Oval Office address

President Donald J. Trump addresses the nation on June 14, 2017 about the Congressional Baseball shooting that occurred earlier in the day.

An Oval Office address is a speech made from the Oval Office in the White House by the President of the United States.[1] It is considered among the most solemn settings for an address made by the President, and is most often delivered to announce a major new policy initiative, on the occasion of a President's departure from office, or during times of national emergency (natural disaster, war, etc.).[1]

Background

Presidents use Oval Office addresses as a way to directly communicate with the American people. It is considered to be a major address and it functions as a way to move public opinion by having a direct connection with the President of the United States.[2] The first Oval Office address was delivered to the nation by President Harry S. Truman, who urged Americans to conserve food to aid postwar Europe.[3] President Dwight D. Eisenhower used the format in 1957 to inform the United States of his decision to send troops to Little Rock to enforce school desegregation.[4] Being only the second ever televised address directly from the president's office, Eisenhower had to explain as much to the audience, saying, "in speaking from the house of Lincoln, of Jackson, of Wilson, my words would better convey both the sadness I feel today in the actions I feel compelled to make, and the firmness with which I intend to pursue this course."[4]

Some previous addresses include John F. Kennedy's 1962 news of the Cuban Missile Crisis,[5] Jimmy Carter's 1979 "Malaise" speech,[6] Ronald Reagan's speech following the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986,[7] George W. Bush's Address to the Nation on the evening of the 2001 September 11 terrorist attacks[8] and Barack Obama's June 2010 speech addressing the issue of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.[9]

Traditionally, the addresses are delivered with the President sitting at the Resolute desk speaking into the camera. Occasionally, however, the President will stand at a lectern on the opposite side of the Oval Office and give the address. President Donald J. Trump's third Oval Office Address to the nation on June 14, 2017 was done in this way. Previously, it was also common for an artificial background to be placed behind the President, ordinarily consisting of plain blue fabric. Since the administration of Jimmy Carter, the preference has instead been for the natural backdrop of the Office's windows.

There have been suggestions that the traditional Oval Office address is falling out of favor in the Information Age, with White House aide Daniel Pfeiffer describing it as "an argument from the 80s" when President Ronald Reagan would draw tens of millions of viewers per address (39 in all, the most of any president; Nixon ranks second, having given 37).[10] Television networks are increasingly reluctant to sacrifice airtime for a political purpose.[3] President Obama preferred to use the East Room, as in his announcement of the death of Osama bin Laden;[3][11] Trump prefers to use the Diplomatic reception room.

