Address to the nation
An address to the nation is a type of speech made from a head of state or head of government. In the United States, it is traditionally made from the Oval Office in the White House.[1] It is considered among the most solemn settings for an address made by the President, and is most often delivered to announce a major new policy initiative, on the occasion of a President's departure from office, or during times of national emergency (natural disaster, war, etc.).[1]
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United States
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 addresses 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.[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] The tone of the speech is set when Presidents decide to make a speech in the Oval Office. It lets the American people know who is really in charge when it comes time to make executive decisions regarding the United States of America. The Oval Office is where the President spends a large amount of time and it is where he makes a lot of tough decisions regarding the country. 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
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).[12] Television networks are increasingly reluctant to sacrifice airtime for a political purpose.[5] President Obama preferred to use the East Room, as in his announcement of the death of Osama bin Laden;[5][12] Trump preferred to use the Diplomatic reception room. During his presidency, President Joe Biden has used the White House Cross Hall or Roosevelt Room for major addresses.[13][14]
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.
List of presidential addresses to the nation
- This list includes other addresses that are not prime time Oval Office addresses.
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United Kingdom
Addresses to the Nation are typically rare in the United Kingdom, however they increased in frequency during the COVID-19 pandemic.[17] Addresses to the Nation have been held in and outside of 10 Downing Street.[18][19]
Winston Churchill was notable for the speeches he gave; his first address to the nation in 1940, was made five days before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.[20] Churchill's this was their finest hour speech was first delivered to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom on June 18, 1940, and later that evening was broadcast to the public, as an address to the nation.[21] In her first address to the nation in 2022, Prime Minister Liz Truss promised to cut taxes and deal with the energy crisis "caused by Putin’s war".[22]
Special addresses to the nation by the British Monarch are rare and usually only occur at times of significant national or royal events. On December 25, 1932, King George V became the first Monarch to make an address to the nation, in a live radio broadcast.[23] Queen Elizabeth addressed the nation in September 1997, on the eve of the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales.[24] She also made addresses to thank the public for their support during her Diamond Jubilee in 2012, as well as two addresses in 2020, one regarding the Covid Pandemic, and the other regarding the 75th anniversary of VE Day. After Queen Elizabeth passed away in 2022, King Charles addressed the nation, giving a tribute to his late mother.[25]
See also
References
- Williams, Bronwyn; Zenger, Amy (2007). Popular Culture and Representations of Literacy. Routledge. p. 13. ISBN 978-0-415-36095-1. Retrieved 2011-02-08.
- "my fellow Americans", Wiktionary, 2023-02-03, retrieved 2023-06-03
- 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 2018-10-24.
- Calmes, Jackie (9 July 2013). "Live From the Oval Office: A Backdrop of History Fades From TV". New York Times. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
- Greeley, Brenden. "Why Obama Doesn't Give Speeches From the Oval Office". Archived from the original on September 13, 2013. Retrieved 26 December 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 2011-02-08.
- Connolly, Katie (2010-06-15). "As it happened: Obama oil spill address". BBC News. Retrieved 2011-02-08.
- "Remarks by the President on Osama Bin Laden". whitehouse.gov. 2011-05-02. Retrieved 2018-10-24.
- House, The White (2021-02-23). "Remarks by President Biden on the More Than 500,000 American Lives Lost to COVID-19". The White House. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
- House, The White (2022-05-25). "Remarks by President Biden on the School Shooting in Uvalde, Texas". The White House. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
- 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.'
- "Presidential Speeches | Miller Center". 21 November 2016.
- Rodger, James (5 May 2020). "Boris Johnson to give speech on 'road map' out of lockdown this Sunday - what we know about it so far". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
- "May's address to the nation sees her tell voters 'I am on your side' over Brexit". Daily Record. 2019-03-20. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
- Waterson, Jim (2019-01-17). "BBC criticised for sticking with football over PM's Brexit speech". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
- "Winston Churchill's First Address to the Nation as Prime Minister | DocsTeach". National Archives at College Park.
- "'Their finest hour' speech by Winston Churchill, 1940". British Library.
- "Liz Truss's first address to nation as new UK prime minister". AP News. 6 September 2022.
- "First Empire Address by King George V". BBC.
- "The Queen's speech following the Death of Diana, Princess of Wales" – via YouTube.
- "King Charles's address to the nation – in full". The Guardian. 9 September 2022.
Bibliography
- Lu, Xin-An; Sullivan, Rita (2004). Gems from the top 100 speeches. IUniverse. ISBN 978-0-595-30856-9.