On Thursday, President Biden will deliver the final State of the Union address of his term. What he speaks about, and how, will set the tone for his campaign as he prepares for a rematch against former president Donald Trump in November.
Last year, President Biden was the first president in a State of the Union to say the words ironworkers, lunar, overdrafts, pistol and skyline. In his prior addresses to Congress, Biden had already said cybersecurity 2021, okay 2021, LGBTQ 2021 and insulin 2022.
The words Biden was first to use in a State of the Union
Foreign policy, immigration
The words Biden was first to use in a State of the Union
Foreign policy, immigration
The words Biden was first to use in a State of the Union
Foreign policy, immigration
The president promoted his bill on infrastructure Carter, 1981, and attempts to combat inflation Tyler, 1841. Biden addressed the pandemic Obama, 2009. Facing a divided Congress, Biden did not mention gridlock Clinton, 1993.
[From the archive: See which words Trump, Obama and Clinton added to the State of the Union lexicon]
For reelection Johnson, 1868, Biden might need to win support from entrepreneurs Reagan, 1984 and voters in the suburbs Cleveland, 1896. He discussed the crisis of deadly drugs Harrison, 1892 and addiction Eisenhower, 1955.
Breaking down Biden’s
addresses to Congress
Foreign policy, immigration
Covid is used in first address
since U.S. vaccine rollout
Biden decried lack of access
to home care for aging
Americans
“We’ve all seen the knee of
injustice on the neck of
Black Americans.”
Ukraine’s capital Kyiv is
mentioned after Russia’s
invasion
A crackdown on big
corporations amid record-
high inflation
“… we must prepare for new
variants.”
“No parent should have to
drive to a McDonald’s
parking lot so their kid can do
their homework online.”
Praised heroism of guest who
stopped Lunar New Year
shooter
Describes glimmer of
joy in cancer survivor’s
half-smile
Breaking down Biden’s addresses to Congress
Foreign policy, immigration
Ukraine’s
capital Kyiv
is mentioned
after Russia’s
invasion
Covid used
in first
address
since U.S.
vaccine
rollout
“No parent
should have
to drive to a
McDonald’s
parking lot
so their kid
can do their
homework
online.”
Biden decried
lack of access
to home
care for aging
Americans
A crackdown
on corporations
amid record-
high inflation
Praised
heroism
of guest
who
stopped
Lunar
New Year
shooter
“… we must
prepare for
new variants.”
“We’ve all
seen the
knee of
injustice on
the neck
of Black
Americans.”
Describes
glimmer of
joy in
cancer
survivor’s
half-smile
Breaking down Biden’s addresses to Congress
Foreign policy, immigration
Ukraine’s
capital Kyiv is
mentioned after
Russia’s invasion
Covid is used in
first address since
U.S. vaccine rollout
Biden decried
lack of access to
home care
for aging
Americans
“No parent
should have to
drive to a
McDonald’s
parking lot so
their kid can do
their homework
online.”
A crackdown
on corporations
amid record-high
inflation
“… we must
prepare for
new variants.”
“We’ve all seen the
knee of injustice
on the neck of
Black Americans.”
Praised heroism
of guest who
stopped Lunar
New Year shooter
Describes
glimmer of joy in
cancer survivor’s
half-smile
Viewed across decades and centuries, the new words reflect the changing eras in politics, language, technology and culture in America.
Biden’s State of the Union in 2022 was the first to include the words “Roe v. Wade,” his reference to the Supreme Court decision that guaranteed a woman’s right to abortion. Roe was overturned three months later by the court’s Dobbs v. Jackson ruling. Biden was the first to say Roe. Last year he said abortion, but that word had been mentioned previously.
Here are some examples of words that presidents served up for the first time. You can also guess who was the first president to say some words in a SOTU.
Question 1 of 9
Which president first said abortion in the State of the Union?
Reagan, 1984: “We should rise above bitterness and reproach, and if Americans could come together in a spirit of understanding and helping, then we could find positive solutions to the tragedy of abortion.”
Can you guess which president said these other words in a State of the Union for the first time?
Question 2 of 9
Which president first said astronaut in the State of the Union?
Eisenhower, 1960: “Americans can look forward to new achievements in space exploration. The near future will hold such wonders as the orbital flight of an astronaut, the landing of instruments on the moon, the launching of the powerful giant Saturn rocket vehicles, and the reconnaissance of Mars and Venus by unmanned vehicles.”
Question 3 of 9
Which president first said losers in the State of the Union?
Nixon, 1971: “Mr. Speaker, before I begin my formal address, I want to use this opportunity to congratulate all of those who were winners in the rather spirited contest for leadership positions in the House and the Senate and, also, to express my condolences to the losers. I know how both of you feel.”
Question 4 of 9
Which president first said bioterrorism in the State of the Union?
Bush, 2002: “My budget nearly doubles funding for a sustained strategy of homeland security, focused on four key areas: bioterrorism, emergency response, airport and border security, and improved intelligence.”
Question 5 of 9
Which president first said transgender in the State of the Union?
Obama, 2015: “That’s why we defend free speech and advocate for political prisoners and condemn the persecution of women or religious minorities or people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.”
Question 6 of 9
Which president first said electronic in the State of the Union?
Johnson, 1967: “And we should exercise the full reach of our constitutional powers to outlaw electronic ‘bugging’ and ‘snooping.’”
Question 7 of 9
Which president first said paradise in the State of the Union?
Ford, 1976: “We have not remade paradise on Earth. We know perfection will not be found here. But think for a minute how far we have come in 200 years.”
Question 8 of 9
Which president first said skyscrapers in the State of the Union?
Trump, 2020: “Our ancestors braved the unknown; tamed the wilderness; settled the Wild West; lifted millions from poverty, disease, and hunger; vanquished tyranny and fascism; ushered the world to new heights of science and medicine; laid down the railroads, dug out the canals, raised up the skyscrapers.”
Question 9 of 9
Which president first said remorseless in the State of the Union?
Lincoln, 1861: “The war continues. In considering the policy to be adopted for suppressing the insurrection I have been anxious and careful that the inevitable conflict for this purpose shall not degenerate into a violent and remorseless revolutionary struggle.”
Biden mentioned war (George Washington in the first State of the Union, 1790, and mentioned every year thereafter up through Grover Cleveland in 1886; Cleveland broke the streak in 1887, but war has remained a virtual constant since).
Biden referred to the Civil War, World War II, the Iraq War and what he called Vladimir Putin’s “brutal war in Ukraine.”
Biden’s speechwriter (that word has never been used) bypassed the words clever Roosevelt, 1907 and wisdom Washington, 1790.
Ted Mellnik contributed to this report.