List of Oval Office addresses

PresidentDateSubject
Donald Trump July 9, 2018 Nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court
May 8, 2018 Termination of the Iran Nuclear Deal
April 13, 2018 Allied Airstrikes on Damascus and Homs
Feb. 15, 2018 On the Stoneman Douglas High School Shooting
Dec. 6, 2017 Recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital and moving of US embassy
Oct. 2, 2017 On the mass shooting in Las Vegas, NV.
August 21, 2017 On the situation in Afghanistan
June 14, 2017 On the Congressional baseball shooting
April 6, 2017 US Strike on Shayrat airfield
Jan. 31, 2017 Nomination of Niel Gorsuch to the Supreme Court
Barack Obama Jan. 10, 2017 Farewell address
Dec. 6, 2015 On the San Bernardino shooting
July 14, 2015 On the Iran Nuclear Deal
Dec. 17, 2014 Re-establishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba
Nov. 20, 2014 On Immigration Reform
Sep. 10, 2014 On the war in Iraq
Sep. 10, 2013 On the war in Syria
May 1, 2012 On United States Policy towards Afghanistan
July 25, 2011 On the Debt Crisis
May 1, 2011 On the Killing of Osama Bin Laden
March 28, 2011 On the war in Libya
August 31, 2010 On United States Policy towards Iraq
June 15, 2010 On the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
George W. Bush Jan. 15, 2009 Farewell Address
Sept. 24, 2008 On the Stock Market Crash
April 16, 2007 On the Virginia Tech Shooting
Jan. 10, 2007 On the secterian voilence in Iraq
Dec. 28, 2006 On the Death of Gerald Ford
Sept. 11, 2006 On the fifth anniversary of the September 11th attacks
May 15, 2006On Immigration, Border Security, drug policy, and the drug war in Mexico
Dec. 18, 2005 On the elections in Iraq
Sep. 16, 2005 On Hurricane Katrina disaster and relief efforts
June 5, 2004 On the death of Ronald Reagan
December 14, 2003 On the capture of Saddam Hussein
April 10, 2003 Message to the people of Iraq
March 19, 2003 Start of war against Iraq
March 17, 2003 Ultimatum to the government of Iraq
Feb. 1, 2003 On the Columbia Disaster
Oct. 7, 2001 Beginning of military operations in Afghanistan
Sept. 11, 2001 On the terrorist attacks in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C
Bill Clinton Jan. 18, 2001Farewell address
June 10, 1999 On the peace agreement in Kosovo
March 24, 1999On the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia
Dec. 16, 1998U.S. military strike on Iraq
Aug. 20, 1998U.S. cruise missile strikes on Afghanistan and Sudan
Aug. 17, 1998 On the Monica Lewinsky affair
Sept. 3, 1996U.S. strike on Iraq
Nov. 27, 1995 On the Dayton Agreement
June 13, 1995 On the Balanced Budget Plan
Sept. 18, 1994 On the peaceful capitulation of the Hatian government
Sept. 15, 1994 Ultimatum to the government of Haiti
April 27, 1994 On the death of Richard Nixon
Oct. 7, 1993 On the battle of Mogadishu
June 26, 1993 US Strike on Iraq
Feb. 15, 1993National economic program
George H. W. Bush Jan. 5, 1993 Farewell address
Dec. 4, 1992 On the crisis in Somalia
Sept. 1, 1992 On Hurricane Andrew disaster relief
May 1, 1992 On the riots in Los Angeles
Sept. 27, 1991 Reducing US and Soviet nuclear weapons
Sept. 13, 1991Nomination of Robert Gates as CIA director
Feb. 27, 1991 End of war in the Persian Gulf
Feb. 23, 1991 Start of ground operations in the Persian Gulf War
Jan. 16, 1991 Start of war in the Persian Gulf
Oct. 2, 1990Federal budget agreement
Aug. 8, 1990 On the crisis in the Persian Gulf
Jan. 3, 1990 On the surrender of Manuel Noriega
Dec. 20, 1989 On the United States invasion of Panama
Sept. 5, 1989 On drugs
Ronald Reagan Jan. 11, 1989 Farewell address
Feb. 2, 1988 On aid to the Nicaraguan Democratic Resistance
Dec. 10, 1987 On the Soviet-United States Summit Meeting
Oct. 14, 1987 Nomination of Robert Brook to the Supreme Court
August 12, 1987 On the Iran Contra Affair and the Administration Goals
June 15, 1987 On the Venice Economic Summit, Arms Control, and the Deficit
March 4, 1987 On the Iran-Contra Affair
Dec. 2, 1986 On the Investigation into the Iran-Contra Affair
Nov. 13, 1986 On the Iran-Contra Affair
Nov. 2, 1986 On the Congressional and Gubernatorial Midterm Elections
Oct. 2, 1986 On meetings with Gorbachev in Iceland
Sept. 14, 1986 Start of a campaign against Drug Abuse
July 4, 1986 Observance of Independence Day
June 24, 1986 Aid to the Contras
April 14, 1986 United States airstrike against Libya
March 16, 1986 On the Situation in Nicaragua
Feb. 26, 1986 On National Security
Jan. 28, 1986 On the Challenger disaster
November 14, 1985 On the upcoming Soviet-United States meeting in Geneva
May 25, 1985 On tax reform
April 24, 1985 On Federal Budget and Deficit Reduction
Nov. 5, 1984 On the eve of the Presidential Election
July 4, 1984Observance of Independence Day
May 9, 1984 On United States Policy in Central America
Jan. 29, 1984 Decision to seek re-election
Jan. 16, 1984 On United States-Soviet Union relations
Oct. 27, 1983 On recent events in Lebanon and Grenada
Sept. 5, 1983 On the Soviet attack on a Korean Civilian Airliner
March 25, 1983 On Defense and National Security
November 22, 1982 On Strategic Arms Reduction and Nuclear Deterrence
October 13, 1982 On the economy
Sept. 20, 1982 Announcing the formation of a Multinational Force in Lebanon
September 1, 1982 On United States Policy for Peace in the Middle East
August 16, 1982 On Federal Tax and Budget Reconciliation Legislation
April 29, 1982 On the 1983 Fiscal Budget
Dec. 23, 1981 Observance of Christmas and the Situation in Poland
September 24, 1981 On the Program for Economic Recovery
July 27, 1981: On Federal Tax Reduction Legislation
Feb. 5, 1981 On the economy
Jimmy Carter Jan. 14, 1981 Farewell Address
Apr. 25, 1980 On the failed rescue attempt of American hostages in Iran
Jan. 4, 1980 On the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
Jul. 15, 1979 On the energy crisis, consumerism, malaise, and events in the Middle East
Oct. 24, 1978 On Inflation
Feb. 2, 1977 On Energy
Gerald Ford May 27, 1975 On Energy and Inflation.
