Most Memorable Presidential Goodbyes

Since the days of George Washington, outgoing presidents have found saying goodbye to the nation to be cathartic—and sometimes used the speech to warn of worries to come. Ahead of tomorrow's Bush address, the Houston Chronicle looks at some favorites.

1. Washington: Set the tone, paying tribute to the “arduous trust of the presidency.”
2. Dwight Eisenhower: Used his valedictory as a warning about the “military industrial complex.”

3. Ronald Reagan: Thanked "the men and women of the Reagan Revolution" on his way out the door.
4. Richard Nixon: Before leaving in disgrace, he issued a "maudlin and, at times, bizarre" farewell.
5. Harry Truman: The wildly unpopular chief executive delivered "a long but tightly written speech," part of which warned of the Soviet threat.

(More Dwight Eisenhower stories.)