Joe Biden to Deliver Farewell Address on Wednesday Night

Joe Biden will deliver a farewell address on Wednesday night, following a tradition that dates back to the earliest days of the American republic.

Mr. Biden's farewell is not entirely of his own volition. He was forced out of his re-election campaign against Donald Trump after his disastrous performance in the June 27 debate. He did not expect to be saying goodbye to the presidency, to public life and to the country for another four years. When he departs from the White House, he will be drawing the curtain on a half-century of involvement in national politics.

George Washington and Dwight Eisenhower. Mr. Biden’s seven predecessors all gave their own valedictory speeches.

Even Mr. Trump, 13 days after his supporters stormed the Capitol in support of his stated belief that he had won the 2020 election, issued a farewell, saying, presciently, in a videotaped message from the Blue Room, “I go from this majestic place with a loyal and joyful heart, an optimistic spirit and a supreme confidence that for our country and for our children, the best is yet to come.”

Mr. Trump’s confidence has been redeemed, for he is less than a week from being only the second president to return to power after having been defeated.

“Cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people, and to usurp for themselves the reins of government.”