An Inquiry into the First State of the Union Address of Washington, Wilson and Reagan

The State Of the Union Address is a speech made by the President of the United States for the purpose of highlighting specific policy agendas concerning the 'State of the Union'. The three addresses which will be discussed in this paper are those of George Washington on January 8, 1790; Woodrow Wilson on December 2, 1913 and Ronald Reagan on January 26, 1982. All three are markedly different in their national concerns and prioritized issues. President Washington's address seems to most occupied with getting the country started in terms of various general foreign and domestic issues which will be discussed later. Wilson's address is more focused, giving attention to a handful of specific domestic issues, and Reagan's address is concerned mainly with the economy. In light of these addresses it will become apparent that within each political era, a different policy agenda exists. This, is most likely due to what is perceived as the most pressing issue of the day, in each political time period. However, a common theme exists in all three of these addresses, namely the motive to promote and foster the will of the people.

Beginning with the mandate, we can understand how each State Of The Union Address attempts to address the needs of such a large group of people. For example, what is considered to be important by the President, why, and how the issues are approached and solved. These will naturally illuminate the administrative protocol of each period. In the Washington era, the country had just ratified the Constitution and the first Congress had taken place. Also, The United States was not a Super Power, expansive railroads were yet to be built and the West had hardly been settled. Whether or not these factors affected the State of the Union is a matter of judgment. This paper will proceed on the notion that they did. This is evident in the policy agenda of Washington's address in which he raises the issues of domestic military, the right to bear arms, defense from Indians, naturalization, currency weight and measure, federal post, agriculture, manufacturing, science and literature and foreign affairs. All are issues which would no doubt concern the fresh Government which represents a nation, that had just acquired several states. For example, a uniform currency in terms of 'weight and measure' was believed by Washington to be a significant way to promote the economy. Also, the general promotion of agriculture, manufacturing ie. "production and use of inventions" and science and literature are all essential elements of an economy and social structure. Without and sufficient agriculture, food must be imported and becomes expensive, and without manufacturing, the material standard of living goes down and the economy is stagnant.

Furthermore, Washington said it well when stating that knowledge is necessary for security because it "teaches people to know and value their own rights,..to know oppression form lawful authority...and liberty from licentiousness..." thus. the issue of knowledge was "worthy of a place in the deliberation of the legislature." Also, essential to Washington was public credit for the promotion of the public interest and the expansion of the work force as "speedily ascertained through uniform naturalization." As many citizens of countries may agree, the need for defense was imminent. This took the form of defense from "hostile" native Americans and promoted the issue of the right to bear arms. Also on Washington's agenda was foreign affairs in regards to the allocation of adequate funds for such service. Apparently, international liaisons in the form of ambassadors and embassies had not yet been fully established at the time, and Washington found it necessary to restate the Constitutional principle which outlines the executive responsibility of diplomacy. Thus, the First State of the Union Address was rather general and more of a lets get down to business speech.

This is apparent in comparison to Wilson and Reagan's address which are consecutively more focused in topics and agenda. Wilson addresses as broad a range of issues as Washington but goes into greater detail in some of them. Reagan's speech on the other hand, is limited in its range of issues, but is more focused and sometimes repetitive in its concerns. First, Wilson's speech is comprised mostly on the issue of promoting World Peace, farming and fair business. Other issues included in the address are World Peace, continental Constitutionalism, banking and currency, territorial government, railroads, resources, mining, social justice and safety at sea. However, as mentioned farming was a major concern in this particular address. This is so because the issue used a large part of Wilson's speech and contextually was a vital concern at the time. Wilson exemplified this by seeking to "make farming an efficient business". He did this by promoting legislation which allowed farmers adequate but not unfair credit for farmers, and also the mention of a "special commission to study the various systems of rural credit which have been put into operation in Europe." The question of urban sprawl emerges here. This could have been a phenomenon of the time in which led to one of the early declines in farming as a profession, and thus required evasive action to maintain the food supply. Wilson also gives considerable time to Business in his speech. He does this mainly by promoting the dissolving of private monopolies through the Sherman anti-trust law.

Wilson also encourages the promotion of business in that he believed "men of this country should be relieved of all uncertainties of law with regard to their enterprises and investments and a clear path indicated which they can travel without anxiety." Like Washington's address, this is a rather general statement but is more detailed in regard to the destruction of a domestic problem i.e. monopolies such as Standard Oil which had not had a chance to emerge when Washington made his first address. Also, World Peace --which was the first topic mentioned in the speech-- was evidently quite important to Wilson. This is apparent in Wilson's mention of the United States role in international diplomatic negotiations for the promotion of a 31 nation organization "representing four-fifths of the World, to the negotiation of treaties."

Two other major concerns in Wilson's address were the state of Mexico and the American territories. At the time, the territories of Puerto Rico, Hawaii and the Philippines (which later became independent) where still relatively new and required proper administration. Wilson stated that this was necessary in order to instill the "same sense of responsibility to them as toward our own people in domestic affairs." Previously, "such territories were regarded as mere possessions...and were selfishly exploited" Moreover, they lacked a "domain of public conscience and of serviceable and enlightened statesmanship." Mexico too, was a concern for Wilson because as in present day, dictatorships were not approved of by the American government. Such a dictatorship denied citizens of "peace, order and tolerable life" and thus, required attention. Specifically, the dictator of the day General Victor Huerta was not to be acknowledged by the Wilson administration. The other issues in Wilson's speech were short and specific and thus may not have been as pressing in terms of executive concern.

