President Donald J. Trump is scheduled to deliver his second State of the Union address on February 5, 2019. His inaugural address, speech to a joint session of Congress, first State of the Union address, and recent Oval Office address were all wildly inconsistent and garnered mixed reviews. In this book, a group of speech and communication experts from around the country analyze the most memorable State of the Union addresses of the last half-century. From President Lyndon Johnson's declaration of a war on poverty during his 1964 address through Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's utterance of the phrase "not true" during President Barack Obama's 2010 speech, historical moments and political fireworks are frequently produced before a television audience of millions. Familiar phrases such as "the era of big government is over" and "axis of evil" can be traced to recent State of the Union addresses. Each chapter in the book concludes with sage advice for President Trump's upcoming speech, which could be integral to fending off impeachment from a newly elected Democratic House of Representatives and winning re-election in 2020. With so much at stake, President Trump and his team of speechwriters should closely study the work of his predecessors to produce the best final product. Whether or not this occurs remains quite unclear at this time.

The 1877 State of the Union Address was written by the 19th president, Rutherford B. Hayes. Excerpt: "There has been a general reestablishment of order and of the orderly administration of justice. Instances of remaining lawlessness have become of rare occurrence; political turmoil and turbulence have disappeared; useful industries have been resumed; public credit in the Southern States has been greatly strengthened, and the encouraging benefits of a revival of commerce between the sections of the country lately embroiled in civil war are fully enjoyed."

The 1974 State of the Union Address was given by Richard Nixon, the 37th president of the United States, to the 93rd US Congress. Excerpt: "We meet here tonight at a time of great challenge and great opportunities for America. We meet at a time when we face great problems at home and abroad that will test the strength of our fiber as a nation. But we also meet at a time when that fiber has been tested, and it has proved strong..."

"State of the Union Addresses" from George Washington. First President of the United States (1732-1799).

Reproduction of the original: State of the Union Addresses by Benjamin Harrison

The 1824 State of the Union Address was written by James Monroe, the 5th president of the United States. Monroe, a founder of his country, predicts that his country will become a world power, and must animate with virtue and enlightenment. Excerpt: "The view which I have now to present to you of our affairs, foreign and domestic, realizes the most sanguine anticipations which have entertained of the public prosperity. If we look to the whole, our growth as a nation continues to be rapid beyond example;" He ended with, "From the present prosperous and happy state I derive a gratification which I can not express. That these blessings may be preserved and perpetuated will be the object of my fervent and unceasing prayers to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe."

The following book collates State of the Union Addresses delivered by the 40th U.S. president, Ronald Reagan, who was the first to begin the tradition. The State of the Union Address is an annual message delivered by the president of the United States to a joint session of the United States Congress near the beginning of each calendar year on the current condition of the nation. It generally includes reports on the nation's budget, economy, news, agenda, achievements and the president's priorities and legislative proposals.