As I watched the State of the Union address last night, I had to wonder about the many, many state of the union addresses that have come before this evening. While the 2012 election campaign, for better or worse, is beginning to heat up, and people are anxious to hear how the President would stack up against the political rhetoric (?) of the opposing party, I had to wonder what other presidents throughout history had to say. Is it important to hear what the president has to say? Is this speech a “pep talk” for a sometimes weary nation-- or does this speech serve the purpose as a barometer for the nation?
The Constitution States that the President “shall from time to time give to the Congress Information on the State of the Union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” The first address to Congress by a president was given in the Senate chamber on January 8th, 1790 by, appropriately enough, the first commander- in-chief, George Washington. After his inauguration, Washington thought it would be a good idea to begin each year with a speech to Congress.
While not referred to as the State of the Union Address, the “Annual Message to Congress” was delivered by Washington, as well as his successor, John Adams in person. Adam’s successor, Thomas Jefferson submitted his address in writing. He considered addressing congress in person to monarchical. The practice of submitting the address in writing was followed by subsequent presidents until Woodrow Wilson in 1913.
In Washington’s address, he spoke of his political philosophy for a fledgling nation, and set forth a framework of what he thought were the pressing actions Congress should take in the year ahead. As it does today, the address covered a variety of topics from immigration, where Washington considered “it expedient that the terms on which foreigners may be admitted to the rights of citizens should be speedily ascertained by a uniform rule of naturalization” to technology where he encouraged “new and useful inventions from abroad” and “the promotion of science and literature.”
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In December of 1830, Andrew Jackson spoke of policies that through the lenses of time have come to be seen as controversial. Jackson said “…it gives me great pleasure to announce to Congress that the benevolent party of the government, steadily pursued for nearly 30 years, in relation to the removal of the Indians beyond the white settlements is approaching to a happy consummation.” Jackson was outlining the Indian Removal Act of 1830.
Abraham Lincoln spoke to war weary country in his last address on December 6, 1864. In it, he speaks of the American spirit. America had grown in the face of adversity, and the Union, Lincoln stated, can “maintain the contest indefinitely…material resources are now more complete and abundant than ever. Back then, even in the face of a Civil War, America was still a nation of hope.
Franklin Roosevelt’s State of the Union Address on January 20, 1941 spoke of freedom—specifically four freedoms. In his address, FDR stated that “In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms.” He then proceeded to basically reiterate the freedoms enumerated in the Bill of Rights. He said, “the first freedom is of speech and expression—everywhere in the world. The second is the freedom of every person to worship God in his own way—everywhere in the world. The third freedom from want—which translated into world terms means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants—everywhere in the world. The fourth freedom from fear—which translated into world terms means worldwide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor—anywhere in the world.
Why the emphasis on the world view? At the time, Europe was fully engaged in a World War. The U.S. would be included in December of that year. Perhaps FDR reiterated these basic rights to reassure Americans that they would continue to have these rights, regardless of what the future may hold.
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January 11, 1962 had John Kennedy speaking to Americans on looking forward during prosperous times. He says how that while the year began in a recession; it ended on the high road of recovery and growth. “The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining—by filling three basic gaps in our anti- recession protection.” Kennedy proceeded to outline a program to expand growth and job opportunities. Kennedy said that by the end of 1961, an economy that Khrushchev once referred to as a “stumbling horse” was “racing to new records in consumer spending, labor income, and industrial production".
Ronald Reagan spoke on January 26, 1982 of a “new federalism” advocating less federal spending and more state initiative to solve social end economic problems. However, while in public he spoke of programs promoting a return of political power to state and local governments, in private, he encouraged additional centralization of political power in several functional areas, and continued by signing bills prohibiting state economic regulation of certain industries.
Bill Clinton’s campaign dream of universal health care for all Americans was called the Health Care Plan of 1993.This plan was announced in a highly anticipated speech on September 22, 1993. After many negotiations, discussions, reports and arguments, the plan was declared dead by the Senate Majority Leader on September 26th of 1994. However, in his State of the Union Address in January of 1997, Clinton proposed a new initiative to provide coverage to up to five million children. This revised version of State Children’s Health Insurance Program was passed on June 25, 1997.
Fast forward to me on my comfy couch watching President Obama last night. Many of the same issues, many of the same problems. Does this speech serve a purpose? How do you feel about the process? Do yourself a favor, and Google the addresses of your favorite President. They are very enlightening!
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