United States Oval Office Address Speech by the President of the United States
President Joe Biden addresses the nation about the response to the recent Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel and Russia ’s ongoing war on Ukraine , Thursday, October 19, 2023, in the Oval Office . An Oval Office address is a type of speech made by the president of the United States , usually in the Oval Office at the White House .[ 1] [ 1]
On occasions of national interest, U.S. presidents may decide to speak to the American people directly. Often in addresses to the nation, the president speaks directly into the camera and begins with the phrase, "My fellow Americans...".[ 2]
Use of the Oval Office
Presidents have used addresses in the Oval Office of the White House as a way to directly communicate with the American people. It is considered to be a major address and it functions as a way to move public opinion by having a direct connection with the president of the United States (compare Bully pulpit ).[ 3] Robert Dallek stated, “The Oval Office invokes the center of the presidential authority. That's the president's office, that's where he supposedly makes decisions, where he governs.”[ 4] farewell speech in the Oval Office.
The first Oval Office address was delivered to the nation by President Herbert Hoover , who spoke on peace efforts and arms reduction throughout the world.[ 5] Dwight D. Eisenhower used the format in 1957 to inform the United States of his decision to send troops to Little Rock to enforce school desegregation .[ 6] [ 6]
Some previous addresses include John F. Kennedy 's 1962 news of the Cuban Missile Crisis ,[ 7] Jimmy Carter 's 1979 "Malaise" speech ,[ 8] Ronald Reagan 's speech following the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986,[ 9] George W. Bush 's Address to the Nation on the evening of the 2001 September 11 terrorist attacks [ 10] Barack Obama 's June 2010 speech addressing the issue of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill[ 11]
Traditionally, the addresses are delivered with the president sitting at the Resolute deskGerald Ford , the preference has instead been for the natural backdrop of the Office's windows.
There have been suggestions that the traditional Oval Office address is falling out of favor in the Information Age , with White House aide Daniel Pfeiffer describing it as "an argument from the '80s", when President Ronald Reagan would draw tens of millions of viewers per address (42 in all, the second-most of any president; Nixon ranks first, having given 43).[ 5] [ 12] [ 5] East Room , as in his announcement of the death of Osama bin Laden ;[ 5] [ 12] [citation needed During his presidency, President Joe Biden has used the White House Cross Hall or Roosevelt Room for major addresses.[ 13] [ 14]
However, the tradition of the prime-time Oval Office address has continued into the Trump and Biden presidencies. The address of January 8, 2019, during the government shutdown was the first time that Trump requested airtime.[ 15] debt-ceiling crisis was the first time that Biden requested airtime.[citation needed
List of Oval Office addresses
President
Date
Subject
Joe Biden
January 15, 2025
Farewell address
July 24, 2024
On his withdrawal from the presidential race
July 14, 2024
On the attempted assassination of Donald Trump
October 19, 2023
On the 2023 Israel–Hamas war and Russian invasion of Ukraine
June 2, 2023
On Congressional approval of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023
Donald Trump
January 13, 2021
On the January 6th Capitol attack
March 11, 2020
On the coronavirus pandemic
January 8, 2019
On the Government Shutdown and the Proposed United States-Mexico Border wall
Barack Obama
December 6, 2015
On the United States Counterterrorism Strategy
August 31, 2010
On United States Policy towards Iraq
June 15, 2010
On the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
George W. Bush
September 13, 2007
On the War in Iraq
September 11, 2006
On the Five Year anniversary of the September 11th attacks
May 15, 2006
On Immigration, Border Security, drug policy, and the drug war in Mexico
December 18, 2005
On the elections in Iraq
March 19, 2003
Start of war against Iraq
September 11, 2001
On the terrorist attacks in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C
Bill Clinton
January 18, 2001
