Inaugurals & Farewells

While inaugurals were used to promote a governor’s agenda, farewell addresses allowed for more reflection, weighing the expectations of inaugurals against the experience of governing. Like the inaugurals, the farewells pertain to a consistent set of topics, providing a unique longitudinal view of how Vermonters defined and executed government responsibilities.

The first inaugural was delivered by Governor Thomas Chittenden on October 14, 1779.  Governor Chittenden also provided the first farewell address, following his 1789 defeat. Inaugurals did not become routine until 1797, starting with Governor Isaac Tichenor, while a tradition of farewell addresses was not established until Governor Horace Fairbanks in 1878.