Sep. 16, 1974 Pardoning of Vietnam War draft evaders
Sep. 8, 1974 Pardoning of Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon Aug. 8, 1974 Announcing the resignation of the Presidency
July 25, 1974 About Inflation and the Economy.
July 3, 1974 On Returning From the Soviet Union.
April 29, 1974 Announcing Answer to the House Judiciary Committee Subpoena (Watergate)
Nov. 25, 1973 About National Energy Policy
Nov. 7, 1973 About Policies To Deal With the Energy Shortages
Oct. 12, 1973 Nomination for Gerald Ford as Vice President
Aug. 15, 1973 About the Watergate Investigations
June 13, 1973 Announcing Price Control Measures
April 30, 1973 About the Watergate Investigations
Mar. 29, 1973 About Vietnam and Domestic Problems
Jan. 22, 1973 Announcing Conclusion of an Agreement and Peace in Vietnam
Nov. 7, 1972 Victory Speech
Nov. 2, 1972 "Look to the Future."
July 4, 1972 Announcing Plans for America's Bicentennial Celebration
May 28, 1972 Address to the People of the Soviet Union
May 8, 1972 On the Situation in Southeast Asia
April 26, 1972 On Vietnam
Mar 16, 1972 On Equal Educational Opportunities and School Busing
Jan. 25, 1972 Making Public a Plan for Peace in Vietnam
Oct. 21, 1971 Nominating Powell & Rehnquist for Associate Justices of the Supreme Court
Oct. 7, 1971 On the Post-Freeze Economic Stabilization Program
Sep. 6, 1971 On Labor Day
Aug. 15, 1971 Outlining a New Economic Policy: "The Challenge of Peace."
July 15, 1971 Announcing Acceptance of an Invitation To Visit China
April 7, 1971 On the Situation in Southeast Asia (Vietnam)
Oct. 7, 1970 About a New Initiative for Peace in Southeast Asia (Vietnam)
Jun. 17. 1970 On Economic Policy and Productivity
Jun. 3, 1970 On the Cambodian Sanctuary Operation
April 30, 1970 On the Situation in Southeast Asia (Cambodian Incursion)
April 20, 1970 On Progress Toward Peace in Vietnam
Mar. 23, 1970 On the Growing U.S. Postal Strike of 1970
Dec. 15, 1969 On Progress Toward Peace in Vietnam
Nov. 3, 1969 On the War in Vietnam
Oct. 17, 1969 On the Rising Cost of Living
Aug. 8. 1969 On Domestic Programs
May 14, 1969 On Vietnam
Lyndon B. Johnson Oct. 31, 1968 Announcing His Decision To Halt the Bombing of North Vietnam
April 5, 1968 On the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr
Mar. 31, 1968 On the war in Vietnam and the 1968 election
July 27, 1967 On civil disorder
May 2, 1965 On the situation in the Dominican Republic
Oct. 18, 1964 On recent events in China and the USSR
August 4, 1964 On the Gulf of Tonkin Incident
November 28, 1963 On the assassination of John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy July 26, 1963 On the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
Jun. 11, 1963 On civil rights
Nov. 3, 1962Urging the American people to vote in the midterm elections
Oct. 22, 1962 On the Cuban Missile Crisis
July 25, 1961 On the Berlin Crisis
Dwight Eisenhower Jan. 17, 1961 Farewell address
May 1, 1960On the U2 incident
August 21, 1959 On the granting of statehood to Hawaii
March 16, 1959 On security in the free world
January 3, 1959 On the granting of statehood to Alaska
July 15, 1958 On the United States mission in Beirut
December 23, 1957 On the NATO conference in Paris
November 7, 1957 On science and national security
Sep. 24, 1957 Enforcement of desegregation
Oct. 31, 1956 On the Suez Crisis and the Eisenhower Doctrine
Feb. 29, 1956Decision to seek re-election
July 27, 1953 On the armistice on the Korean peninsula
April 16, 1953 On the war in Korea
Harry S. Truman Jan. 15, 1953 Farewell Address
April 8, 1952 On the steel mills crisis
April 11, 1951 On the war in Korea and the removal of General Douglas MacArthur
June 27, 1950 On the war in Korea
Sept. 27, 1949 Observanice of Democraitc Womens Day
April 4, 1949 On the Signing of the North Atlanitc Treaty
Oct. 24, 1947 On Inflation, Aid to Greece and Turkey, and the Truman Doctrine
Oct. 5, 1947 Food conservation to aid post-war Europe
June 20, 1947 On the veto of the Taft-Harley Bill
October 14, 1946 Ending of price controls
June 29, 1946 On price controls
May 24, 1946 On the railroad strike
January 3, 1946 Status of Reconversion Program
September 2, 1945 Cessation of hostilities with Japan
August 15, 1945 End of the war in the Pacific
August 10, 1945 On the Potsdam Conference
August 7, 1945 On the dropping of an atomic bomb on Hiroshima
May 7, 1945 End of the War in Europe
April 17, 1945 On the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt June 12, 1944 Opening of the Fifth War Loan Drive
June 5, 1944 On the fall of Rome
January 11, 1944 On the state of the Union
December 24, 1943 On the Tehran and Cairo Conferences
September 8, 1943 On the Armistice with Italy and the Third War Loan Drive
July 28, 1943 On the Fall of Mussolini
May 2, 1943 On the coal crisis
October 12, 1942 Report on the war
September 7, 1942 On Inflation and Progress of the War
April 28, 1942 On national economic policy and sacrifice
February 23, 1942 On the Progress of the War
December 9, 1941 On the Declaration of War With Japan
September 11, 1941 On Maintaining Freedom of the Seas and the Greer Incident
May 27, 1941 Announcing Unlimited National Emergency
December 29, 1940 On the "Arsenal of Democracy"
May 26, 1940 On National Defense
September 3, 1939 On the European War
June 24, 1938 On the Party Primaries
April 14, 1938 On the Recession
November 14, 1937 On the Unemployment Census
October 12, 1937 On new legislation to be recommended to Congress
March 9, 1937 On the Reorganization of the Judiciary
September 6, 1936 On Drought Conditions, Farmers, and Laborers
April 28, 1935 On the Works Relief Program and the Social Security Act
September 30, 1934 On Government and Capitalism
June 28, 1934 Achievements on the 73rd United States Congress and Critics of the New Deal
October 22, 1933 On Economic Progress
July 24, 1933 On the National Recovery Administration
May 7, 1933 On the New Deal Program
March 12, 1933 On the Banking Crisis

