News

Biden’s State of the Union 2023 speech may signal his 2024 reelection campaign : NPR


President Biden delivers his first State of the Union address on March 1, 2022. On Tuesday, he will deliver his second.

Pool pictures / Getty


hide captions

switch captions

Pool pictures / Getty


President Biden delivers his first State of the Union address on March 1, 2022. On Tuesday, he will deliver his second.

Pool pictures / Getty

President Biden will visit the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday night to deliver his State of the Union address for 2023. But his message — and his performance — will be closely watched for know what they say about 2024 and what is expected of his second presidential race.

Biden has yet to officially announce whether he has decided to make good on what he has said is his intention to run for a second term. But he is expected to do so in the near future. The State of the Union speech and its massive broadcast audience were an opportunity to show what he was up to — and that he had what it took for a tough re-election race. as the oldest presidential candidate in history.

Peter Wehner, who wrote speeches for former President George W. Bush, said: “This speech is certainly seen at the White House as part of the re-election effort. “And that means this is a kind of speech that begins to outline the broad outlines of a re-election campaign.”

President George W. Bush shakes hands with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld as Bush enters the House of Representatives to deliver his 2004 State of the Union address.

Pool pictures / Getty


hide captions

switch captions

Pool pictures / Getty


President George W. Bush shakes hands with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld as Bush enters the House of Representatives to deliver his 2004 State of the Union address.

Pool pictures / Getty

Biden is expected to draw contrast with Republicans

Presidents of both parties used this annual speech to lay out their agenda and express – sometimes indirectly – how that agenda differs from the opposition.

Michael Waldman, keynote writer for four of former President Bill Clinton’s State of the Union speeches, said: “The State of the Union messages at their best are often eloquent lists, but they are also political speeches.

“And it’s a political season and people are getting ready to run for president… and so I’m sure you’ll hear the contrast between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party on the screen,” Waldman said. in this speech”.

This will be Biden’s first speech to Congress where Republicans currently control the House, and give him the opportunity to articulate a controversial agenda with Republicans — especially on debt ceiling problem.

But those who have written speeches for the president say a careful balance is needed.

“You’re talking to an audience that includes the opposition party as well as your own, and as president you don’t want to be seen as petty or divisive,” Wehner said.

President Bill Clinton with Vice President Al Gore and Speaker Newt Gingrich applaud World War II veteran Jack Lucas during his 1995 State of the Union speech.

Pool / AFP via Getty Images


hide captions

switch captions

Pool / AFP via Getty Images


President Bill Clinton with Vice President Al Gore and Speaker Newt Gingrich applaud World War II veteran Jack Lucas during his 1995 State of the Union speech.

Pool / AFP via Getty Images

Clinton used a similar opportunity to address questions about her electability

In the 1995 State of the Union Address, Clinton was facing a newly elected Republican Congress following the Republican Revolution in the mid-terms of 1994, in which Republicans took control of the House for the first time. first after 40 years.

Experts have interpreted the midterm elections as a clear rebuke to Clinton, and people questioned whether he had any political future.

But Clinton found opportunity in that time of political peril, his former speechwriters said. He tries to use charm to show that he can reach his hand across the aisle.

Carolyn Curiel, one of Bill Clinton’s speechwriters, said: “Bill Clinton, he always takes action. “There isn’t anyone he doesn’t want to be friends with, not even those who have harmed him in the political sphere and otherwise. And if he goes on stage with any bad feelings, he lets it. they go. Because you need as many people on the stage as possible.” as much room as possible to think, ‘He’s not a bad person. Maybe I can work with him.'”

But that speech wasn’t just meant to convince the politicians in the room that Clinton had a political future: it was also meant to answer lingering questions from the public after that midterm attack.

“He reminds people of what they like about his policies and about him,” says Waldman. “What people want to see from him is that he’s still standing… part of what Clinton has to do in that speech is show that he still has a sense of humour.”

Democrats did not face a major political rebuke last November – they did better than expected in the midterm elections.

Biden faces another nagging question – his age, said many speechwriters, both Republicans and Democrats.

“He will be 86 years old at the end of his second term,” Waldman said. It’s a problem that’s going to be on everyone’s mind. “And he’s going to want to use this forum to show he’s strong, he’s in command.”

Vice President then Biden and Speaker of the House John Boehner during President Barack Obama’s 2011 State of the Union address.

Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images


hide captions

switch captions

Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images


Vice President then Biden and Speaker of the House John Boehner during President Barack Obama’s 2011 State of the Union address.

Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images

Biden will try to show that life and politics can return to normal

There are certain traditions in every State of the Union — slurs, pleas to end partisanship, crosswalk offers of work — and a gracious welcome newly elected speaker of the House of Representatives.

“Biden believes in the rituals of democracy,” says Waldman. Union State procedures are part of that.

“What’s important in Biden’s long-term project is getting back to normal and in a way that restores the soul of the country, as he puts it, by reconnecting people to their civic rites,” he said. “.

Cody Keenan, speechwriter for former President Barack Obama, said Biden, like his predecessors, will likely talk about trying to find unity, but there are limits to cooperation between the states. partisan in the atmosphere has become super partisan.

The new Republican majority in the House has made it clear that they intend to pursue more investigations into the Biden administration. The discovery of classified documents in Biden’s personal files added to the tension.

Still, Keenan said Biden’s speech had an important function: it could challenge Republicans to oppose potentially popular policy ideas, while at the same time articulating a clear agenda. future agenda for Democrats.

“This is his biggest audience of the year to mark so people really know what’s at stake,” Keenan said.

President Biden’s first State of the Union address was on March 1, 2022. He delivered his second speech on Tuesday.

Pool pictures / Getty


hide captions

switch captions

Pool pictures / Getty


President Biden’s first State of the Union address was on March 1, 2022. He delivered his second speech on Tuesday.

Pool pictures / Getty

news7f

News7F: Update the world's latest breaking news online of the day, breaking news, politics, society today, international mainstream news .Updated news 24/7: Entertainment, Sports...at the World everyday world. Hot news, images, video clips that are updated quickly and reliably

Related Articles

Back to top button