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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.
Jan. 24, 2012
President Obama addresses a joint session of Congress with the final State of the Union speech of his first term.
Toni L. Sandys
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The Washington Post
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Jan. 24, 2012
President Obama hugs Gabrielle Giffords, former U.S. representative from Arizona, at the State of the Union address.
Melina Mara
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The Washington Post
Jan. 25, 2011
The president addressed investments in education, infrastructure and energy innovation — concepts he discussed as far back as his first address to Congress, in 2009.
Melina Mara
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The Washington Post
Jan. 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
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The Washington Post
Jan. 27, 2010
"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
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The Washington Post
Jan. 27, 2010
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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The Washington Post
Jan. 24, 1992
President George H.W. Bush works on his 1992 State of the Union address in the Oval Office.
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AP
January 29, 1991
President George H.W. Bush speaks with guests in the gallery after the 1991 State of the Union.
Ray Lustig
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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
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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
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White House
Feb. 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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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AP
Jan. 14, 1969
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
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The Washington Post
Jan. 30, 1961
President John F. Kennedy walks through the halls of the Capitol with Vice President Lyndon Johnson, after delivering his 1961 State of the Union address.
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AP
Jan. 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.).
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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).
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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).
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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
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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.).
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AP
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