State of the Union : Presidential Rhetoric from Woodrow Wilson to George W. Bush

Through an expansive collection of primary source materials and original, informative introduction and headnotes, State of the Union: Presidential Rhetoric from Woodrow Wilson to George W. Bush explores ways in which modern U.S. presidents have appealed directly to the public and how the public has responded.

State of the Union: Presidential Rhetoric from Woodrow Wilson to George W. Bush is a comprehensive reference containing all the state of the union addresses as well as each inaugural address delivered from Woodrow Wilson to George W. Bush. This unique single-volume resource presents over 100 full-text addresses. Headnotes accompanying each address provide valuable context for each address by outlining the events leading up to the address and exploring the ensuing public reaction.

An introductory essay to the volume provides readers with an in-depth look at the history of state of the union addresses and examines how presidents have crafted their speeches to meet changing styles and circumstances. State of the Union also includes a bibliography of sources related to presidential rhetoric, a chronological listing of all addresses included in the volume, a timeline showing major events as highlighted in the addresses, and a comprehensive index.

A valuable research tool for students and scholars of U.S. history, government, politics, and public policy, State of the Union: Presidential Rhetoric from Woodrow Wilson to George W. Bush will be a frequently-used resource in almost any academic or public library.

Gerhard Peters is the co-creator, along with John T.Woolley, of The American Presidency Project. Peters is a frequent lecturer on American politics and the presidency at various colleges in southern California.

John T. Woolley is professor of political science and department chair at the University of California, Santa Barbara. One of the creators of the American Presidency Project,Woolley has written extensively on the president’s management of the economy, presidential vetoes, and the study of change in the presidency.