Farewell address
June 10, 1999
On the peace agreement in Kosovo
March 24, 1999
On the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia
December 16, 1998
Start of a US and British Bombing Campaign against Iraq
August 20, 1998
U.S Cruise missile strikes on Afghanistan and Sudan
November 27, 1995
On the Dayton Agreement
June 13, 1995
On the Federal Budget
December 15, 1994
Announcing a Middle Class Bill of Rights initiative
October 10, 1994
On Iraq
September 18, 1994
On the peaceful capitulation of the Haitian government
September 15, 1994
Ultimatum to the government of Haiti
October 7, 1993
On the battle of Mogadishu
August 3, 1993
On the Balanced Budget Plan
June 26, 1993
US Strike on Iraq
February 15, 1993
On the National economic program
George H. W. Bush
December 4, 1992
On the crisis in Somalia
September 1, 1992
On Hurricane Andrew disaster relief
May 1, 1992
On the riots in Los Angeles
December 25, 1991
On the Collapse of the Soviet Union
September 27, 1991
On Reducing US and Soviet nuclear weapons
September 13, 1991
Nomination of Robert Gates as CIA Director[ 16]
February 27, 1991
End of war in the Persian Gulf
January 16, 1991
Start of war in the Persian Gulf
October 2, 1990
On the Federal Budget Agreement
September 12, 1990
Message to the people of Iraq
August 8, 1990
On the crisis in the Persian Gulf
December 20, 1989
On the United States invasion of Panama
September 5, 1989
On drugs
Ronald Reagan
January 11, 1989
Farewell address
February 2, 1988
On aid to the Nicaraguan Democratic Resistance
December 10, 1987
On the Soviet-United States Summit Meeting
October 14, 1987
Nomination of Robert Bork to the United States Supreme Court
August 12, 1987
On the Iran Contra Affair and the Administration Goals
June 15, 1987
On the Venice Economic Summit, Arms Control, and the Deficit
March 4, 1987
On the Iran-Contra Affair
December 2, 1986
On the Investigation into the Iran-Contra Affair
November 13, 1986
On the Iran-Contra Affair
November 2, 1986
On the Congressional and Gubernatorial Midterm Elections[ 17]
October 13, 1986
On meetings with Gorbachev in Iceland
June 24, 1986
Aid to the Contras
April 14, 1986
United States airstrike against Libya
March 16, 1986
On the Situation in Nicaragua
February 26, 1986
On National Security
January 28, 1986
On the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
November 14, 1985
On the upcoming Soviet-United States meeting in Geneva
June 30, 1985
On the Hijacking of Trans World Airlines Flight 847
May 28, 1985
On tax reform
April 24, 1985
On Federal Budget and Deficit Reduction
November 5, 1984
On the eve of the Presidential Election
May 9, 1984
On United States Policy in Central America
January 29, 1984
Decision to seek re-election
October 27, 1983
On recent events in Lebanon and Grenada
September 5, 1983
On the Soviet attack on a Korean Civilian Airliner
March 23, 1983
On Defense and National Security
November 22, 1982
On Strategic Arms Reduction and Nuclear Deterrence
October 13, 1982
On the economy
September 20, 1982
Announcing the formation of a Multinational Force in Lebanon
August 16, 1982
On Federal Tax and Budget Reconciliation Legislation
April 29, 1982
On the 1983 Fiscal Budget
December 23, 1981
Observance of Christmas and the Situation in Poland
September 24, 1981
On the Program for Economic Recovery
July 27, 1981
On Federal Tax Reduction Legislation
February 5, 1981
On the economy
Jimmy Carter
January 14, 1981
Farewell Address
April 25, 1980
On the failed rescue attempt of American hostages in Iran
January 4, 1980
On the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
October 1, 1979
On the Strategic Arms Limitation Agreement
July 15, 1979
On Consumerism and the Crisis of Confidence
April 5, 1979
On Energy
November 8, 1977
Announcing a National Energy Policy
April 18, 1977
On Energy
Gerald Ford
October 6, 1975
On Federal Tax and Spending Regulations
May 27, 1975
On Energy
May 15, 1975
On the Recovery of the SS Mayaguez
March 29, 1975
On Signing the Tax Reduction Act of 1975
January 13, 1975
On Energy, Inflation, and the Economy
September 16, 1974
Pardoning of Vietnam War draft evaders
September 8, 1974
Pardoning of Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
August 8, 1974
Announcing the resignation of the Presidency
July 25, 1974
On Inflation and the Economy.
July 3, 1974
On Returning From the Soviet Union.
