topic models using the sotu package

Enable cleaning genie fx

clean <- function(x) {
    x <- gsub("-", " ", x)
    x <- tolower(x)
    x <- replace_contraction(x)
    x <- gsub("\\d+(st|nd|rd|th)", " ", x)
    x <- gsub("[^a-zA-Z]", " ", x)  #strips any non-alphabetic characters including numbers and punctuation
    x <- gsub("\\b[a-zA-Z]\\b{1}", " ", x)
    x <- removeWords(x, stopwords(source = "smart"))
    x <- x %>% stripWhitespace()
    x <- x %>% stri_remove_empty()
    # x <- str_split(x, ' ') x <- unlist(x)
    return(x)
}

SOTU package

The state of the union package contains every presidential state of the union address sotu package

sp <- sotu_dir(dir = tempfile())  #loads all sotu speeches
both <- cbind(sotu_text, sotu_meta)
both$id <- seq_along(both$year)
tail(both)

	sotu_text	president	year	years_active	party	sotu_type	id
231	Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans: Tonight I want to begin by congratulating the men and women of the 112th Congress, as well as your new Speaker, John Boehner. And as we mark this occasion, we’re also mindful of the empty chair in this Chamber, and we pray for the health of our colleague and our friend Gabby Giffords. It’s no secret that those of us here tonight have had our differences over the last 2 years. The debates have been contentious; we have fought fiercely for our beliefs. And that’s a good thing. That’s what a robust democracy demands. That’s what helps set us apart as a nation. But there’s a reason the tragedy in Tucson gave us pause. Amid all the noise and passion and rancor of our public debate, Tucson reminded us that no matter who we are or where we come from, each of us is a part of something greater, something more consequential than party or political preference. We are part of the American family. We believe that in a country where every race and faith and point of view can be found, we are still bound together as one people, that we share common hopes and a common creed, that the dreams of a little girl in Tucson are not so different than those of our own children, that they all deserve the chance to be fulfilled. That too is what sets us apart as a nation. Now, by itself, this simple recognition won’t usher in a new era of cooperation. What comes of this moment is up to us. What comes of this moment will be determined not by whether we can sit together tonight, but whether we can work together tomorrow. I believe we can, and I believe we must. That’s what the people who sent us here expect of us. With their votes, they’ve determined that governing will now be a shared responsibility between parties. New laws will only pass with support from Democrats and Republicans. We will move forward together or not at all, for the challenges we face are bigger than party and bigger than politics. At stake right now is not who wins the next election. After all, we just had an election. At stake is whether new jobs and industries take root in this country or somewhere else. It’s whether the hard work and industry of our people is rewarded. It’s whether we sustain the leadership that has made America not just a place on a map, but the light to the world. We are poised for progress. Two years after the worst recession most of us have ever known, the stock market has come roaring back, corporate profits are up, the economy is growing again. But we have never measured progress by these yardsticks alone. We measure progress by the success of our people, by the jobs they can find and the quality of life those jobs offer, by the prospects of a small-business owner who dreams of turning a good idea into a thriving enterprise, by the opportunities for a better life that we pass on to our children. That’s the project the American people want us to work on–together. Now, we did that in December. Thanks to the tax cuts we passed, Americans’ paychecks are a little bigger today. Every business can write off the full cost of new investments that they make this year. And these steps, taken by Democrats and Republicans, will grow the economy and add to the more than 1 million private sector jobs created last year. But we have to do more. These steps we’ve taken over the last 2 years may have broken the back of this recession, but to win the future, we’ll need to take on challenges that have been decades in the making. Many people watching tonight can probably remember a time when finding a good job meant showing up at a nearby factory or a business downtown. You didn’t always need a degree, and your competition was pretty much limited to your neighbors. If you worked hard, chances are you’d have a job for life, with a decent paycheck and good benefits and the occasional promotion. Maybe you’d even have the pride of seeing your kids work at the same company. That world has changed. And for many, the change has been painful. I’ve seen it in the shuttered windows of once booming factories and the vacant storefronts on once busy Main Streets. I’ve heard it in the frustrations of Americans who’ve seen their paychecks dwindle or their jobs disappear, proud men and women who feel like the rules have been changed in the middle of the game. They’re right. The rules have changed. In a single generation, revolutions in technology have transformed the way we live, work, and do business. Steel mills that once needed 1,000 workers can now do the same work with 100. Today, just about any company can set up shop, hire workers, and sell their products wherever there’s an Internet connection. Meanwhile, nations like China and India realized that with some changes of their own, they could compete in this new world. And so they started educating their children earlier and longer, with greater emphasis on math and science. They’re investing in research and new technologies. Just recently, China became the home to the world’s largest private solar research facility and the world’s fastest computer. So yes, the world is