Watch Ron Paul's Farewell Address!

On November 14, 2012, retiring Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) gave his farewell speech to Congress.

In a public career that included three stints in Congress (1976-1977; 1979-1985; and 1997-present) and a run for president as the Libertarian Candidate (1988), no living elected official has done more to advance the ideals of limited government and a libertarian approach to federal government.

His longshot bids for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2012 radically altered the national conversation on entitlements, fiscal and monetary policy, foreign policy, and crony capitalism, and his success with online fundraising and organization has set the example that others will be following for years to come. The groups he has created, including Young Americans for Liberty and Campaign for Liberty, will continue to grow in size and influence.

Paul used his final address in the House of Representatives to draw attention to growing violations of civil liberties, a chronic economic crisis brought on out-of-control government spending and debt, the ease with which the country goes to (undeclared) war, and the immoral willingness to use violence to achieve desired social ends.

As Paul's biographer, Reason staffer Brian Doherty, noted, Ron Paul is "a true American original. No politician talks like this, and I suspect it will be a long time before another does. Ideas like this will be much harder to find in the House of Representatives with Paul gone, and we will all be the poorer for it."

Go to http://reason.com/tags/ron-paul for Reason's coverage of the congressman known as "Dr. No" for his refusal to sanction legislation the he felt was not authorized by the U.S. Constitution.

Produced by Zach Weissmueller, text by Nick Gillespie. About 50 minutes.

• Category

  News & Politics

[Billy Burger]

The fact that he can stand there and call everyone around him, basically, a joke and them clap for him befuddles me. I guess they know no one's watching. Or worse: cares. Not many people these days can watch a video this long; especially if it matters. It sad that he's leaving, but it's much more sad that not enough people are aware of him or their history. Peace, Ron Paul.

[TheLostMedici]

"Real patriotism is the willingness to challenge the government when it is wrong" - Ron Paul

[Narde Banks]

our founding Fathers would have like you you

[davewerty]

27,373 views... How many did that one Bieber video get?

[TeaPartyJihadists]

I hope you had fun. Although, for a "true conservative" you certainly are more kinky than I thought you'd be.

[Trueconservative16]

I shitted on your mom last night

[TeaPartyJihadists]

Farewell, you filthy anti-Semitic libertarian anti-government anarchist asshole! Oh sure, Ron Paul is popular with people who want to end the war on drugs (a worthy cause), but he also wants to get rid of the Civil Rights Act & a plethora of other very good government policy.

[wildcats821]

What a hell of a guy, think about all the shit he's put up with for 20 years now from the media ignoring him, getting laughed at by politicians, and he just kept going with a smile on his face. I wouldn't be able to do that.

[ersatzear]

Except, we aren't a moral or religious people anymore, Ron. That's the problem. The Founders could never have anticipated the affect a corrupt and perverted mass media would have on the country.

You only have two choices. You either go full conservative, get back to the constitution by steering America back towards being a moral and religious people, or go full progressive, say 'fuck the constitution', and see how far you can progress until you collapse, ready to start all over again.

[mike miller]

this is the man who was at the bottom during the election? ...really america, reallly?

[Hai Fail]

I like how they put Ron Paul on c-span1 and relagated Obama to 2

[Docentino]

Our best potential saviour has given up! We're all f**ed.

Best wishes from Poland.