Topic Quotation
2021BidenVirusA once in a century virus that silently stalks the country has taken as many lives in one year as in all of World War Two.
2017TrumpJobsPoliticians prospered, but the jobs left and the factories closed.
2013ObamaJobsWe cannot cede to other nations the technology that will power new jobs and new industries.
2009ObamaJobsHomes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered.
2005BushTyrannyThe great objective of ending tyranny is the concentrated work of generations.
2001BushSchoolsTogether, we will reclaim America's schools, before ignorance and apathy claim more young lives.
1997ClintonStreetsOur streets will echo again with the laughter of our children, because no one will try to shoot them or sell them drugs anymore.
1993ClintonEconomyWe have drifted, and that drifting has eroded our resources, fractured our economy, and shaken our confidence.
1989BushChildrenThere are the children who have nothing, no love, no normalcy.
1985ReaganNuclearWe seek the total elimination one day of nuclear weapons from the face of the Earth.
1981ReaganProductivityGovernment can and must provide opportunity, not smother it; foster productivity, not stifle it.
1977CarterFreedomThe passion for freedom is on the rise.
1973NixonAbroadLet us encourage individuals at home and nations abroad to do more for themselves.
1969NixonMoonAs the Apollo astronauts flew over the moon […] they spoke to us of the beauty of earth.
1965JohnsonRocketEven now, a rocket moves towards Mars.
1961KennedyGlobeThe graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe.
1957EisenhowerConflictWe are called to act a responsible role in the world's great concerns or conflicts.
1953EisenhowerDividedIn the heart of Europe, Germany still stands tragically divided.
1949TrumanDemocracyDemocracy has proved that social justice can be achieved through peaceful change.
1945RooseveltPeaceWe can gain no lasting peace if we approach it with suspicion and mistrust or with fear.
1941RooseveltDemocracyDemocracy is not dying.
1937RooseveltDespairTrue, we have come far from the days of stagnation and despair.
1933RooseveltProfitStripped of the lure of profit by which to induce our people to follow their false leadership, they have resorted to exhortations.
1929HooverLiquorThere would be little traffic in illegal liquor if only criminals patronized it.
1925CoolidgePropertyWe have responded to appeals for help to maintain order, protect life and property, and establish responsible government in some of the small countries of the Western Hemisphere.
1921HardingWarfareOur freedom never has made offensive warfare.
1917WilsonIndustrialWe have sought very thoughtfully to set our house in order, correct the grosser errors and abuses of our industrial life.
1913WilsonWasteWith riches has come inexcusable waste.
1909TaftAntitrustRestrictions of the antitrust law have been urged by my predecessor and will be urged by me.
1905RooseveltPowerNo weak nation that acts manfully and justly should ever have cause to fear us.
1901McKinleyCubaWe became sponsors for the pacification of the island, and we remain accountable to the Cubans.
1897McKinleyLoanA surplus in the Treasury created by loans is not a permanent or safe reliance.
1893ClevelandFrugalityFrugality among the people is the best guaranty of a contented and strong support of free institutions.
1889HarrisonElectorIf […] public security is thought to be threatened by ignorance among the electors, the obvious remedy is education.
1885ClevelandExtravagancePublic extravagance begets extravagance among the people.
1881GarfieldMonetary systemGold and silver afford the only safe foundation for a monetary system.
1877HayesSouthernMany of the calamitous efforts of the tremendous revolution which has passed over the Southern States still remain.
1873GrantSanto DomingoIn the first year of the past Administration the proposition came up for the admission of Santo Domingo.
1869GrantDollarTo protect the national honor, every dollar of Government indebtedness should be paid in gold.
1865LincolnWarBoth parties deprecated war; but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive.
1861LincolnSecessionPlainly the central idea of secession is the essence of anarchy.
1857BuchanonTerritoryCongress is neither to legislate slavery into any Territory or State nor to exclude it therefrom.
1853PierceConstitutionalThe great scheme of our constitutional liberty rests upon a proper distribution of power between the State and Federal authorities.
1849TaylorProtection[I will grant] protection to the great interests of agriculture, commerce, and manufactures.
1845PolkTexasThe Republic of Texas has made known her desire to come into our Union.
1841HarrisonMetallic currencyThe rich are daily adding to their hoards and the poor sinking deeper into penury [because of the] exclusive metallic currency.
1837van BurenInstitutionsIf the agitation of [abolitionists] was intended to reach the stability of our institutions, […] it has signally failed.
1833JacksonGovernmentThe destruction of our State governments [would lead to] despotism and military domination.
1829JacksonRevenueThe management of the public revenue […] is among the most delicate and important trusts in ours.
1825AdamsConstructionBut nearly twenty years have passed since the construction of the first national road was commenced.
1821MonroeFloridaBut to the acquisition of Florida too much importance can not be attached.
1817MonroeInvasionWith such an organization of such a people the United States have nothing to dread from foreign invasion.
1813MadisonBritishBritish commanders have extorted victory [by threatening our troops with] massacre from their savage associates.
1809MadisonPeace[I pledge] to cherish peace and friendly intercourse with all nations having correspondent dispositions.
1805JeffersonPressThe artillery of the press has been levelled against us, charged with whatsoever its licentiousness could devise or dare.
1801JeffersonAdministration[I pledge] support of the State governments in all their rights, as the most competent administrations for our domestic concerns.
1797AdamsConstitutionI have repeatedly laid myself under the most serious obligations to support the Constitution.
1793WashingtonConstitutionPrevious to the execution of any official act of the President the Constitution requires an oath of office.
1789WashingtonFree governmentThere are none under the influence of which the proceedings of a new and free government can more auspiciously commence.