STATE OF THE UNION TRIVIA

Originally published Sunday, January 27, 2002

A new tradition: When the founding fathers wrote the Constitution, they included a requirement that the president send an annual message to Congress outlining his assessment of the country and his priorities for the coming year. George Washington issued the first State of the Union speech in 1790.

The long and the short of it: In 1946, Harry S. Truman delivered the longest address, weighing in at more than 25,000 words. Washington's 1790 address remains the shortest at 833 words.

Can everybody hear me? Calvin Coolidge was the first president to give a State of the Union message over the radio (1923). Truman was the first president to give his State of the Union message on television (1947).

A silent message: After Washington and John Adams made speeches during their terms, Thomas Jefferson sent his message in writing for two reasons: He didn't particularly like public speaking because of his lisp, and he thought the ritual of a speech recalled the King of England addressing Parliament. All presidents followed Jefferson's lead until 1913, when Woodrow Wilson trekked to Capitol Hill to deliver his in a speech. Almost all since have followed Wilson's lead in appearing before Congress.

Practice makes perfect: Franklin Delano Roosevelt gave 12 State of the Union messages -- more than any other president.

Prime time: For years, the speech had been delivered during the day. Roosevelt moved his speech to evening starting in 1936 so more Americans could listen.

Saluting heroes: The practice of inviting people so they could be recognized during the State of the Union began in 1982 under Ronald Reagan. "The Gipper" publicly lauded Lenny Skutnik, a government worker who two weeks before dove into the icy Potomac River to save a woman from the Air Florida crash in Washington, D.C. He also cited Sen. Jeremiah Denton, R-Ala., a prisoner of war for seven years during the Vietnam War.

Oops! Wrong speech: In 1994, Bill Clinton began delivering his address when he realized his TelePrompTer held an old speech. He ad-libbed for a while until aides fed the right one into the machine.

Memorable lines: Despite their length, State of the Union speeches have never been known for oratorical flourishes. Nonetheless, here are a few lines you might remember:

"I have no intention whatever of walking away from the job that the people elected me to do for the people of the United States." -- Richard Nixon in 1974 as he was being investigated for Watergate

"We have no desire to be the world's policeman. But America does want to be the world's peacemaker." -- Jimmy Carter in 1979

"I want to express to you your husband's pride and your country's thanks." -- Ronald Reagan in 1988, looking up in the gallery to his wife, Nancy

"If you know how to read, find someone who can't. If you've got a hammer, find a nail. If you're not hungry, not lonely, not in trouble, seek out someone who is." -- George Bush in 1991, touting "community of conscience"

"The era of big government is over." -- Bill Clinton in 1996

Gannett News Service

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