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Williams, Bronwyn; Zenger, Amy (2007). Popular Culture and Representations of Literacy. Routledge. p. 13. ISBN 0-415-36095-1. Retrieved 2011-02-08.
  2. Rottinghaus, Brandon (2009). "Strategic Leaders: Determining Successful Presidential Opinion Leadership Tactics Through Public Appeals". Political Communication. 26: 296–316. doi:10.1080/10584600903053510.
  3. 1 2 3 "Live From the Oval Office: A Backdrop of History Fades From TV". New York Times. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
  4. 1 2 Greeley, Brenden. "Why Obama Doesn't Give Speeches From the Oval Office". Retrieved 26 December 2013.
  5. Lu 2004, p. 147
  6. Lu 2004, p. 271
  7. Lu 2004, p. 28
  8. Michael E. Eidenmuller. "The Rhetoric of 9/11: President George W. Bush – Address to the Nation on 9-11-01". Americanrhetoric.com. Retrieved 2011-02-08.
  9. Connolly, Katie (2010-06-15). "As it happened: Obama oil spill address". BBC News. Retrieved 2011-02-08.
  10. "Live From the Oval Office: A Backdrop of History Fades From TV". New York Times. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
  11. "Remarks by the President on Osama Bin Laden | The White House". Whitehouse.gov. 2011-05-02. Retrieved 2014-03-03.

Bibliography

  • Lu, Xin-An; Rita Sullivan (2004). Gems from the top 100 speeches. IUniverse. ISBN 0-595-30856-2.
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