History through the presidents’ own words
The context of a word in a State of the Union speech can obviously have a big impact on meaning and intention. But the
repetition of words can give insight into how our world has changed, the issues of the day and the policies of the party in
power. Below we track key words and their rate per 10,000 words. To see the past 114 years, go to wapo.st/sotu-language.
GEORGE H.W. BUSH
1989
*
1990
1991
BILL CLINTON
1992
1993
*
1994
1995
1996
1997
MENTIONS
1 5 10
GEORGE W. BUSH
1998
1999
2000
2001
*
2001
**
2002
2003
2004
2005
25
50
100
161
BARACK OBAMA
2006
2007
2008
2009
*
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
America
America
The U.S. economy has gotten steady attention in the past 25 years of State of the Union addresses. Since the 2008 economic crash, “jobs” has increased in Obama’s speeches.
Economy
Economy
Tax
Tax
Spend
Spend
Deficit
Deficit
Budget
Budget
Jobs
Jobs
Children
Children
Medicaid/care
Medicaid/care
Education
Education
U.S. foreign policy topics are ever shifting. The waning threat from the Soviet Union, the emergence of a new Russia, the post-Sept. 11 invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq all dominate, then fade.
Soviet
Soviet
Russia
Russia
Iraq
Iraq
Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Iran
Iran
China
China
Korea
Korea
War
War
The use of “terrorism,” “freedom” and “security” fell sharply after George W. Bush left office, while Obama’s “change” catchword also lost potency after his inauguration.
Change
Change
Terrorism
Terrorism
Democracy
Democracy
Peace
Peace
Freedom
Freedom
Security
Security
Presidents of both parties often use the State of the Union speech to project hope and faith in the future and to affirm their love and support of family values.
Hope
Hope
Faith
Faith
Future
Future
Love
Love
Family
Family
Crime has gradually faded as a national political issue, while concerns about energy sources have grown. “Technology” and “environment” maintain a steady place in the speeches.
Technology
Technology
Environment
Environment
Oil
Oil
Energy
Energy
Immigration
Immigration
Crime
Crime
Drugs
Drugs
The massive use of the word “I” shows that presidents rarely have small egos. “God” seems to take a back seat to “me.” The prevalence of “men” over “women” seems to be slowly reversing.
God
God
Women
Women
Men
Men
Me
Me
I
I
1989*
1990
1991
1992
1993*
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000 2001* 2001** 2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008 2009* 2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
WORDS: America (Americans, American). Economy (economic). Tax (taxation, taxed, taxes, taxpayers). Spend (spending). Deficit (deficits). Budget. Jobs (employment). Children (child). Medicaid and Medicare. Education (schools). Soviet. Russia (Russian, Russia’s, Russian’s). Iraq. Afghanistan (Afghan, Afghan’s). Iran. China. Korea. War. Change. Terrorism (terror, terrorist, terrorists,
terrorized, terrorizes, terrorizing). Democracy (democracies, democracy’s). Peace (peaceful). Freedom (free). Security. Hope. Faith. Future. Love. Family (families). Technology (technological). Environment (environmental). Oil. Energy. Immigration (immigrant, immigrants). Crime (criminal). Drugs (drug). God. Women (women’s, woman, her, hers, she). Men (him, he, his, man). Me. I.
Source: The American Presidency Project
*Not an official State of the Union. **President George W. Bush addresses Congress after the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001
KENNEDY ELLIOT, DAVID FAHRENTOLD, TED MELLNIK AND [email protected] /THE WASHINGTON POST