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United States Oval Office Address

Speech by the President of the United States From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

United States Oval Office Address
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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]

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President Joe Biden addresses the nation about the response to the October 7 attacks in Israel and Russia's ongoing war on Ukraine, Thursday, October 19, 2023, in the Oval Office.

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]

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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

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, presidents have addressed the country in other White House settings. Barack Obama made several major speeches from the East Room, including an address on the Syrian civil war in 2010[13] an announcement of the death of Osama bin Laden,[5][12] and an announcement of the withdrawal of 10,000 troops from Afghanistan.[14]

Donald Trump used the Diplomatic Reception Room for several major announcements, including recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel,[15] the withdrawal of the United States from the Iran nuclear deal,[16] and addressing the government shutdown in 2019.[17]

During his presidency, Joe Biden used the White House Cross Hall or Roosevelt Room for major addresses.[18][19] He delivered an announcement of a ceasefire and hostage deal in the Gaza war from the Cross Hall.[20] From the Roosevelt Room, he addressed pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses,[21] the fall of the Assad regime in Syria,[22] and raising the debt ceiling during budget negotiations in 2023.[23]

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.[24] The address of June 2, 2023, during the debt-ceiling crisis was the first time that Biden requested airtime.[25]

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List of Oval Office addresses

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See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    Not from the Oval Office, but following the same format and treated at the same level. Aired from Bush Ranch in Crawford, Texas.

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