this week's episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly." It's 11 Fun Facts About Administering The Oath of Office in Presidential Inaugurations  Find C-SPAN's "The Weekly" wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're just days away from President Joe Biden leaving the White House. Which makes this a good time to remember other departing presidents – and their farewell addresses. Like Richard Nixon speaking to staff, August 9, 1974, the day he resigned the presidency. You are here to say goodbye to us, and we don't have a good word for it in English -- the best is au revoir. We'll see you again. Presidents giving farewell addresses …  • Who spoke from the White House? • Who used their State of the Union addresses as their farewell? • Who said goodbye in places other than Washington DC? • And – of course -- what did they say? Find out in the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly." It's the best-of presidential farewell speeches … Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Monday, January 6, 2025, Congress once again will meet in a Joint Session to certify the electoral votes in the presidential election. As President of the Senate and presiding over that ceremony, Kamala Harris will find herself a unique and rare position –a sitting vice president who ran for the presidency and then had announce his or her own electoral defeat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever wonder how C-SPAN’s The Weekly comes together? In this special behind-the-scenes episode, we pull back the curtain to explore the making of our podcast. From brainstorming story ideas to interviewing top political insiders, discover what it takes to deliver timely and insightful episodes week after week. Join host Howard Mortman and producer Shannon Rice as they share funny anecdotes, memorable moments, and the challenges of turning complex political topics into compelling audio storytelling. Plus, hear exclusive stories that didn’t make it into the episodes and learn how The Weekly stays true to C-SPAN's mission of providing unbiased and unfiltered coverage of American politics. Tune in for a candid conversation about the art, hustle, and heart behind your favorite episodes! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Washington Post recently published a 10-page special section called, "A half-century of George F. Will: The Iron Man of America's op-ed pages."… George Will’s first syndicated column for the Washington Post was January 4, 1974….   Inspired by the Washington Post marking five decades of reading George Will …. the C-SPAN podcast “The Weekly” is marking mark four decades of hearing about George Will…    Like from Republican Illinois Congressman Henry Hyde –– during the Iran-Contra hearings … July 1987:   “There’s another saying and that’s all lies are reprehensible. Some lies are just reprehensible than others. For instance, we politicians We practice what’s called political hyperbole. We don’t lie. We practice political hyperbole. George Will has a great phrase: He has an emancipated view of the facts.”   • What have Congressmen said about George Will? • What have Senators said about Georgia Will? • What have presidents and presidential candidates said about George Will? • And what do other top writers and columnists think about George Will? Find out in the latest episode of C-SPAN’s “The Weekly” – it’s a best-of mentions of George Will – on C-SPAN Find C-SPAN’s “The Weekly” wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

January 6, 2006. On the C-SPAN morning call-in program, the topic is lobbying and money and politics.   The guest is from the American League of Lobbyists… Here’s one of the calls. Good morning, so, you are either stupid or naive, or whatever. If you are a low-level aid, you know good and well that if I were to call my congressman, who is Frank Wolf, I'm not going to get an audience with him unless I take him to Charlie Palmer's steakhouse right down on 101 Constitution Avenue. I am not going to get a call-back from him. I am not going to get a regular letter. I’m going to get a form letter thanking me for my interest.   Ah, Charlie Palmer Steak. The caller got the address correct. And it was actually the second mention of Charlie Palmer on "Washington Journal" that morning. But -- there likely won’t be many more mentions of Charlie Palmer on C-SPAN … Or anywhere else…. Charlie Palmer – the steakhouse one block from the U.S. Capitol -- has shut down.. • How much money did political influencers spend at Charlie Palmer? • Which political notables were famous for going there? • And what did the C-SPAN audience think of all the lobbying and influence served up at Charlie Palmer? Find out in the latest episode of C-SPAN’s podcast “The Weekly” – as we say farewell to Charlie Palmer … Farewell to all the steak … and farewell to all the money. Find C-SPAN’s “The Weekly” wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 119th Congress will have 12 new Senators. And if you heard election night victory speeches on C-SPAN, you might have learned something new about many of them.  DLike the new Democratic Senator from New Jersey, the first Korean American in the Senate -- Andy Kim: "As I prepare to take on this job, a job that only 2,000 Americans in this history of this country has ever had the honor to do." And the new Republican Senator from Montana, Tim Sheehy, who was on stage with his wife Carmen: "We were married via the mail. I’m a mail order husband. Because she was deployed in Afghanistan. And I was somewhere else. And we decided to get married. So, we notarized a couple of forms. …She stuck with me through all sorts of crazy stuff. Plane crashes, wars, two wars. Multiple deployments." In this week's episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly," you'll hear those new Senators – and many others -- share more personal stories during their election night speeches. • Which new Senator told his audience his brothers on stage used to beat him up? • Which new Senator held his election night party at the same hotel where he lived as a kid? • And which new Senator shares a biblical name with his wife? • And while we're at it – who was the last Republican to win a Senate race in New Jersey? … and who was the last Democrat to win a Senate race in Utah? Those answers – and a whole lot more – in "The Weekly." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why would President Bush talk about broccoli at a prayer breakfast? Where are other places he told his audience how much he disliked broccoli? And what did First Lady Barbara Bush think about her husband’s broccoli hatred – and what stunt did she pull to retaliate? Find out in C-SPAN’s “The Weekly” annual Thanksgiving food episode. Because it’s our first-ever podcast about a side dish. Find C-SPAN’s “The Weekly” wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices