1995 State of the Union Address

President Bill Clinton delivering the State of the Union Address with Vice President Al Gore and Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich sitting behind him

The 1995 State of the Union address was given by President Bill Clinton to a joint session of the 104th United States Congress on Tuesday, January 24, 1995. This was the first speech delivered to a Republican-controlled Congress since 1954. This was also the first time a Republican Speaker sat in the chair since 1954. The Speaker was Newt Gingrich of Georgia.

The president discussed his proposals of a New Covenant vision for a smaller government and proposing tax reductions. The president also discussed crime, the Brady Bill and the Assault Weapons Ban, illegal immigration, and the minimum wage. Regarding foreign policy, he urged assistance in Mexico's economic crisis, additional disarmament in cooperation with Russia and other international treaties, stopping North Korea's nuclear weapons program, legislation to fight terrorists, and peace between Israel and its neighbors. Discussion of the failed attempt to overhaul health care was refocused on more limited efforts to protect coverage for those who have health insurance and expand coverage for children.

The speech lasted nearly 1 hour and 25 minutes[1] and consisted of 9,190 words.[2] In terms of word count it is the longest State of the Union speech in history.[2]

The president acknowledged many Americans of past and present in his speech. Among them were:

The Republican Party response was delivered by Governor Christine Todd Whitman of New Jersey.[3] This was the first response given exclusively by a state governor and, delivered in Trenton, the first outside Washington, DC.[4][5]

Conservative William Kristol called the address the "most conservative State of the Union by a Democratic president in history."[6]

Federico Peña, the Secretary of Transportation, served as the designated survivor.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Woolley, John; Peters, Gerhard. "Length of State of the Union Messages and Addresses (in minutes)". The American Presidency Project. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  2. 1 2 Woolley, John; Peters, Gerhard. "Length of State of the Union Messages and Addresses (in words)". The American Presidency Project. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  3. ↑ Woolley, John; Peters, Gerhard. "List of Opposition Responses to State of the Union Addresses". The American Presidency Project. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  4. ↑ Peterson, Iver (January 24, 1995). "WHITMAN PLEDGES EARLY COMPLETION OF 30% TAX CUT". New York Times.
  5. ↑ "State of the Union Response: Date January 24, 1995". C-SPAN.
  6. ↑ Devroy, Ann (January 25, 1995). "Clinton Calls for a Centrist 'Social Compact'". Washington Post.
Preceded by
1994 State of the Union Address		 State of the Union addresses
1995		 Succeeded by
1996 State of the Union Address
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