Woodrow Wilson Starts the State of The Union Address In Person: 1913 to 1920

🙈🙉 Woodrow Wilson and the State of the Union Address: 1913 to 1920

In 1913, Woodrow Wilson began the tradition of delivering the State of The Union speech directly to Congress.

This had only been done during the George Washington and John Adams presidencies. Thomas Jefferson broke the tradition as he believed it was a tradition that too closely resembled Britain's tradition of the King's speech from the throne. The following presidents until Wilson would continue deliver the SOTU in writing.

As the presidents after Wilson were entering the age of the radio, the tradition of speaking in front of Congress continued and eventually it was broadcast directly over the radio.

Today, the people tune into the State of Union Address each year to see the sport that takes place between the two parties trying to out-clap one another. 👏👏👏

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