That is how President Bush characterized the “state of the Union” tonight.
In looking back over the last several SOTUs, it seems that “strong” is pretty popular, although moreso in the last decade.
Ford
1975: “I must say to you that the state of the Union is not good:”
Carter
1977: “Militarily, politically, economically, and in spirit, the state of our Union is sound.”
1978: “Tonight, there is every sign that the state of our Union is sound.”
1980: “As we meet tonight, it has never been more clear that the state of our Union depends on the state of the world. And tonight, as throughout our own generation, freedom and peace in the world depend on the state of our Union.”
1981: “The State of the Union is sound.”
Reagan
1988: “Tonight, then, we’re strong, prosperous, at peace, and we are free. This is the state of our Union.”
Bush (41)
1990: A theme of the speech was “The State of the Government does indeed depend on many of us in this very chamber. But the State of the Union depends on all Americans.” and the closest “state of the Union is” statement was “And let me say, that so long as we remember the American idea, so long as we live up to the American ideal, the State of the Union will remain sound and strong.”
1991: “And the state of our Union is the union of each of us, one to the other: the sum of our friendships, marriages, families and communities.”
1992: no “state of the Union is” statement
Clinton
1993: No “the state of the Union is” statement. The closest was “Our nation needs a new direction.”
1994: no “state of the Union is” statement.
1995: no “state of the Union is” statement.
1996: “strong”
1997: “strong”
1998: “strong”
1999: “strong”
2000: “the strongest it has ever been”
Bush (43)
2002: “has never been stronger.”
2003: no “state of the Union is” statement.
2004: “confident and strong”.
2005: “confident and strong”
January 31st, 2024 at 10:28 pm
I find it very amusing Jimmy Carter gave a SOTU in 1981 – 4 days before Reagan took the oath of office. And when he said the state of the union was “sound.” Well, yeah, of course it would be in 4 days!
February 1st, 2024 at 7:37 am
President Gave Solid Speech; Cindy Sheehan Removed
Power Line has a brief, reasonable wrap up. If you want to read the whole speech yourself, go here. According to the Washington Post, Ms. Sheehan was evicted from the Gallery of the House Chamber for being noisy and disruptive