State Of The Union Addresses Past: A Look Back At A History Of Forgotten Promises

(Jason Linkins contributed to this article. Video produced by Hunter Stuart.)

Every year around this time, we make a huge deal about the president's State Of The Union address because...well, because our political leaders make a big deal about it. From the careful preparations of the president to the rebuttals from the opposition to the genuine enthusiasm expressed by all in attendance, there's a lot to dish about, dissect and discuss. And let's face it -- the State of the Union is basically a long session of case-making from a hopeful commander-in-chief trying to earn the continued trust of the people, often in the form of re-election.

But political science teaches us that these speeches by themselves often don't move the needle of public opinion in a lasting way. And our memories inform us that, for all the work that's put into the effort, we often only remember the odd moment or two. (And often, that odd moment is literally an odd moment.)

This is perhaps as it should be, because it seems that if there's one constant to these orations, it's that they all, in some way, herald a false dawn. We took a look back to State of the Union addresses all the way back to the Nixon administration and found that, often, what you get are flamboyant pledges of Great Things To Come that never materialize and are quickly forgotten. With the help of HuffPost's Hunter Stuart, we've put together a video collage of famous forgotten promises.

Comments

[drhooper]

01:54 AM on 01/31/2012

They said the SOTU was meaningless, and the president would not get a bump. Well.....up from 47% to 53% approval rating. What?

[Cratewasher]

11:52 AM on 01/30/2012

Something Obama could do right now? Remove Monsanto executive Michael Taylor from his post at the FDA. Why not do it before it becomes a campaign issue condemning Obama's cozy corporatism?
http://signon.org/sign/tell-obama-to-cease-fda.fb1?source=s.fb&r_by=2133671

[stumanchu35]

09:07 AM on 01/30/2012

While this was not from the SoTU, it's still blah.

"I laid out a blueprint for an economy that's built to last, that has a firm foundation­. Where we're making stuff and selling stuff and moving it around and UPS drivers are dropping things off everywhere­."

[Blufftonian]

11:10 AM on 01/30/2012

More like "duh."

[AniMakom]

08:14 AM on 01/30/2012

Not only the lawless one but also those who follow him will be cast into the bottomless pit.

[maxmanbrew]

07:57 AM on 01/30/2012

Ok Obamites,,your president announced in his SOU that he was helpiing homeowners by making it easier to refinance,,while at the same time Freddie Mac was betting against homeowners ,,funny how thats going to work considering they got us into this probelm to start with ,,,, Ok now whos helping whom? Now this is on the news no not Fox,,why would he not know that they "were not" helping homeowners

[cobry4949]

10:07 PM on 01/29/2012

and there choosing more draft dodgers newt and romney, American has CRS disease can't rememeber sh89. They have not learn what the last draft dodgers did, Bush his daddy hid him, chaney, clintoon. Romney says he so rich and a good draft dodger that his sons will not have to serve either but he will send yours though.

[MUDPUPPY]

08:20 PM on 01/29/2012

Forget broken promises. Look at the records. Look at end results. Obaama end results, Higher unemployment and astronomical national debt, loss of international prestige, loss and waste of billion of dollars. The problem is that Obama wants to FIX things by doing the same things that has made things worse. His on the job training just is not working out.

7

[vmf211]

09:10 PM on 01/29/2012

really I would love to hear from the left what has Obama improved on since he took office?
Because I'm not seeing it.

[suppressed08news]

11:32 PM on 01/29/2012

You sure gave yourself the right handle!

[Philimanjaro]

08:20 PM on 01/29/2012

I thought that was the point of politics- to elect the sleaziest and best liars. At least it seems that way.
Granted, the past few elections have been a complete toss up.

[NYC80]

07:19 PM on 01/29/2012

They are all pupp ets that is why they never keep their promises. They are not really in charge, but figure heads.

[denicci1977]

06:53 PM on 01/29/2012

Shaking my head at father/son Bush.......

President Obama has got a massive amount accomplished his first term so far. There are liars who like to scream he has done nothing or is the worst President ever (fantasy land), but it doesn't add up to the facts. I know that given another 4 years based on what he was able to do so far, we will be better off. How anyone can think that a Newt or Mitt Presidency will be better is insane.

[Philimanjaro]

08:15 PM on 01/29/2012

Not the worst president ever... but certainly not even close to being best.

Either direction would be a trip towards fantasy land.

[PatriotForever]

12:50 AM on 01/30/2012

A lot of the Republican supporters are indeed insane or an order of french fries short of a happy meal.

[EvolveorPerish]

06:28 PM on 01/29/2012

Forgotten promises . . .

Obama's legacy

[Nick Tarlton]

02:37 AM on 01/30/2012

It takes Congress as well...Obama is not a dictator..no us president is..

[lacie]

04:59 PM on 01/29/2012

Despite Clinton having six years of budget surpluses the total

public debt ended the 20th century at $9.8 trillion.


Fact is that the audited debt figure for the day President Obama took office is around $14.4 trillion

and with a DO NOTHING CONGRESS, the President did what he could good or bad

to try and fix it. Tell me again how in 3 years the GOP and Congress HELPED again???

I would prefer that my tax dollars go towards good paying jobs and not minimum wage jobs for

those without one in every state instead of a pipeline or permanent tax cuts for the rich.


I still trust President Obama with the economy and foreign affairs for the next 4 years.

[RMorr2002]

05:33 PM on 01/29/2012

Totally serious question......You say that "I still trust President Obama with the economy and foreign affairs for the next 4 years. " The economy has gotten WORSE in every area under obama. Unemployment is higher. The deficit is MUCH higher. Foreclosures & bankruptcies are at record levels. More people on Food Stamps than ever. obama's "plans" are for more of the same. Do you REALLY want 4 more years of what obama has done so far???

