Bush to give farewell address

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- The White House said it has asked television networks for time Thursday night for U.S. President George W. Bush to deliver a prime-time farewell address.

The presidential farewell address is a tradition that has endured since the presidency of George Washington, a statement said Monday.

"He will reflect on his time in office and the ways our country has changed these past eight years," the statement said. "He will also uphold the tradition of presidents using farewell addresses to look forward -- by sharing his thoughts on (the) greatest challenges facing the country, and on what it will take to meet them."

Bush will deliver his 10- to 15-minute address at 8 p.m. EST from the East Room of the White House, Politico reported.

"This is not going to be a swan song," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.

She added that Bush will "defend his record" but is not "looking to refight old battles."

Perino said the White House Press Office made a formal request to the networks to interrupt their programming for the president's farewell address. She said the networks have not said whether they will carry the speech.