July 2, 1974
Message to the People of the Soviet Union
April 29, 1974
Announcing Answer to the House Judiciary Committee Subpoena (Watergate)
November 25, 1973
Announcing a National Energy Policy
November 7, 1973
Announcing Policies To Deal With the Energy Shortages
October 12, 1973
Nomination of Gerald Ford as Vice President of the United States
August 15, 1973
On the Watergate Investigations
June 13, 1973
Announcing Price Control Measures
April 30, 1973
On the Watergate Investigations
April 19, 1973
Announcing an end to the energy quota system
March 29, 1973
On Vietnam and Domestic Problems
January 23, 1973
Announcing the conclusion of a Peace Agreement in Vietnam
November 7, 1972
Victory Speech
November 6, 1972
On the eve of the Presidential Election
November 2, 1972
"Look to the Future"
July 4, 1972
Announcing Plans for America's Bicentennial Celebration
May 28, 1972
Message to the People of the Soviet Union
May 8, 1972
On the Situation in Southeast Asia
April 26, 1972
On Vietnam
March 16, 1972
On Equal Educational Opportunities and School Busing
February 8, 1972
On the environment
January 25, 1972
Announcing a Plan for Peace in Vietnam
October 21, 1971
Nomination of Powell and Rehnquist to the United States Supreme Court
October 7, 1971
On the Post-Freeze Economic Stabilization Program
September 6, 1971
Observance of Labor Day
August 15, 1971
Announcing a New Economic Policy: "The Challenge of Peace"
July 15, 1971
Announcing Acceptance of an Invitation To Visit China
May 20, 1971
Announcing a Strategic Arms Limitation Agreement with the Soviet Union
April 7, 1971
On the Situation in Southeast Asia (Vietnam)
February 25, 1971
On the Second Annual Foreign Policy Report to Congress
February 18, 1971
On Healthcare
October 7, 1970
Announcing a New Initiative for Peace in Southeast Asia (Vietnam)
June 17. 1970
On Economic Policy and Productivity
June 3, 1970
On the Cambodian Sanctuary Operation
April 30, 1970
On the Situation in Southeast Asia (Cambodian Incursion)
April 20, 1970
On Progress Toward Peace in Vietnam
March 23, 1970
On the Postal Strike
December 15, 1969
On Progress Toward Peace in Vietnam
November 3, 1969
On the War in Vietnam
October 17, 1969
On the Rising Cost of Living
August 8. 1969
On Domestic Programs
May 14, 1969
On Vietnam
Lyndon B. Johnson
October 31, 1968
Announcing His Decision To Halt the Bombing of North Vietnam
June 6, 1968
On the death of Robert Francis Kennedy
June 5, 1968
On the Assassination Attempt on Robert Francis Kennedy
April 5, 1968
On the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr
March 31, 1968
On the war in Vietnam and the 1968 election
January 26, 1968
On the Capture of the USS Pueblo by North Korean forces
July 27, 1967
On civil disorder in the United States
July 24, 1967
On the Riots in Detroit
July 12, 1966
On United States Foreign Policy in Asia
January 31, 1966
On the Resumption of Bombing of North Vietnam
August 6, 1965
On the Signing of the Voting Rights Act
July 28, 1965
On Vietnam and the United States Supreme Court
May 2, 1965
On the situation in the Dominican Republic
April 28, 1965
On the Decision to send troops to the Dominican Republic
March 26, 1965
On the arrests of those involved in the murder of Violo Liuzzo
November 2, 1964
On the eve of the Presidential election
October 18, 1964
On recent events in China, the USSR, and Great Britain
October 7, 1964
On the Upcoming Presidential Election
August 4, 1964
On the Gulf of Tonkin Incident
July 2, 1964
On the Signing of the Civil Rights Bill
April 22, 1964
On the Railroad Strike
November 28, 1963
Observance of Thanksgiving
November 23, 1963
On the assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
September 18, 1963
On the Test Ban Treaty and the Tax Reduction Bill
July 26, 1963
On the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
July 10, 1963
Announcing Postponing of the Railroad Strike
July 5, 1963
On returning from a trip to Europe
June 11, 1963
On civil rights
May 16, 1963
On the Flight of Astronaut L. Gordon Cooper
May 12, 1963
On the race riots in Birmingham, Alabama
