Full video of the speech as published by theWhite House | |
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| Date | January 20, 2015 (2015-01-20) |
|---|---|
| Time | 9:00 p.m.EST |
| Duration | 59 minutes |
| Venue | House Chamber,United States Capitol |
| Location | Washington, D.C. |
| Coordinates | 38°53′19.8″N77°00′32.8″W / 38.888833°N 77.009111°W /38.888833; -77.009111 |
| Type | State of the Union Address |
| Participants | |
| Footage | C-SPAN |
| Previous | 2014 State of the Union Address |
| Next | 2016 State of the Union Address |
| Website | Full text by Archives.gov |
The2015 State of the Union Address was given by the 44thpresident of the United States,Barack Obama, on January 20, 2015, at 9:00 p.m.EST, in the chamber of theUnited States House of Representatives to the114th United States Congress.[1] It was Obama's sixthState of the Union Address and hisseventh speech to ajoint session of the United States Congress. Presiding over this joint session was theHouse speaker,John Boehner, accompanied byJoe Biden, thevice president, in his capacity as thepresident of the Senate.
Following recent tradition,Speaker of the HouseJohn Boehner sent a letter on December 19, 2014, formally inviting President Obama to speak[2] (despite a proposal from some conservatives that HouseRepublicans withhold the invitation in retaliation for Obama'sexecutive actions on immigration reform).[3][4] The State of the Union Address was broadcast on various television and radio stations and webcast from the White House.[5] Webcasts were also provided by other sponsors, including awebcast from theU.S. Republican Party.[6]
The President addressed controversialeconomic issues in the U.S., arguing in support of expanding access tocommunity college in the context ofAmerican higher education as well as in support of increasedtaxes on financial institutions.[7] In terms ofU.S. foreign policy, he expressed his belief inAmerican exceptionalism and defended what he saw as an assertive foreign agenda in which the country is "upholding the principle that bigger nations can't bully the small."[8]
As since 2011, members of Congress sat together, regardless of party. Guests ofFirst LadyMichelle Obama at the Address included the former prisoner of CubaAlan Gross, astronautScott Kelly,DREAM Act immigration reform activist Ana Zamora,Ebola international emergency care coordinator Dr. Pranav Shetty, theCEO ofCVS Health (which had recently become the first major retail pharmacy to stop selling tobacco products) Larry Merlo, working mother and community college education beneficiary Rebekah Erler, healthcare insurance acquisition worker Victor Fugate, wounded veteran Staff Sergeant Jason Gibson, sea-level rise researcherNicole Hernandez Hammer, university student Anthony Mendez, technical education teacher Katrice Mubiru, healthcare coverage beneficiary and mother Astrid Muhammad,Spencer Stone, U.S. Air Force staff sergeant, and others (26 designated guests altogether).[9]
Supreme Court JusticeRuth Bader Ginsburg was "repeatedly pictured slumbering in her chair" during the address. Ginsburg admitted that she "wasn't 100% sober".[10]
Thedesignated survivor is the member of thepresident's cabinet who does not attend the address in case of a catastrophic event, in order to maintaincontinuity of government.Secretary of TransportationAnthony Foxx was thedesignated survivor.[11][12]
In general terms, President Obama referenced the country's many struggles over the past fifteen years and argued that the nation seemed primed to "turn the page".[8] The address focused on the improved American economic situation and the fight against terrorism, especially the threat of theIslamic State of Iraq and the Levant.[13] Obama called forcommunity college to be made free, proposed a new tax onWall Street companies,[7] and announced that he would issue anexecutive order to guarantee workers up to seven days of paidsick leave.[14] The President described the nation's drive as "strong" and stated, "Tonight, after a breakthrough year for America, our economy is growing and creating jobs at the fastest pace since 1999. Our unemployment rate is now lower than it was before the financial crisis."[7]
In keeping with prior statements by theObama administration on foreign policy, the President also remarked that the U.S. had good reason to stand up to what it saw as Russian belligerence towardsUkraine. The President specifically called for "upholding the principle that bigger nations can't bully the small." He also reiterated his belief in the idea ofAmerican exceptionalism.[8]
In a memorable moment, President Obama deviated from the official text after applause fromRepublicans following his statement that he had "no more campaigns to run." Obama then added "I know because I won both of them."[15][16]
With the speech delivered less than two weeks following theCharlie Hebdo shooting, many members of Congress held pencils during the speech to show their support forfreedom of the press as well as to express their sympathy with the victims of the attack.[17]
Obama became the first president to use the words "lesbian", "gay", "bisexual", and "transgender" in a State of the Union Address, when addressing the need to protect thehuman rights of religious, sexual and gender minorities.[18]
Newly electedU. S. SenatorJoni Ernst ofIowa gave the official Republican response in English to the State of the Union address, withRepresentativeCarlos Curbelo ofFlorida giving the official Republican Spanish-language response. The English and Spanish responses differed in that the Spanish response talked about immigration issues, whereas the English response did not.[19] In addition to the official Republican responses, RepresentativeCurt Clawson of Florida, SenatorTed Cruz ofTexas, and SenatorRand Paul ofKentucky all gave their own televised responses.[20]
Obama's televised address was viewed by 33 million Americans, making it the lowest number in recent history.[21]
Russian Foreign MinisterSergei Lavrov said that Obama's speech indicated plans forworld domination and displayed goading behavior. "The Americans have chosen a path toward confrontation, and do not evaluate their own steps critically at all", Lavrov added.[8]
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