Did You Know: Woodrow Wilson and the State of the Union
The State of the Union address was sent to Congress as a written document every year for over 100 years, until President Woodrow Wilson decided to reinstate the trend of delivering it as a speech on Dec. 2, 1913.
Library of Congress
Facts About Woodrow Wilson and the State of the Union
President Wilson wanted to build a personal presidency with the people, and that began with the first State of the Union address presented orally to Congress since Thomas Jefferson changed the practice to a written address over 100 years ago. #WoodrowWilson #SOTUHistory
Since President Woodrow Wilson’s first State of the Union address in December 1913, every single president, except President Herbert Hoover, presented the SOTU orally at least once. #Trendsetter #SOTUHistory
Wilson’s SOTU paved the way for 84 more SOTU addresses delivered orally to Congress. Only 12 were delivered orally before Wilson. #SOTUHistory #Trendsetter
The #SOTU has been delivered every January or February since 1934. Before that, it was always delivered in December. #SOTUHistory
Being the punctual man he was, Wilson wrote all his appointments in his appointment book. He even had his reinstated oral State of the Union address in there, scheduled for 1 p.m. #SOTUHistory #OnTime
National Archives