November 3, 1962
Encouraging the American People to Vote in the Midterm Elections
November 2, 1962
Announcing an end to the Cuban Missile Crisis
October 22, 1962
On the Cuban Missile Crisis
September 30, 1962
On the Situation at the University of Mississippi
August 13, 1962
On the economy
July 2, 1962
Announcing recognition of Algerian independence
March 3, 1962
On Nuclear Testing and Deterrent
July 25, 1961
On the Berlin Crisis
June 6, 1961
On Returning from Europe
Dwight Eisenhower
January 17, 1961
Farewell address
June 27, 1960
On the trip to the Far East
May 25, 1960
On recent events in Paris
March 8, 1960
On the trip to South America
February 21, 1960
On leaving for a trip to South America
December 3, 1959
On leaving for a trip to Europe, Asia, and South America
September 10, 1959
On the trip to Europe
August 6, 1959
On the Need for an effective labor bill
March 16, 1959
On security in the free world
September 11, 1958
On the Formosan Straits Crisis
July 15, 1958
On the United States mission in Beirut
December 23, 1957
On the NATO conference in Paris
November 13, 1957
On Future Security
November 7, 1957
On science and national security
September 24, 1957
On the Little Rock School Integration Crisis
May 21, 1957
On Mutual Security
May 14, 1957
On the Federal Budget
February 20, 1957
On the Situation in the Middle East and the Eisenhower Doctrine
October 31, 1956
On the Uprising in Hungary and the Suez Crisis
September 19, 1956
Start of the President's Re-election campaign
April 16, 1956
On the Farm Bill Veto
February 29, 1956
Decision to seek re-election
January 5, 1956
On the State of the Union
July 25, 1955
On the Geneva Convention
July 15, 1955
On the Upcoming Convention in Geneva
August 23, 1954
On the Achievements of the 83rd Congress
April 5, 1954
On the State of the Union
March 15, 1954
On the tax Program
January 4, 1954
On the Administrations Purposes and Accomplishments
August 6, 1953
On the Achievements of the 83rd Congress
July 26, 1953
On the armistice on the Korean peninsula
May 19, 1953
On National Security
Harry S. Truman
January 15, 1953
Farewell Address
November 3, 1952
On the eve of the Presidential Election
April 8, 1952
On the steel mills crisis
March 6, 1952
On Mutual Security
November 7, 1951
On International Arms Reduction
June 14, 1951
On Inflation
April 11, 1951
On the war in Korea and the removal of General Douglas MacArthur
December 24, 1950
Observance of Christmas
December 19, 1950
On the War in Korea and National Emergency
September 9, 1950
On the Signing of the Defense Production Act
September 1, 1950
On the Progress of the War
July 19, 1950
On the war in Korea
September 27, 1949
Observance of Democratic Women's Day
July 13, 1949
On the economy
April 4, 1949
On the Signing of the North Atlantic Treaty
October 24, 1947
On the Special Session of Congress
October 5, 1947
Food conservation to aid post-war Europe
June 20, 1947
On the veto of the Taft-Harley Bill
October 14, 1946
Ending of price controls
June 29, 1946
On price controls
May 24, 1946
On the railroad strike
January 3, 1946
Status of Reconversion Program
October 30, 1945
Reconversion of wartime economy to peacetime economy
October 2, 1945
Announcing the start of the 1945 National War Fund Campaign
September 1, 1945
Cessation of hostilities with Japan
August 10, 1945
On the Potsdam Conference
August 6, 1945
On the dropping of an atomic bomb on Hiroshima
June 7, 1945
Ultimatum to Japan
May 8, 1945
End of the War in Europe
April 17, 1945
On the death of Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
January 6, 1945
On the State of the Union
December 24, 1944
Observance of Christmas
November 2, 1944
Report on the war
October 5, 1944
On the Upcoming Presidential Elections
June 12, 1944
Opening of the Fifth War Loan Drive
June 6, 1944
On the D-Day Landings
June 5, 1944
On the fall of Rome
January 11, 1944
On the state of the Union
December 24, 1943
On the Tehran and Cairo Conferences
September 8, 1943
On the Armistice with Italy and the Third War Loan Drive
July 28, 1943
On the Fall of Mussolini
May 2, 1943
On the coal crisis
