These include Truman (19), Eisenhower (1961), and Carter (1981). In some cases, there was only a written message and no spoken address. However, there continued to be exceptions. Roosevelt consolidated the modern practice of delivering a spoken State of the Union beginning with his first in 1934. Subsequently, Coolidge's remaining State of the Unions (1924-28) and all four of Hoover's (1929-32) were written.įranklin D. Warren Harding's two messages (19) and Calvin Coolidge's first (1923) were also spoken messages. (For an excellent discussion of the contemporary commentary on both the Jefferson and Wilson innovations, we recommend an article by Anne Pluta, "Reassessing the Assumptions behind the Evolution of Popular Presidential Communication," Presidential Studies Quarterly 45:1 (March 2015): 70-90.)įor health reasons, Wilson did not address Congress in 19. As an expression of this philosophy, Wilson delivered spoken messages to Congress, citing the authority of the Constitution.
Wilson stated that the presidency was more than an impersonal institution and active and visible presidential leadership was needed by both the people and the Congress. Jefferson's practice changed in 1913 with Woodrow Wilson. Some believe Jefferson just was not comfortable with public oratory. Jefferson suggested the process was a waste of time. Some believe he thought the practice of appearing before the representatives of the people was too similar to the British monarch's practice of addressing each new Parliament. However, beginning with Jefferson's 1st State of the Union (1801) and lasting until Taft's final message (1912), the State of the Union was a written (and often lengthy) report sent to Congress to coincide with a new Session of Congress.įederalists Washington and Adams had personally addressed the Congress, but Jefferson stopped that practice. With a few exceptions, this has been true in the modern era-starting around 1933. George Washington established the precedent that clarifies the phrase "from time to time." Since 1790, with occasional exceptions, State of the Union messages have been delivered once annually.Ī misconception found even in some academic literature is that the State of the Union is a spoken message presented to a Joint Session of Congress. State of the Union Messages to the Congress are mandated by Article II, Section 3 of the United States Constitution: "He shall from time to time 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." Cabinet Members Not in Attendance ("Designated Survivor " (starting1984) Introductory Essay List of Acknowledged Guests Sitting in House Galleryħ. Length of State of the Union Addresses in Minutes (starting1964)ĥ. Length of State of the Union Messages and Addresses in WordsĤ. Table of all SOTU Messages and Addressesģ.
All of our State of the Union (SOTU) Resources 1.
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