State of the Union

This week Barack Obama delivered his State of The Union address. Does anyone know where the term ‘State of the Union’ came from? How long it has been an annual event in the US of A? Well read on one and all, this is the subject of the week.

History

The first State of the Union address was given by George Washington in 1790. The actual term ‘State of the Union’ came about from a term in the U.S. Constitution ‘He (President) shall from time to time give to Congress information of the State of the Union and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient’.

It was originally an address by the President to Congress but has since become an address to the people. Likewise it was originally a written report but over the years it has developed into an annual prime time televised event.

I could not find any State of the Union summaries so I guess that’s my next job, to read addresses made during key periods in American history….it’s gonna be a long day and night. Those Presidents sure know how to talk!!!

Check back tomorrow, the time frame is the American Civil War (1861-1865) and what Abe had to say in those years.