October 12, 1942
Report on the war
September 7, 1942
On Inflation and Progress of the War
June 12, 1942
On Rubber
April 28, 1942
On national economic policy and sacrifice
February 23, 1942
On the Progress of the War
December 9, 1941
On the Declaration of War With Japan
September 11, 1941
On Maintaining Freedom of the Seas and the Greer Incident
September 1, 1941
Observance of Labor Day
May 27, 1941
Announcing Unlimited National Emergency
December 29, 1940
On the "Arsenal of Democracy"
May 26, 1940
On National Defense
September 3, 1939
On the European War
November 4, 1938
On the eve of the Midterm Elections
June 24, 1938
On the Party Primaries
April 14, 1938
On the Recession
November 14, 1937
On the Unemployment Census
October 12, 1937
On new legislation to be recommended to Congress
March 9, 1937
On the Reorganization of the Judiciary
September 6, 1936
On Drought Conditions, Farmers, and Laborers
April 28, 1935
On the Works Relief Program and the Social Security Act
September 30, 1934
On Government and Capitalism
June 28, 1934
On the Achievements of the 73rd United States Congress and Critics of the New Deal
October 22, 1933
On Economic Progress
July 24, 1933
On the National Recovery Administration
May 7, 1933
On the New Deal Program
March 12, 1933
On the Banking Crisis
Herbert Hoover
November 7, 1932
Concession to Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the 1932 election
October 16, 1932
On the Campaign for Community Funds Relief
March 6, 1932
On the Hoarding of Currency
October 18, 1931
On Unemployment Relief
September 18, 1929
On Peace Efforts and Arms Reduction
See also
References
^ a b Williams, Bronwyn; Zenger, Amy (2007). Popular Culture and Representations of Literacy ISBN 978-0-415-36095-1 . Retrieved February 8, 2011 . ^ "my fellow Americans" , Wiktionary , February 3, 2023, retrieved June 3, 2023 ^ Rottinghaus, Brandon (2009). "Strategic Leaders: Determining Successful Presidential Opinion Leadership Tactics Through Public Appeals". Political Communication . 26 (3): 296– 316. doi :10.1080/10584600903053510 . S2CID 145768760 . ^ Thai, Xuan. "Oval Office setting is message behind the message - CNN.com" . Retrieved October 24, 2018 . ^ a b c d Calmes, Jackie (July 9, 2013). "Live From the Oval Office: A Backdrop of History Fades From TV" . New York Times . Retrieved December 26, 2013 . ^ a b Greeley, Brenden. "Why Obama Doesn't Give Speeches From the Oval Office" . Archived from the original on September 13, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2013 . ^ Lu & Sullivan 2004 , p. 147^ Lu & Sullivan 2004 , p. 271^ Lu & Sullivan 2004 , p. 28^ Michael E. Eidenmuller. "The Rhetoric of 9/11: President George W. Bush – Address to the Nation on 9-11-01" . Americanrhetoric.com. Retrieved February 8, 2011 . ^ Connolly, Katie (June 15, 2010). "As it happened: Obama oil spill address" . BBC News. Retrieved February 8, 2011 . ^ a b "Remarks by the President on Osama Bin Laden" . whitehouse.gov . May 2, 2011. Retrieved October 24, 2018 .^ House, The White (February 23, 2021). "Remarks by President Biden on the More Than 500,000 American Lives Lost to COVID-19" . The White House . Retrieved June 3, 2023 . ^ "Remarks by President Biden on the School Shooting in Uvalde, Texas" . The White House . May 25, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2023 .^ Tackett, Michael; Fandos, Nicholas (January 7, 2019). "Trump Will Take Case for Border Wall to Public in National Address" . The New York Times . Retrieved January 8, 2018 . Ted Koppel, the veteran ABC anchor, said in an interview that given that Mr. Trump had not previously requested time for an Oval Office speech, the networks ought to give him 'the benefit of the doubt.' ^ "Address to the Nation on the Nomination of Robert Gates To Be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency | The American Presidency Project" . www.presidency.ucsb.edu . Retrieved April 23, 2024 .^ "Address to the Nation on the Congressional and Gubernatorial Elections" . Ronald Reagan . Retrieved April 24, 2024 .
Bibliography
External links