Such issues included political representation in regards to banking and currency, "the method of selecting nominees for the Presidency", resources, mining, conservation, railroads, social justice and safety at sea. Although given little time, a legislative bill regarding "reform of the system of banking and currency, for which the country waits with impatience.." was important to Wilson in regards to Senate and House approval. Presidential nominees was of concern to Wilson in regard to proper representation. That is, he wanted the public to be represented by existing members of the Senate, House of Representatives, and nominees for the Senate and the House as well as Presidential candidates. Wilson thought this was necessary in order "that the platforms may be framed by those responsible to the people for carrying them into effect". As Hawaii and the Philippines, Wilson advocated territorial government in Alaska. Essential to this was an adequate railroad which in turn was promoted by Wilson's notice to the effective employer's liability act, which emerges suddenly as necessary to the notion that the Government "owed it, in mere justice to the railway employees of the country to provide them with a fair and effective...act...that can stand by...to the advantage of these who administer the railroads..."

Similar focus is given by Wilson to a more efficient mining business, and the proper conservation of resources which were to be "used, but not destroyed or wasted." Last, Wilson throws in social justice and safety at sea. Moreover, at the time and in accordance with Wilson's speech, trade must of relied heavily on shipping, and hence, good sailors were required. Wilson's State of the Union address is consumed more so than Washington's with economic factors such as the proper efficiency of mines, elimination of monopolies etc. It is concise and to the point in regards to its approach. Moreover, it is written by the economic and social needs of the decade as a State Of The Union Address should be. The speech gives no mention of national defense which both the Washington and Reagan speeches do.

Reagan's State of the Union Address is the most unique of the three because it is so focused. That is to say, it is primarily concerned with mending the economy through governmental restructuring. An issue, which is not mentioned in the Washington and Wilson addresses. Moreover, Reagan's speech draws attention to ovespending of the government due to high taxes. This, he claimed was the result of "decades of tax and tax and spend and spend,"and the use of "political quick fixes such as pumping up the money supply and increasing spending." Furthermore, inflation was not helped, unemployment did not improve, several recessions occurred, and most importantly the growth of government became unaccountable. In his address Reagan endorsed his administrations solution to the above problems. "This time...we have an economic program...it calls for a reduction of the rate of increase in government spending." Reagan reported these actions to have decreased inflation, taxes and interest rates and to "stimulate saving and investment." Moreover, "nonessential government spending" was to be rooted out by reducing the Federal work force, eliminating ineffective subsidies, and the transfer of excise taxing to the States. Also, Reagan mentions that despite these changes, social security was to remain stable providing the appropriate "safety net". Such programs included security for the elderly, needy, helpless, minority businesses, and Private Sector Initiatives Task Force Programs which were to be "designed and administered closer to the grassroots and the people it serves." Reagan gives specific numbers on inflation, interest etc to emphasize his points of economic reform through changes in government spending and structure. Although, this takes most of Reagan's speech, the issues of defense and American heroism are also given attention to briefly.

It is now evident that all three addresses differ considerably in their concern. This is emphasized in each addresses style, approach and issues. Both the Wilson and Reagan speeches are falsely optimistic yet inspire hope in their own way. This is so for the Wilson speech ironically claims the path to World Peace as en route internationally when only a year later World War One was alive and well, only to be followed by another. Second, the Reagan speech also ironically claims the economy to be improving due to the administrations program. Unfortunately, this program itself needed huge changes the following year because of the "massive debt" which it incurred. The Washington and Wilson addresses are more similar in that they address a broader spectrum of issues. It is also apparent that each speech taken chronologically, becomes more specific in its context regarding certain issues. This is evident in the Washington and Wilson speeches in regard to banking and currency. Washington establishes it with a uniform currency, and Wilson reforms it through endorsing hoped for legislation to the Senate and House. Stylistically, Reagan uses facts, inspiration and repetition to get his message across, and Wilson uses the ideal of World peace to open and then methodically presents the issues at hand. Washington's address is also brief and somewhat a prototype which eventually emerges and evolves to become more specific.

Nevertheless, each speech effectively portrays the State of the Union by drawing attention to the most pressing issues of the time. For Washington it was essentially uniform currency, domestic defense and promotion of agriculture, commerce and education in general. For Wilson it was food production, and monopolies specifically and a handful of other issues. Last, for Reagan, Government structure and the economy. Furthermore, each gives a little insight into the time and the concerns of the mandate. If infact, the representative mandate works which it seems to do as evident in the fact that "America doesn't need barbed wire to keep its Citizens in", then the insights are the following: For the Washington, Wilson and Reagan years, manifest destiny; urban sprawl and Government reduction and economic recovery respectively. Thus, it appears that through a reflection of the above three State of the Union Addresses, the Unites States has gone through considerable change. One can determine just from reading these three speeches, that the State of the Union --in regard to its government-- had just emerged in 1790, was expanding in 1913 and was a huge administrative nexus by 1982. Each however, stated the essential concerns of The State Of The Union.

WORKS CITED

Anzouin, Steven and Janet Podell, Speeches Of The American Presidents. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1988.

Israel, Fred L. ed. and Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. The State Of The Union Messages Of The Presidents Of The United States 1790-1966. Vol. 1 1790-1860. New York: Chelsea House Publishers in association with RR. Bowker Company, 1967.

Israel, Fred L. ed. and Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. The State Of The Union Messages Of The Presidents Of The United States 1790-1966. Vol. 2 1903-1966. New York: Chelsea House Publishers in association with RR. Bowker Company, 1967.