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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] It is considered among the most solemn settings for an address made by a leader, and is most often delivered to announce a major new policy initiative, on the occasion of a leader's departure from office, or during times of national emergency (natural disaster, war, etc.).[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

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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] Presidential historian 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] As the formal executive office of the president, the Oval Office sets the tone for any address to the American people. It is also where the president will communicate national news such as terrorist attacks, and each president usually gives their 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] President 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] Being only the second ever televised address directly from the president's office, Eisenhower had to explain as much to the audience, saying, "in speaking from the house of Lincoln, of Jackson, of Wilson, my words would better convey both the sadness I feel today in the actions I feel compelled to make, and the firmness with which I intend to pursue this course."[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] and 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 desk speaking into the camera. Occasionally, however, the president will stand at a lectern on the opposite side of the Oval Office and give the address. Previously, it was also common for an artificial background to be placed behind the president, ordinarily consisting of plain blue fabric. Since the administration of Gerald Ford, the preference has instead been for the natural backdrop of the Office's windows.

Modern format

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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] Television networks are increasingly reluctant to sacrifice airtime for a political purpose.[5] In recent years, many major speeches have been made in White House settings besides the Oval Office; President Obama often did so from the East Room, as in his announcement of the death of Osama bin Laden;[5][12] Trump preferred to use the Diplomatic reception room.[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] The address of June 2, 2023, during the debt-ceiling crisis was the first time that Biden requested airtime.[citation needed]

List of Oval Office addresses

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President Date Subject
Joe Biden July 24, 2024 On his decision to no longer seek reelection
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

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References

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  1. ^ a b Williams, Bronwyn; Zenger, Amy (2007). Popular Culture and Representations of Literacy. Routledge. p. 13. ISBN 978-0-415-36095-1. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
  2. ^ "my fellow Americans", Wiktionary, February 3, 2023, retrieved June 3, 2023
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Thai, Xuan. "Oval Office setting is message behind the message - CNN.com". Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ Lu & Sullivan 2004, p. 147
  8. ^ Lu & Sullivan 2004, p. 271
  9. ^ Lu & Sullivan 2004, p. 28
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ Connolly, Katie (June 15, 2010). "As it happened: Obama oil spill address". BBC News. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
  12. ^ a b "Remarks by the President on Osama Bin Laden". whitehouse.gov. May 2, 2011. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ "Remarks by President Biden on the School Shooting in Uvalde, Texas". The White House. May 25, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  15. ^ 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.'
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ "Address to the Nation on the Congressional and Gubernatorial Elections". Ronald Reagan. Retrieved April 24, 2024.

Bibliography

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