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NIGHTLINE: The State of the Union
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Terry L Parker
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Jan 20, 2004 14:50 PST
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Nightline
TONIGHT'S FOCUS: After all the attention on the Democratic presidential field in the last few days, it is the President's turn. Tonight he will address a joint session of Congress in the annual ritual known as The State of the Union, and among the most critical of those viewers are likely to be the men vying for his job.
It is a requirement of the Constitution, that "The 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." For the first hundred years or so, it was a written report delivered to Congress. It was Woodrow Wilson who started the tradition of an oral presentation to both houses of Congress and since the advent of radio, then television, it has become an opportunity for the President to address the nation directly too.
For political junkies it is not just what the President says, but the unspoken aspects of the ritual that matter: how much applause does he get, who sits with the First Lady, does the opposition remain seated when the President's party gets up to applaud on a point that they particularly support? Those are things that are kind of fun to keep note of, but tonight the President will be making a speech that, in this presidential election year, is an important political statement. He will be making his case for why he believes, "the state of the nation is strong." He has successfully executed a war, of course, but there are still about 130,000 U.S. troops in Iraq and many
Democrats (including the ones running for president) will tell you that the Bush Iraq policy has been a disaster. Last year we heard a lot about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq--we probably won't be hearing much about those tonight. Instead the President is said to be preparing a speech that will focus on the economy and healthcare, including some bold new initiatives. Call it Bush's first stump speech of this year's presidential campaign. Make no mistake--the President will be making the case for why he should be re-elected and the Democrats will be ready to challenge him on every point. Let the campaign begin.
We will have full coverage and analysis of the speech on tonight's broadcast, which will be anchored by Ted Koppel. We hope you'll join us.
Madhulika Sikka and the Nightline Staff
ABCNEWS Washington bureau
-----------
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<DIV><BR><FONT face=Arial>TONIGHT'S FOCUS: After all the attention on the
Democratic presidential field in the last few days, it is the President's turn.
Tonight he will address a joint session of Congress in the annual ritual known
as The State of the Union, and among the most critical of those viewers are
likely to be the men vying for his job.<BR><BR>It is a requirement of the
Constitution, that "The 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." For the first hundred years
or so, it was a written report delivered to Congress. It was Woodrow Wilson who
started the tradition of an oral presentation to both houses of Congress and
since the advent of radio, then television, it has become an opportunity for the
President to address the nation directly too. <BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>For political junkies it is not just what the President
says, but the unspoken aspects of the ritual that matter: how much applause does
he get, who sits with the First Lady, does the opposition remain seated when the
President's party gets up to applaud on a point that they particularly support?
Those are things that are kind of fun to keep note of, but tonight the President
will be making a speech that, in this presidential election year, is an
important political statement. He will be making his case for why he believes,
"the state of the nation is strong." He has successfully executed a war, of
course, but there are still about 130,000 U.S. troops in Iraq and many
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Democrats (including the ones running for president) will
tell you that the Bush Iraq policy has been a disaster. Last year we heard a lot
about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq--we probably won't be hearing much
about those tonight. Instead the President is said to be preparing a speech that
will focus on the economy and healthcare, including some bold new initiatives.
Call it Bush's first stump speech of this year's presidential campaign. Make no
mistake--the President will be making the case for why he should be re-elected
and the Democrats will be ready to challenge him on every point. Let the
campaign begin. <BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>We will have full coverage and analysis of the speech on
tonight's broadcast, which will be anchored by Ted Koppel. We hope you'll join
us. <BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Madhulika Sikka and the Nightline Staff<BR>ABCNEWS
Washington bureau <BR><BR>----------- <BR>If you have questions or comments
regarding this message or a recent "Nightline" broadcast, please do not hit
reply; simply click on this link to send your message directly to the
"Nightline" staff: <BR>Or log on to the new "Nightline" Message Board:
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT
face=Arial>http://boards.go.com/cgi/abcnews/request.dll?LIST&;room=nightline
<BR>Chat with "Nightline" guests and find articles, transcripts and video
excerpts on our Web site at: http://abcnews.go.com/Sections/Nightline/ <BR>Ask
your friends to sign up! Send them this link:
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/nightline/DailyNews/nightline_login.html <BR>Did
you know that ABCNEWS.com can also send you a daily email from ABCNEWS Political
Unit? Get the daily political scoop from our insider sources. Click here to sign
up! <BR><BR><BR>Copyright © 2004 ABC News Internet Ventures. Click here for
Terms of Use & Updated Privacy Policy & Internet Safety Information
applicable to the site.<BR> </FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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