State of the Union Addresses
The state of the Union Address plays a significant role in the development of a country. It is through the State of the Union Address that the presidents give their opinion about the problems of the country. Also, the president highlights the significant hindrances to the development of the country and recommends solutions to the issues. Two significant State of the Union Addresses is by George W. Bush, the 43rd president of the United States and Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd president of the United States. The two addresses were delivered during wartime. The two presidents impressively tackle the issue of war, considering the nation was in a crisis.
Roosevelt appealed to Congress by mentioning the threat that faced America. When Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered his State of the Union Address, Europe was engulfed in World War II. America had remained neutral during the war, a stand that Roosevelt aimed to change. Roosevelt said that no previous time had American security been as seriously threatened from without as it was at that time (Roosevelt, 1941). From the statement, the security of America was threatened by the ongoing World War II. The matter of national security is a top priority in any nation. Therefore, by mentioning that America faced a security threat, Roosevelt created a way to sway the country away from neutrality.
Roosevelt stated the importance of supporting European American allies during World War II. Also, Roosevelt noted that America would never attain utmost prosperity until the world was at peace, hence the importance of lending a helping hand to their allies. Furthermore, when their partners had more resources and manpower, the war was more likely to end. Thus, Roosevelt pointed out the critical role America stood to play in the war.
Roosevelt (1941) also mentioned the four freedoms America would achieve by aligning with their allies in the war. According to Roosevelt, all nations were entitled to the freedom of speech and expression, the freedom to worship God in any way and any part of the world, the freedom from want and the freedom from fear. The freedom mentioned by Roosevelt would only be achievable if the world were at peace. Thus America needed to help and end the war.
George W. Bush also gave a State of the Union Address during wartime. Bush started his address by commending the Union of the Americans amid the numerous terrorist attacks (Bush, 2002). Although America had faced a series of terror attacks, it was a relief that Americans were still unified.
Bush (2002) mentioned the countries that aided terror attacks and called them ‘axis of evil.’ It was a step forward towards the fight against terror by identifying the states that harbored, financed, and aided terrorists. By this statement, Bush assured Americans that American enemies were already identified and America would fight back.
Bush also stated that America had reinforced her war on terror. Just like Roosevelt, Bush noted the importance of freedom and the power of freedom. Like Roosevelt before him, Bush assured that the government would go to all lengths to fight the terrorists and bring back the freedom to America.
The two addresses first mention the wellbeing of Americans to calm the audience. Next, the addresses then indicate the problem at hand and how it threatens the welfare of Americans, which shows the gravity of the matter. Then, the addresses bring in the solutions to the problems. Lastly, the addresses mention the importance of maintaining a peaceful nation which emphasizes on the solutions. The arrangement of the key points is a valuable technique when preparing a State of the Union Address in times of war.
References
Franklin D. Roosevelt, Annual Message to Congress on the State of the Union Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/annual-message-congress-the-state-the-union
George W. Bush, Address Before a Joint Session of the Congress on the State of the Union Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/address-before-joint-session-the-congress-the-state-the-union-22