This article is produced in collaboration between the Echo editorial board and our partners at the Clio History Journal. For more of their articles, click here.
Edited by Colleen Ryan
The annual tradition of the President’s State of the Union Address has, in one way or another, persisted as a mainstay since 1790, and its existence spans centuries. It is written directly into the constitution and offers the President of the United States a unique and rare opportunity to speak to the nation in addition to every branch of government at once. The address discusses important policies and challenges faced within the country and outside of it.
While it may seem that the State of the Union Address is merely a boring bureaucratic speech from Capitol Hill, it has a rich history that is filled with impactful change, political turmoil, and a modern relevance that continues to grow and evolve.
History
It was not called the “State of the Union Address” at its inception; instead, it was known as the “Annual Message” from 1790 through 1946. Its eventual modern name was derived from a constitutional provision, Article II, section 3, clause 1, requiring the president to report to Congress on the literal state of the union: “[The president] shall from time to time give to the Congress information about the state of the union and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient”.
The State of the Union Address originated from the English tradition of “giving a speech from the throne to open every new session of Parliament,” and it seemed to have held strong in the minds of our nation’s founding fathers who wrote it into the Constitution.
The address was enacted quickly as the nation’s first president, George Washington, gave the first “Annual Message” on January 8, 1790. During his presidency, Thomas Jefferson created his own tradition by refusing to speak in-person in 1801. Jefferson claimed the State of the Union Address was a tradition of the monarchy and sent letters instead. This began a pattern of sending written addresses all the way through 1913 when President Woodrow Wilson gave the speech in-person. When Franklin Roosevelt carried on this precedent of a direct address, it became the new method of delivery until the present day.
Before the advent of radio and television, presidential addresses almost entirely focused on the economy and national budget concerns for the coming year. However, when the address began broadcasting nationwide to everyday citizens, the speech’s focus also began to change. Currently, the address centers around important issues both in the United States and across the globe. Additionally, the address is also used to celebrate the United States’ successes and give an agenda with proposed legislation.
Significance
The way the State of the Union Address has evolved has made it a message of great importance to members of government and everyday people alike. It is the only time in which all branches of government convene together in the same place at the same time, listening to the president speak on the grievances and successes of the nation. Presidents use this short time to express their concerns and often propose changes on some of the most pressing international issues.
Whether for better or for worse, many of these speeches have made history, and those who gave them used the address as a tool to create significant change. One example is Lincoln’s 1862 address, during which he stated “In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free…We will either save or lose the last hope of Earth.” In 2002, George Bush named countries in the Middle East and Asia as “sponsors of terrorism,” which justified further U.S. involvement overseas. Other examples include Franklin Roosevelt’s address in 1941, which made his case for further U.S. involvement in World War II, and Lyndon B. Johnson when he used his address in 1964 to declare a war on poverty.
As Vanderbilt professor Vanessa Beasley wrote, “Presidents’ words matter because they have implications for the definitions of, and perhaps people’s aspirations for, what it means to be an American.”
Polarization
As technology has changed, the purpose of the address has also followed suit. Many people no longer catalog the State of the Union Address as a laundry list of public policy items, as Professor Beasley puts it, but rather as a display of national unity given by the president to Congress and the public, with the ultimate goal of being viewed as admirable.
This is polarizing: many see the address as an important tradition and regard it as a civil duty, while others see it as a partisan attempt on behalf of the president to influence the public’s perception of them and to secure the favor of Congress members.
During the preparations for President Biden’s 2022 speech, there was also some tension. Extreme security measures were taken to ensure the safety of those attending the event due to fears of backlash from Trump supporters. With increasing threats to members of Congress, the National Guard was on standby, and a perimeter was raised around the premises of the Capitol building to dissuade any potential attacks to it or the people inside.
It is necessary to bring awareness to the continuing split in the public’s mind surrounding the State of the Union Address in order to discuss and eventually resolve these issues. Yet, at the same time, the speech’s purpose will only continue to evolve. It still stands to serve as an important message for all those who live in the United States to watch or read, either to reflect on the administrations accomplishments, or as an omen for the year to come.
Coverage updates
The State of the Union Address will be delivered at 9 p.m. EST on Tuesday, February 7, 2023. President Joseph R. Biden will deliver it in the House chamber, and it will be livestreamed both online and on television. The Echo and WXCI will have a correspondent in attendance providing on the ground reactions and insight. It is expected President Biden will cover the debt limit, the Russian war on Ukraine, and updates on COVID-19.
References:
Beasley, Vanessa. “The ‘State of the Union’ Isn’t What It Used to Be.” Vanderbilt University. Vanderbilt University, April 26, 2021. https://www.vanderbilt.edu/unity/2021/04/26/the-state-of-the-union-isnt-what-it-used-to-be/.
Broadwater, Luke, Emily Cochrane, and Zolan Kanno-youngs. “Bracing for Biden and Protests, Officials Fortify the Capitol.” The New York Times. The New York Times, March 1, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/28/us/politics/capitol-security-sotu-truck-convoy.html.
Kinstler, Linda, and Kevin Mahnken. “The Best State of the Union Addresses, Ever.” The New Republic, February 1, 2023. https://newrepublic.com/article/116314/best-state-union-addresses-history.
“The Last Best Hope – American Views from Oxford.” University of Oxford, May 22, 2020. https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2020-05-22-last-best-hope-american-views-oxford.
“The President’s State of the Union Speech: Why It Matters.” ShareAmerica, February 27, 2022. https://share.america.gov/presidents-state-of-union-why-it-matters/#:~:text=The%20speech%20to%20a%20joint,illustrates%20U.S.%20democracy%20in%20action.
“State of the Union Address: US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives.” State of the Union | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives. Accessed January 31, 2023. https://history.house.gov/Institution/SOTU/State-of-the-Union/.
Leave a Reply