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When it came time for George Washington to retire,

he spent months working on his farewell address.

With drafts sent back and forth with Alexander Hamilton,

in the end the goodbye was 6,000 words long.

It's still remembered, among other things,

for what it says about other countries.

Washington advised his successors to steer clear of permanent alliances

and avoid favours or preferences in trade.

The strain of isolationism in the farewell address long outlived the first president,

but unlike his inaugural addresses, he didn't deliver it to Congress or other officials.

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