The State of the Union's history

Technology and partisanship have transformed the State of the Union over the past century. Here's a look back.

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January 27, 2010

Vice President Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi behind President Obama during his State of the Union address in 2010. Rather than announcing new initiatives, Obama called on Congress to pass legislation mired in partisan gridlock.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

"I will not give up on changing the tone of our politics. I know it's an election year," Obama said in 2010. "But we still need to govern."

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

The 71-minute prime-time address, delivered before hundreds of lawmakers in the Capitol and millions of television viewers nationwide, came at a pivotal moment. The health-care overhaul bill was stalled, and Democrats had just lost their filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Jan. 29, 2008

President George W. Bush came into his last State of the Union deeply unpopular. He used the 2008 speech to make modest proposals but mostly to help shape his legacy, arguing that history would vindicate his decisions.

Richard A. Lipski / The Washington Post

Jan. 28, 2008

Laura Bush, flanked by her daughters, Barbara and Jenna. George W. Bush's small-bore proposals during his 2008 State of the Union address revealed a dramatic shift for a president who always favored boldness.

Richard A. Lipski / The Washington Post

Jan. 29, 2008

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi talks with Vice President Dick Cheney before Bush's final State of the Union.

Richard A. Lipski / The Washington Post

Jan. 27, 2000

Bill Clinton's final State of the Union in 2000 marked a return to the activist agenda he outlined in his first speeches to Congress, after two years in which the speech was overshadowed by the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

Robert A. Reeder / The Washington Post

Jan. 24, 1992

President George H.W. Bush works on his 1992 State of the Union address in the Oval Office.

/ AP

January 29, 1991

President George H.W. Bush speaks with guests in the gallery after the 1991 State of the Union.

Ray Lustig / The Washington Post

Jan. 29, 1991

President George H.W.Bush delivers his State of the Union address in 1991. Seated behind him in House chamber are Speaker Thomas S. Foley (D-Wash.) and Vice President Dan Quayle, left.

Ray Lustig / The Washington Post

Feb. 3, 1985

President Ronald Reagan works on his 1985 State of the Union address in the Aspen Lodge of the presidential retreat at Camp David, Md. In the speech, he sought congressional support for anti-communist guerrilla movements around the world.

Pete Souza / White House

February 7, 1985

At the end of his 1985 speech, President Reagan introduced West Point cadet Jean Nguyen in the House gallery. He cited her as "an American hero," along with Hale House founder Clara Hale, standing at Nguyen's left. Reagan introduced the practice of bringing surprise guests to the speech in 1982.

Rich Lipski / The Washington Post

Jan. 18, 1978

President Jimmy Carter sits in his private study at the White House, working on his first State of the Union address in 1978. He was one of the first presidents to acknowledge relying on his wife for advice -- she went over a draft of the speech in their bedroom.

/ AP

Jan. 23, 1980

Carter shakes hands with Vice President Walter Mondale in the House chamber on the night of his last State of the Union speech in 1980. As Carter spoke, 52 Americans were being held captive in Iran. They were not released until Ronald Reagan became president the following year.

/ The Washington Post

Jan. 12, 1976

President Gerald Ford breaks down at the end of his farewell State of the Union address. Behind him are are Vice President Nelson Rockefeller and Speaker of the House Thomas (Tip) O'Neill.

/ UPI

Jan. 12, 1977

Senate Majority Leader Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.), Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey (D-Minn.) and Sen. Alan Cranston (D-Calif.) listen as President Gerald Ford delivers his third State of the Union address.

/ AP

Jan. 30, 1974

In his 1974 State of the Union, President Richard Nixon urged the nation to move past the Watergate scandal. He also called for comprehensive health insurance, a proposal Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) later regretted passing up. Nixon resigned that August.

/ AP

President Lyndon B. Johnson delivers his final State of the Union address in 1969. It was under Johnson, in 1966, that the practice of a rebuttal from the opposition emerged.

Richard Darcey / The Washington Post

Jan. 30, 1961.

