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But strengthening the american middle class, health care is part of that. >> one of cleef concerns that's been expressed, is that tonight's speech won't be so much as a state of the union as much as it will be a campaign kickoff. the president tomorrow, three days, five day, all of them battleground states. what do you make of that? >> reporter: this is the president's vision of how to move this country forward in a durable way to help all americans. it's his policies that he think will best move the country forward. >> nancy-ann, thank you so much. appreciate your time. >> thank you. republ...

Article 2 section 3 states the president from time to time give the congress information on the state of the union and recommend to their consideration such measures as she shoultd judge necessary and expedient. the first one by george washington in 1790 on the contained 1,000 words. thomas jefferson abandoned the speech, submitting his in writing. a practice that was followed for more than a hundred years until 1913 when woodrow wilson spoke before congress. calvin coolidge was the first to have his over radio. harry truman was the first to have his delivered on television. ronald reagan invi...

Tonight, president obama delivers his third state of the union address which wasn't called a state of the union until president franklin roosevelt used it. before that, it was known as the president's annual message to congress. it also wasn't delivered before joint session of congress. more now on the interesting history. >> mr. speaker, the president of the united states. with it rhetorical flourishes, the state of the union is a uniquely american tradition having been delivered either in person or in writing 220 times in our nation's history. it's more than another speech. it's a constituti...

Dlairdlair declared the era of big government is over. president bill clinton's chief speech writer, good to be here with you. also the author of a book, "potus speaks". if you were writing for president obama, considering the climate in this country, what would your major themes be? >> a speech like this is not only the constitution we require to address to the congress, but it's taiki intaking place at th beginning of the election year and the launch of his big argument to the country. it's in the context of this that's going on on the republican side. i think he ought to be doing, i imagine...

Days. then he could have given this policy speech after that meeting. if there are no specifics in this and it is just a general talk about democracy, some loan guarantees to egypt and tunisia, condemnation of syria and then a vague promise about rekindling israeli and palestinian hopes, there's going to be -- [ inaudible ] >> richard, that is exactly what we are being told. that the speech may mention the 1967 borders but that the united states is not prepared to engage in a specific peace plan because they do not feel that either side is really ready to deal. that in fact israel will not sit...