The mandate set forth
in Article II, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution requires the President to
report on the state of the Union. A recent Associated Press (AP) article questions the propriety of continuing the tradition. I question the integrity
of questioning the tradition. Admittedly, State Of The Union speeches have
grown painfully predictable: with the President listing the accomplishments and
ambitions of his Administration. But, should we scrap the tradition, or should
We The People actually expect and demand more from the Executive?
This question came to mind as I read the AP’s historical track of SOTU addresses. One after another, presidents found various ways to basically assure Americans that everything was hunky-dory; that the State of our Union is “strong”. All presidents, that is, except for Gerald Ford, who, in 1975, on the heels of Watergate, and having been elevated in a convoluted succession to the Presidency, honestly confronted our national circumstances. President Ford soberly reported, "I must say to you that the state of the union is not good."
And, what happened? America got better. The country improved as a whole. President Ford, lackluster and, at best, a placeholder in the Presidency, was direct, honest and clear about our national circumstances. He went on to challenge Americans about where we can go and what we can accomplish together as a united nation. Rather than rhetorically classifying America as “strong”, he challenged us to become stronger. And, it seems we did.
Wouldn't it be refreshing for the President to seize the opportunity of an unusually large audience to shape a clear vision for America; to identify the things that unite us, rather than lay out yet another 5-point plan on what he plans to accomplish politically? What if, like the pastor who only has the opportunity to capture the hearts and minds of a large audience at Easter and Christmas, the President used each of his State Of The Union addresses to renew the passion of Americans for America, rather than ignite the partisan bitterness over policy and politics? Rather than declaring his ownership of a pen, and a phone, perhaps the President might recognize the opportunity of his bully pulpit to inspire Americans to a vision beyond what government can give them.
Like the preacher says, “I ain't done, but I’m gonna stop for now.”
This question came to mind as I read the AP’s historical track of SOTU addresses. One after another, presidents found various ways to basically assure Americans that everything was hunky-dory; that the State of our Union is “strong”. All presidents, that is, except for Gerald Ford, who, in 1975, on the heels of Watergate, and having been elevated in a convoluted succession to the Presidency, honestly confronted our national circumstances. President Ford soberly reported, "I must say to you that the state of the union is not good."
And, what happened? America got better. The country improved as a whole. President Ford, lackluster and, at best, a placeholder in the Presidency, was direct, honest and clear about our national circumstances. He went on to challenge Americans about where we can go and what we can accomplish together as a united nation. Rather than rhetorically classifying America as “strong”, he challenged us to become stronger. And, it seems we did.
Wouldn't it be refreshing for the President to seize the opportunity of an unusually large audience to shape a clear vision for America; to identify the things that unite us, rather than lay out yet another 5-point plan on what he plans to accomplish politically? What if, like the pastor who only has the opportunity to capture the hearts and minds of a large audience at Easter and Christmas, the President used each of his State Of The Union addresses to renew the passion of Americans for America, rather than ignite the partisan bitterness over policy and politics? Rather than declaring his ownership of a pen, and a phone, perhaps the President might recognize the opportunity of his bully pulpit to inspire Americans to a vision beyond what government can give them.
Like the preacher says, “I ain't done, but I’m gonna stop for now.”
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