President John F. Kennedy walks through the halls of the Capitol, listening to Vice President Lyndon Johnson, after delivering his 1961 State of the Union address.

/ AP

an. 14, 1963

In his third State of the Union address, President John F. Kennedy called for an unprecedented $13.5 billion cut in taxes, the largest in world history. Applause broke out many times during the address but was only scattered as he described the tax-revamping program. Seated behind the president are Vice President Lyndon Johnson, left, and House Speaker John McCormack (D-Mass.).

/ AP

Feb. 2, 1953

President Dwight Eisenhower is greeted with applause during his first State of the Union. On the rostrum behind him are Vice President Richard Nixon, left, and House Speaker Joseph W. Martin (R-Mass).

/ AP

Jan. 7, 1960

President Eisenhower smiles in a candid shot from his 1960 State of the Union. Behind him are Vice President Richard Nixon, left, and House Speaker Sam Rayburn (D-Texas).

/ AP

Jan. 8, 1951

President Harry Truman checks the final draft of his 1951 State of the Union speech with congressional leaders two hours before delivery. From left, seated are House Speaker Sam Rayburn (D-Texas), Truman and Vice President Alben Barkley. Standing: Rep. John McCormack (D-Mass.) and Senate Majority Leader Ernest W. McFarland (D-Ariz.).

Henry Griffin / AP

Jan.4, 1939

President Franklin D. Roosevelt is shown as he addresses both houses of Congress in 1939. His speech focused on national security. Behind the president at the right is Vice President John Nance Garner and at left Speaker of the House William B. Bankhead (D-Ala.).

/ AP

Featured Photo Galleries

PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 29: Serena Williams of USA stretches to plays a forehand in her women's singles first round match between Serena Williams of USA and Virginie Razzano of France during day three of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 29, 2012 in Paris, France. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

French Open results: Serena Williams loses, Maria Sharapova cruises

The American tennis star lost in the first round of a Grand Slam event.

Winnie Pajcic, 9, holds on to a railing as she leans back in the wind during a visit to Stockton Park in Ortega, Fla., in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Beryl on Monday May 28, 2012. Beryl came ashore early Monday near Jacksonville Beach with near-hurricane-strength winds of 70 mph. (AP Photo/The Florida Times-Union, Kelly Jordan)

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Camels rest at a watering hole outside the town of Aleg May 25, 2012. REUTERS/Joe Penney (MAURITANIA - Tags: ANIMALS SOCIETY)

Camels, tigers, turtles, a giant stag beetle and more in animal views

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ANNAPOLIS, MD- MAY 29: Graduates cheer as the Blue Angels fly over during the 100th anniversary of the United States Naval Academy Graduation and Commissioning Ceremonies in Annapolis, Maryland, on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. U.S Sec. of Defense Leon Edward Panetta gave the graduation address. (Photo by Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post)

U.S. Naval Academy graduation

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta gave the commencement address at the ceremony.

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 26: Singer/actress Jennifer Lopez (C) performs with dancers during the Q'Viva! The Chosen Live show at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on May 26, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Eye on entertainment

Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Lil Jon, Eddie Van Halen, Mariah Carey and other celebrities.

Doc Watson, bluegrass and folk legend, dies at 89

The blind singer and guitarist was a Grammy winner, known for his flat-picking style of guitar playing.

Henry, a calf, sustained a head wound and required stitches after being slashed over the weekend.

Farm animals attacked in Fairfax

A calf, two goats and a chicken were slashed over the weekend at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon.

COVINGTON, LA - MAY 14: Brother Emmanuel Labrise of St. Joseph's Abbey prepares a casket for lining on May 15, 2012 in Covington, Louisiana. Louisiana law forbids those who are not licensed funeral directors from selling caskets. And since Hurricane Katrina leveled the timberlands that once provided the main source of funding for the abbey, the monks have attempted to make a living by building and selling simple cypress caskets. The monks won their first round last year, and have a hearing at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in June. (Photo by Sean Gardner/For the Washington Post)

Louisiana monks fight for the right to sell coffins

Federal court case pits a group of monks against the funeral home industry.

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