Response_to_the_State_of_the_Union_address

Response to the State of the Union address

Response to the State of the Union address

Annual American political speech

In American politics, the response to the State of the Union address is a rebuttal speech, often brief, delivered by a representative (or representatives) of an opposition party following a presidential State of the Union address. When the president is a Democrat, the rebuttal is typically given by a Republican, and vice versa.

The practice began in 1966 when Republican Sen. Everett Dirksen (Illinois) and Rep. Gerald Ford (Michigan) appeared on TV to offer a response to the address by Democratic President Lyndon Johnson.[1] The opposition party's response has varied in format, ranging from a prerecorded 45-minute TV program in 1970[2] to a call-in show in 1972 where a panel of congressmen answered unrehearsed questions from callers.[1] Since the late 1980s, it usually has been a televised speech given soon after the State of the Union address.[1]

Four presidents have given both a State of the Union address and an opposition response: Gerald Ford, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Joe Biden.[1][3]

List of responses

Unless otherwise noted, the response was broadcast live the same night as the State of the Union address and given in English.

More information Year, Responding Party/Group ...
  1. Starting in 1981, first-term Presidents have been invited to address a joint session of Congress shortly after their inauguration. These have reflected the style of a State of the Union address but are not officially titled as a "State of the Union." Since 1989 the opposition party has offered a response.[4]
  2. NBC and CBS aired the response on the same night as the State of the Union address while ABC aired it two days later

References

  1. [1]
    "Opposition Responses to the State of the Union Messages (1966-Present)". United States Senate. Archived from the original on March 8, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  2. [2]
    Frum, David (2000). How We Got Here: The '70s. New York: Basic Books. p. 47. ISBN 0-465-04195-7.
  3. [3]
    Polus, Sarah (April 28, 2021). "Biden Becomes Just Fourth President to Have Given Both SOTU Rebuttal and Joint Address". The Hill. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  4. [4]
    The President's State of the Union Address: Tradition, Function, and Policy Implications (PDF). Congressional Research Service. January 24, 2014. p. 2.
  5. [5]
    Henderson, Nia-Malika (20 January 2015). "This is the best/worst State of the Union response ever. And, yes, Bill Clinton is prominently featured". Washington Post. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  6. [6]
    "The Democratic Response". PBS.org. February 27, 2001. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  7. [7]
    "Transcript of Gov. Jindal's GOP response to Obama speech". CNN. February 24, 2009. Retrieved January 28, 2011.
  8. [8]
    "Democrats Pick Ex-Kentucky Governor To Respond To Trump Speech To Congress". NPR. February 24, 2017. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
  9. [9]
    "GOP Sen. Tim Scott to deliver GOP response for Biden address to Congress". CNN.com. April 22, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  10. [10]
    "Rep. Jamaal Bowman Delivers WFP Response to Biden Joint Address". Working Families Party. 2021-04-29. Retrieved 2022-03-02.
  11. [11]
    "Squad member to deliver response to Biden SOTU". POLITICO. 23 February 2022. Retrieved 2022-03-02.
  12. [12]
    "Dallas Rep. Colin Allred to give Congressional Black Caucus response to Biden's State of the Union". Dallas News. 2022-03-01. Retrieved 2022-03-02.
  13. [13]
    "Robert F. Kennedy Jr. "State Of The Union" Address: 80% Of Americans Don't Want To Choose Between The Lesser Of Two Evils". RealClear Politics. 2024-03-11. Retrieved 2024-03-11.

Sources
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