President George W. Bush used his farewell address to reflect on
his Administration's record and outline some of the challenges the
nation will face in the future. Much of the short speech was
devoted to the fight against terrorism, the issue that, after the
September 11 terrorist attacks, redefined Bush's presidency. This
focus was appropriate because, although Bush came into office
promising to be "the education President," he is leaving office as
the commander-in-chief of a global war against Islamist terrorism
and the leader of a coalition of more than 90 countries fighting
this potent ideological threat.
In his speech, Bush noted that one of his Administration's most
important achievements was keeping the United States safe from
another major terrorist attack over the past seven years: "As the
years passed, most Americans were able to return to life much as it
had been before 9/11. But I never did." He noted that his
Administration had bolstered America's long-term security by
creating the Department of Homeland Security, strengthening the
armed forces, and reforming intelligence agencies and the Federal
Bureau of Investigation.
The President also warned Americans that "our enemies are
patient and determined to strike again." To defeat them, he called
for a vigilant engagement in world affairs: "We must continue to
engage the world with confidence and clear purpose. In the face of
threats from abroad, it can be tempting to seek comfort by turning
inward. But we must reject isolationism and its companion,
Bush recognized the importance of the ideological war of ideas.
He restated his confidence in the transformative power of his
freedom agenda, saying: "Security and prosperity at home depend on
the expansion of liberty abroad." Victory in this war of ideas
requires the United States to remain committed to what he
previously called a "generational struggle" against the root causes
of Islamist terrorism.
President Bush highlighted his Administration's achievements in
liberating Afghanistan and Iraq, two crucial theaters in the global
war against terrorism. But to a large degree, his farewell speech
struck an optimistic tone, focusing broadly on future hopes rather
than on past policies.
The tone of the speech was also unusually reflective and
personal. He spoke directly to the American people from his heart,
saying: "You may not agree with some tough decisions I have made.
But I hope you can agree that I was willing to make the tough
decisions." And he also admitted: "There are things I would do
differently if given the chance."
In a departure from the traditional presidential speech given
from the Oval Office, President Bush spoke in the East Room of the
White House, before a small audience that included people whom he
had met over the past eight years who demonstrated great courage or
compassion. He introduced several who had inspired him and whom he
thought should inspire the nation.
Twenty years ago, President Ronald Reagan invoked images of "the
shining city on the hill" in his own farewell address: "We made the
city stronger. We made the city freer, and we left her in good
hands. All in all, not bad, not bad at all."
Although President Bush's speech did not soar to the same
rhetorical heights, he can take justifiable pride in expanding
freedom to more than 50 million Afghans and Iraqis. While their
struggle to safeguard their newfound freedoms will not be easy,
President Bush expressed optimism in the ultimate outcome of their
struggle and in the steadfastness of Americans in helping to win
"We have faced danger and trial, and there is more ahead," Bush
said. "But with the courage of our people and confidence in our
ideals, this great nation will never tire, never falter, and never
James Phillips is
Senior Research Fellow for Middle Eastern Affairs in the Douglas
and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies, a division of
the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for International
Studies, at The Heritage Foundation.