The Union Speaks: A Brief History
The year 2025 marks 235 years since President George Washington delivered an address to Congress describing the state of affairs in the U.S. This was no ordinary speech, and it is something that every President, from Washington to Trump, does annually in what has become known as the State of the Union Address. Mandated by the Constitution, this yearly tradition became an essential cornerstone of the Presidency, so now we’re taking a look back on 200-plus years of its history and notable moments.
Precedent of a President
Article II of the U.S. Constitution lays out the responsibilities and powers of the President, both enumerated and implied. Article II Section 3 Clause 1 is what initially created the idea of a verbal address from the President to Congress, stating
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.
The inclusion of an address to Congress is one of many ways that the Framers sought to put a “check” on the executive branch, since it requires the President to convene with the legislative branch.
In many ways, the newly elected George Washington understood that he was setting precedents and conventions through his actions as the first chief executive. He had to distinguish the office of the President from that of a monarch, convincing the American people that this fledgling democracy was worth fighting for. So when Washington approached the podium at New York’s Federal Hall, the seat of the first Congress in 1790, there was a certain gravity to the occasion.
While he did deliver an inaugural address to Congress in 1789, the speech did not include many specific recommendations or legislative priorities. By contrast, in the 1790 address, he spoke explicitly on a number of important issues, including establishing a standing army, creating a post office and national currency standards, and repaying the national debt. The reception was generally favorable from both Congress and the press.
Spoken versus Written
But after Adams, and thanks to Thomas Jefferson, Presidents began delivering their addresses to Congress in writing. Jefferson’s rationale for this was that it saved Congress “the embarrassment of immediate answers on subjects not yet fully before them." Every President until Woodrow Wilson has written a State of the Union address to be hand-delivered to both chambers of Congress.
Screening the President
While Woodrow Wilson brought back the in-person spoken address as a way to build momentum for the President’s proposals, it was not until Calvin Coolidge’s presidency in 1923 that his message was broadcast to the nation. Coolidge was the first President whose address hit radio airwaves, and in 1947 under President Truman, the event became televised.
Additionally, the actual term “State of the Union” was popularized under President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
One of the most common attributes of modern State of the Union addresses is the “designated survivor,” or the Cabinet-level official who customarily forgoes attending the address for national security reasons. This is a relatively recent phenomenon that can only be traced back to 1984.
An Address to the People
The contemporary State of the Union address is more of an event for Presidents to communicate with the American people than to provide a formal to-do list for Congress. It may be a lot of pomp and circumstance, but the event uniquely brings together both houses of Congress, Supreme Court justices, and other political officials under one roof. Some of the most iconic initiatives in American history are first proposed in these addresses, and they serve as a somber reminder of our nation’s democratic heritage.
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