[Pammy2]

06:11 PM on 01/29/2012

Yes.

[creativ786]

07:54 PM on 01/29/2012

fanned some are not blinded by the idolization bestowed upon those who hang on to the same illusionist I see..

[terra33]

08:34 AM on 01/30/2012

FYI Bush added $4.9 trillion to the national debt in 8 years. The national debt was just over $10 trillion when Obama took office. With this last raise in the debt limit by the Senate. At the end of Obama's first term he will have increased the national debt by $6 trillion in 4 years. Obama's first two years he had a majority House and Senate who passed regulation after regulation and a massive Healthcare bill no on wants. He is spending 50% more then Bush did and we have NOTHING to show for it but higher unemployment, higher cost of living, higher taxes, higher gas prices, higher energy cost while our assets are worth less and the dollar is sinking. Do nothing Congress? Perhaps you should look at the 27 bills passed by the House and stalled in the Democratic Senate. Especially the balanced budget plan. Obama has not had a budget in over 1005 days. He is blindly spending our money like it grows on trees while totally destroying our economy and putting generations to come in massive debt. FYI we don't have a tax revenue problem we have a massive spending problem.

[Blufftonian]

11:14 AM on 01/30/2012

F&F, terra33.

[lacie]

02:22 PM on 01/30/2012

The public debt has increased by over $500 billion each year since fiscal year (FY) 2003 BUSH WAS IN OFFICE IN 2003


Where were you and the TPARTY when he gave all that money to the rich and his cronies???? Where are those billions of dollars that disappeared when Bush left office or should I ask Cheney?


And 12.7 Trillion added to the deficit over the last decade check your FACTS. You did nothing and you said nothing until President Obama got in office.


“What part do you not think most people understand THE GOP WANTED TO MAKE THE PRESIDENT A ONE TERM PRESIDENT BEFORE HE WAS EVEN SWORN IN.

Yes Unemployment is higher. The deficit is MUCH higher. Foreclosures & bankruptcies are at record levels and more people on Food Stamps due to the damage caused by GEORGE BUSH.


President Obama is not perfect and will never be. He has a vested interest in the middleclass, economy and foreign affairs, yet all the GOP wants to do is the same things that got us here. Just don’t touch their taxes but please go up on yours.

Yes dismantle programs that can help people like you and me IF we fall on hard times and all you are worried about DEBT? You are foolish.


The Congress did nothing to help this President and the American people and they should pay for it.

President Obama DID whatever he could to stimulate the economy good or bad.

[p c r]

04:45 PM on 01/29/2012

Heck. W. said he was planning a space program that would take men to Mars... and worlds beyond. Gingrich is so 15 minutes ago.

[lOstsOulsrembrd11]

04:51 PM on 01/29/2012

newt wants to have a station set up at the Mars (?) by his second term. Perhaps he can start his own colony and take MOST all of the politicians from both parties w/him.

[p c r]

05:21 PM on 01/29/2012

W. wanted to go to Mars. Newt will settle for a colony on the moon, as his delusions of adequacy don't live up to the shrub's.

[IndyvoterRob]

03:51 PM on 01/29/2012

Whenever I was a child and a State of the Union suddenly popped up on screen I quickly switched over to the Thundercats.

A tactic I still use to this day.

[p c r]

04:47 PM on 01/29/2012

When I was a child there were only 3 channels, all of which carried the SOTU address. I turned off the TV and read a good book.

A tactic I still use to this day. :)

[Nick Tarlton]

02:43 AM on 01/30/2012

Yes being ignorant to what is going on really helps solve problems. That is how we got the Tea Terrorists in the House and state legislatures all across this country in 2010, Low information voters.

[IndependentTogether]

01:29 PM on 01/29/2012

Righties are fond of saying that Obama is running away from his record. THEY are the ones that are afraid if his record. That's why they flat out LIE about his record. And when that doesn't work, it's back to "worst president in history", "most divisive president", and the ol' birther nonesense. They've got nuttin'. So, if Obama wants to be re-elected, he'd better run on his record!

[Brandon Sweaterman Reese]

01:47 PM on 01/29/2012

As a Republican... I HOPE he does. It will lead to a CHANGE in the WH.

[Mediorite]

01:55 PM on 01/29/2012

I HOPE you don't CHANGE your tired old 2008 talking points.

[jondekonkeroo]

05:05 PM on 01/29/2012

his record is more than enough to assure a second term. your denial is the best proof of that. the right has been told their feelings are facts, and that's half of what one needs to know to predict any behavior they're capable of. the other half is their social hierarchy top to bottom. master/slave.

[winstonian23]

02:08 PM on 01/29/2012

Wait. Let me get this straight. You want Obama to run on his record so he'll WIN? That's odd. How many times can he say "I killed Bin Laden" before people wanna know what else he's done..besides postpone the recovery with his job killing policies. (Like the Keystone Pipeline and moratorium on drilling, just to name a few.)

[marpel]

03:20 PM on 01/29/2012

Jobs from the Keystone Pipeline would be to high a price to bay with no guarentee of long term safety to our citizens water supply and local ecologies up and down the 1000's of miles of pipeline.


http://www.nrdc.org/energy/keystone-pipeline/?gclid=CMimxtmC9q0CFQnd4AodTmBbug

[p c r]

04:49 PM on 01/29/2012

Have you noticed the ad on the political pages here that shows job growth since his election? It shows how there were massive losses until a few months after his election, and gains every month since. It isn't gaining fast, but it is better than the losses with the shrub.