On September 17,1796, George Washington announced that he would leave the presidency. His famous farewell address encapsulates a view of the Union, the Constitution, and good citizenship that is an important part of American political thought today.On September 19, 1796, George Washington announced that he would leave the presidency. His famous farewell address encapsulates a view of the Union, the Constitution, and good citizenship that is an important part of American political thought today. In this amazing letter to all of us, almost everything that we debate as a nation today has been advised.George Washington's famous address encapsulates a view of the Union, the Constitution, and good citizenship that is an important part of American political thought today.