The State of the Union is an annual speech delivered by the President of the United States to a joint session of Congress, with members of the Supreme Court and top military leaders in attendance. The speech, delivered annually in late January or February, outlines the administration’s agenda for the coming year. The practice stems from the constitutional requirement for the president to update Congress on the “state of the union,” though the Constitution does not specify a format or frequency.
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Article II, Section 3 of the US Constitution says that the president “shall from time to time” give Congress information on the state of the union and recommend measures deemed “necessary and expedient,” leaving the timing and format unspecified.
This gallery offers a visual archive of the State of the Union, featuring photographs from each president’s address, beginning with Franklin D. Roosevelt. Explore decades of presidential moments, settings, and historical context tied to the annual speech.
Applause, silence, and coordinated standing—or refusal to stand—are deliberate signals during the State of the Union, used by lawmakers to broadcast allegiance or dissent. At the same time, military leaders and Supreme Court justices largely avoid reacting to preserve institutional neutrality.
This video showcases the speechwriting process behind Barack Obama’s 2012 State of the Union, highlighting how writers shaped themes, refined language, and coordinated closely with the president in the lead-up to the address.
The first address took place in New York City in 1790, when President George Washington addressed Congress at Federal Hall—the nation’s capital under the Articles of Confederation and the seat of the federal government during the Constitution’s first year.
These political experts highlight standout State of the Union addresses that shaped the nation’s direction—from Washington’s first and Lincoln’s Civil War messages to FDR’s wartime resolve, LBJ’s Great Society launch, and Clinton’s scandal-shadowed 1998 speech.
The tradition began in 1982 when Ronald Reagan honored Lenny Skutnik, who rescued a survivor from the icy Potomac after a plane crash. Since then, presidents have spotlighted a wide range of guests from Rosa Parks to Rush Limbaugh to humanize and reinforce policy themes.
In 1801, President Jefferson ended in-person State of the Union addresses, feeling they were too monarchial, and sent written messages instead—a practice that lasted until 1913. His first message was written and sent via his secretary, Meriwether Lewis, who later led the Lewis and Clark expedition.
President Wilson became the first president since John Adams to deliver the State of the Union in person. He is credited with transforming the speech from a routine update into a public tool for advancing the president’s legislative agenda.
In 1934, President Roosevelt became the first president to formally call the annual address the “State of the Union,” replacing the older title “Annual Message to Congress” and using the language from the Constitution.