changed. The competition for jobs is real. But this shouldn’t discourage us. It should challenge us. Remember, for all the hits we’ve taken these last few years, for all the naysayers predicting our decline, America still has the largest, most prosperous economy in the world. No workers are more productive than ours. No country has more successful companies or grants more patents to inventors and entrepreneurs. We’re the home to the world’s best colleges and universities, where more students come to study than any place on Earth. What’s more, we are the first nation to be founded for the sake of an idea: the idea that each of us deserves the chance to shape our own destiny. That’s why centuries of pioneers and immigrants have risked everything to come here. It’s why our students don’t just memorize equations, but answer questions like: “What do you think of that idea? What would you change about the world? What do you want to be when you grow up?” The future is ours to win. But to get there, we can’t just stand still. As Robert Kennedy told us: “The future is not a gift. It is an achievement.” Sustaining the American Dream has never been about standing pat. It has required each generation to sacrifice and struggle and meet the demands of a new age. And now it’s our turn. We know what it takes to compete for the jobs and industries of our time. We need to outinnovate, outeducate, and outbuild the rest of the world. We have to make America the best place on Earth to do business. We need to take responsibility for our deficit and reform our Government. That’s how our people will prosper. That’s how we’ll win the future. And tonight I’d like to talk about how we get there. The first step in winning the future is encouraging American innovation. None of us can predict with certainty what the next big industry will be or where the new jobs will come from. Thirty years ago, we couldn’t know that something called the Internet would lead to an economic revolution. What we can do–what America does better than anyone else–is spark the creativity and imagination of our people. We’re the nation that put cars in driveways and computers in offices; the nation of Edison and the Wright brothers, of Google and Facebook. In America, innovation doesn’t just change our lives. It is how we make our living. Our free enterprise system is what drives innovation. But because it’s not always profitable for companies to invest in basic research, throughout our history, our Government has provided cutting-edge scientists and inventors with the support that they need. That’s what planted the seeds for the Internet. That’s what helped make possible things like computer chips and GPS. Just think of all the good jobs–from manufacturing to retail–that have come from these breakthroughs. Half a century ago, when the Soviets beat us into space with the launch of a satellite called Sputnik, we had no idea how we would beat them to the Moon. The science wasn’t even there yet. NASA didn’t exist. But after investing in better research and education, we didn’t just surpass the Soviets, we unleashed a wave of innovation that created new industries and millions of new jobs. This is our generation’s Sputnik moment. Two years ago, I said that we needed to reach a level of research and development we haven’t seen since the height of the space race. And in a few weeks, I will be sending a budget to Congress that helps us meet that goal. We’ll invest in biomedical research, information technology, and especially clean energy technology, an investment that will strengthen our security, protect our planet, and create countless new jobs for our people. Already, we’re seeing the promise of renewable energy. Robert and Gary Allen are brothers who run a small Michigan roofing company. After September 11, they volunteered their best roofers to help repair the Pentagon. But half of their factory went unused, and the recession hit them hard. Today, with the help of a Government loan, that empty space is being used to manufacture solar shingles that are being sold all across the country. In Robert’s words, “We reinvented ourselves.” That’s what Americans have done for over 200 years: reinvented ourselves. And to spur on more success stories like the Allen Brothers, we’ve begun to reinvent our energy policy. We’re not just handing out money. We’re issuing a challenge. We’re telling America’s scientists and engineers that if they assemble teams of the best minds in their fields and focus on the hardest problems in clean energy, we’ll fund the Apollo projects of our time. At the California Institute of Technology, they’re developing a way to turn sunlight and water into fuel for our cars. At Oak Ridge National Laboratory, they’re using supercomputers to get a lot more power out of our nuclear facilities. With more research and incentives, we can break our dependence on oil with biofuels and become the first country to have a million electric vehicles on the road by 2015. We need to get behind this innovation. And to help pay for it, I’m asking Congress to eliminate the billions in taxpayer dollars we currently give to oil companies. