I may be wrong, but a General’s choice for a Retirement Speech to Congress, CANNOT be denied.
You're wrong. Nobody is guaranteed a right to address a joint session of Congress. Even the president has to request permission to address Congress for the State of the Union. And while permission is never refused him, the same can't be said of any Tom, Dick, or General who has a hankering to talk to the inmates of the zoo.
Not even close.