Every year, US presidents have to answer to Congress. Joe Biden has a lot to do today – but above all he has to convince viewers that he is fit. It could be the most important speech of his career.
Hollywood fans know the scenario: The US Capitol was attacked during the President’s State of the Union Address. The government, the Congress, the president – everyone is dead. Except for one backbencher, and he is now president.
That only exists in Hollywood. What is true, however, is that a member of the government will not be there tonight when the President delivers his State of the Union report – so that at least one Cabinet member survives should there be a deadly attack.
It is also true that it is always ministers with less important departments who spend the evening in a secret location: agriculture, labor, housing, for example. And it is true that in the past few decades only two women have been given this job.
Important political messages
The Constitution requires the president to report regularly to Congress. This resulted in the annual “State of the Union Address.” It has been broadcast on radio since the 1920s and on television since the late 1940s. The number of viewers fluctuates between more than 60 and less than 30 million people – depending on the president and the political situation.
Presidents often use their speeches to make important political statements, as was the case in 2006, when George W. Bush demanded that the world prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Barack Obama fired off a variety of policy ideas in 2010, including a push to allow gay men to serve in the military. Always there is an invocation of American uniqueness and an appeal for the unity of the USA.
Trump changed the tone
Donald Trump was out of line as president. His State of the Union speeches were campaign shows, aggressive in tone, polarizing in message. And then there was a breathtaking moment for TV commentators in 2020 when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi calmly tore up her copy of Trump’s speech manuscript.
The days of polite listening are over. President Joe Biden had to be called a liar last year and was happy to get involved in a skirmish with the Republicans.
Opportunity to convince voters
One of Biden’s goals tonight will be to be as quick-witted and present as he will be in 2023 – since more and more voters are doubting whether he is fit enough for office. And it is one of the rare opportunities when he can explain to millions of people in an election year why he is the right person for the next four years.
He will talk about whose side he is on and about his plan to improve the lives of all Americans, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said this week.
And Biden will remind us of the importance of the USA to the world. According to Biden, the fact that Ukraine is losing ground is due to inaction on the part of Congress. “It matters whether we act or not,” said Jean-Pierre.
Whether Biden’s speech today is a success depends less on what he says than how he says it. No matter how compelling the message is, as soon as he makes a mistake or slips up, that will determine the perception and nothing else.
Das Erste will report live on the State of the Nation speech on March 8th from 2:50 a.m. on Weltspiegel Extra.
Katrin Brand, ARD Washington, tagesschau, March 7, 2024 8:57 a.m