Global View - Presidential Speech (0121)

A: Good evening, my fellow Americans. Three days from now, after a half-century of service of our country, I shall lay down the responsibilities of office as, in a traditional and solemn ceremony, the authority of the Presidency is vested in my successor. This evening I come to you with a message of leave-taking and farewell, and to share a few final thoughts with you, my countrymen.
A: Like every other citizen, I wish the new President, and all who will labor with him, Godspeed. I pray that the coming years will be blessed with peace and prosperity for all.
A: Our people expect their President and the Congress to find essential agreement on questions of great importance, the wise resolution of which will better shape the future of our great nation. My own relations with Congress began on a remote and tenuous basis when, long ago, a member of the Senate appointed me to West Point. I then had the pleasure of building more intimate relationship with Congress during the war and immediate post-war period. Finally, we have progressed to the mutually interdependent relationship we've had during these past eight years.

Key Vocabulary

tenuous Adjective flimsy, weak, or uncertain
solemn Adjective serious, formal
vest principle verb, past simple to give (someone) the legal right or power to do something
Godspeed common noun, non-variable used to wish success to someone who is going away
resolution common noun, singular a formal statement of agreement

Supplementary Vocabulary

Congress common noun, singular The national legislative body of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Capitol Hill common noun, singular a hill in Washington, D.C., where the Capitol Building sits and Congress meets
Bestow principle verb, present simple To present as a gift or an honor; confer:
Arduous Adjective difficult to accomplish; strenuous
Prosperity common noun, singular an economic state of growth with rising profits and full employment