From Parchment to Podium

Exploring the State of the Union Through Time

Author

The Déjà Digest
March 07, 2024

Background: The State of the Union address is a storied American tradition that has turned into a night of political pomp and circumstance. Joe Biden will deliver the address tonight, March 7. At its core, the address is meant to outline the legislative agenda and national priorities to Congress.

The address usually fulfills a constitutional duty to “give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” Article II, Section 3, Clause 1  

That duty has morphed into a prime-time broadcast spectacle, watched by millions, parsed and analyzed by pundits, and often resulting in spirited discussions across the nation's dining tables and digital spaces.

Whatever side of the aisle you’re on, you have to admit the State of the Union has given us at least one thing we can all agree on: Jack Bauer back on TV.

Deja Vu: The concept of the State of the Union has its roots deep in the American Constitution, mandated as the "Annual Message" until it was popularly known as the State of the Union by the mid-20th century.

George Washington and John Adams delivered their message in person, but in 1801, Thomas Jefferson submitted a written address. This practice lasted for over a century until Woodrow Wilson revived the tradition of speaking before Congress in 1913.

Fact:

In 1966 the opposition party began offering a response to the address. Three politicians who gave the opposition's response to a SOTU speech later became president: Gerald Ford, George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

Number: Below is the average length of address for each President’s State of the Union speech, per The American Presidency Party.

In 1981, Jimmy Carter wrote the address instead of delivering it. It came in at 33,667 words. By contrast, the longest speech was delivered by Bill Clinton in 1995. That speech had 9,190 words.

President

Average Length of Address

Lyndon B. Johnson

0:50:38

Richard Nixon

0:35:26

Gerald R. Ford

0:45:31

Jimmy Carter

0:36:53

Ronald Reagan

0:40:00

George Bush

0:45:32

William J. Clinton

1:14:51

George W. Bush

0:52:35

Barack Obama

1:02:45

Donald J. Trump

1:20:20

Joseph R. Biden

1:06:08 (with tonight pending)

They say our attention spans are getting shorter, but it seems our speeches are getting longer…

Quote: "Every segment of our population, and every individual, has a right to expect from his government a fair deal." - Harry Truman, 1949

Profile: The Designated Survivor

The designated survivor is a member of the presidential line of succession who is deliberately absent from an event. Here's a breakdown of why the designated survivor exists:

  • Line of Succession: The United States has a clearly defined line of succession that dictates who takes over the presidency if the President becomes incapacitated or dies. This line typically starts with the Vice President, followed by the Speaker of the House, and so on.

  • Disaster Planning: The State of the Union address brings together most of the top leaders of the country – the President, Vice President, and the Cabinet. This concentration of leadership in one location creates a vulnerability.

  • Continuity of Government: If a catastrophic event were to strike the Capitol during the address, it could potentially wipe out a significant portion of the government's leadership.

  • Designated Survivor: To ensure that someone remains to lead the country in such a scenario, a member of the line of succession is chosen to be absent from the State of the Union. This individual becomes the designated survivor, ready to assume the presidency if necessary.

The designated survivor's identity is typically kept secret to enhance the element of surprise and prevent them from becoming a target themselves.

Trivia Question: Name one of the two presidents who never gave a State of the Union Address.

List: We’re Happy to Have You

The tradition of acknowledging particular guests was started by Ronald Reagan in 1982 when he acknowledged Lenny Skutnik, a government employee who saved a life following a plane crash.

  • Sgt. Jennifer Rodgers: Sergeant, Oklahoma City Police Department who helped save victims of the bombing of the Federal Building. (Bill Clinton, 1996)

  • Sammy Sosa: baseball player, Chicago Cubs. (Bill Clinton, 1999)

  • Steven Ramos: President cited him as an example of an ordinary American who would be advantaged by tax cuts. (George W. Bush, 2001)

  • Dikembe Mutombo: NBA basketball star who later built a hospital in his native Congo. (George W. Bush, 2007)

  • James Howard: He was able to join the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan to get medical treatment after being diagnosed with brain cancer. (Barack Obama, 2011)

  • Matthew Charles: The first prisoner released as a result of the First Step Act. Charles was sentenced to 35 years in prison for selling crack cocaine and other related offenses. While in prison, he found God, completed more than 30 bible studies, became a law clerk, taught GED classes, and mentored fellow inmates. (Donald Trump, 2019)

Recommended Reading: The State of the Unions

They’re all there.

Trivia Answer: William Henry Harrison or James Garfield