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but they’re doing just fine on their own. [Laughter] So instead of subsidizing yesterday’s energy, let’s invest in tomorrow’s. Now, clean energy breakthroughs will only translate into clean energy jobs if businesses know there will be a market for what they’re selling. So tonight I challenge you to join me in setting a new goal: By 2035, 80 percent of America’s electricity will come from clean energy sources. Some folks want wind and solar. Others want nuclear, clean coal, and natural gas. To meet this goal, we will need them all, and I urge Democrats and Republicans to work together to make it happen. Maintaining our leadership in research and technology is crucial to America’s success. But if we want to win the future, if we want innovation to produce jobs in America and not overseas, then we also have to win the race to educate our kids. Think about it. Over the next 10 years, nearly half of all new jobs will require education that goes beyond a high school education. And yet as many as a quarter of our students aren’t even finishing high school. The quality of our math and science education lags behind many other nations. America has fallen to ninth in the proportion of young people with a college degree. And so the question is whether all of us, as citizens and as parents, are willing to do what’s necessary to give every child a chance to succeed. That responsibility begins not in our classrooms, but in our homes and communities. It’s family that first instills the love of learning in a child. Only parents can make sure the TV is turned off and homework gets done. We need to teach our kids that it’s not just the winner of the Super Bowl who deserves to be celebrated, but the winner of the science fair. We need to teach them that success is not a function of fame or PR, but of hard work and discipline. Our schools share this responsibility. When a child walks into a classroom, it should be a place of high expectations and high performance. But too many schools don’t meet this test. That’s why instead of just pouring money into a system that’s not working, we launched a competition called Race to the Top. To all 50 States, we said, “If you show us the most innovative plans to improve teacher quality and student achievement, we’ll show you the money.” Race to the Top is the most meaningful reform of our public schools in a generation. For less than 1 percent of what we spend on education each year, it has led over 40 States to raise their standards for teaching and learning. And these standards were developed, by the way, not by Washington, but by Republican and Democratic Governors throughout the country. And Race to the Top should be the approach we follow this year as we replace No Child Left Behind with a law that’s more flexible and focused on what’s best for our kids. You see, we know what’s possible from our children when reform isn’t just a top-down mandate, but the work of local teachers and principals, school boards and communities. Take a school like Bruce Randolph in Denver. Three years ago, it was rated one of the worst schools in Colorado, located on turf between two rival gangs. But last May, 97 percent of the seniors received their diploma. Most will be the first in their families to go to college. And after the first year of the school’s transformation, the principal who made it possible wiped away tears when a student said, “Thank you, Ms. Waters, for showing that we are smart and we can make it.” That’s what good schools can do, and we want good schools all across the country. Let’s also remember that after parents, the biggest impact on a child’s success comes from the man or woman at the front of the classroom. In South Korea, teachers are known as nation builders. Here in America, it’s time we treated the people who educate our children with the same level of respect. We want to reward good teachers and stop making excuses for bad ones. And over the next 10 years, with so many baby boomers retiring from our classrooms, we want to prepare 100,000 new teachers in the fields of science and technology and engineering and math. In fact, to every young person listening tonight who’s contemplating their career choice: If you want to make a difference in the life of our Nation, if you want to make a difference in the life of a child, become a teacher. Your country needs you. Of course, the education race doesn’t end with a high school diploma. To compete, higher education must be within the reach of every American. That’s why we’ve ended the unwarranted taxpayer subsidies that went to banks and used the savings to make college affordable for millions of students. And this year, I ask Congress to go further and make permanent our tuition tax credit, worth $10,000 for 4 years of college. It’s the right thing to do. Because people need to be able to train for new jobs and careers in today’s fast-changing economy, we’re also revitalizing America’s community colleges. Last month, I saw the promise of these schools at Forsyth Tech in North Carolina. Many of the students there used to work in the surrounding factories that have since left town. One mother of two, a woman named Kathy Proctor, had worked in the furniture industry since she was 18 years old. And she told me she’s earning her degree in biotechnology now, at 55 years old, not just because the furniture jobs are gone, but because she wants to inspire her children to pursue their dreams too. As Kathy said, “I hope it tells them to never give up.” If we take these steps, if we raise expectations for every child and give them the best possible chance at an education, from the day they are born until the last job they take, we will reach the goal that I set 2 years ago: By the end of the decade, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world. One last point about education: Today, there are hundreds of thousands of students excelling in our schools who are not American citizens. Some are the children of undocumented workers, who had nothing to do with the actions of their parents. They grew up as Americans and pledge allegiance to our flag, and yet they live every day with the threat of deportation. Others come here from abroad to study in our colleges and universities. But as soon as they obtain advanced degrees, we send them back home to compete against us. It makes no sense. Now, I strongly believe that we should take on, once and for all, the issue of illegal immigration. And I am prepared to work with Republicans and Democrats to protect our borders, enforce our laws, and address the millions of undocumented workers who are now living in the shadows. I know that debate will be difficult. I know it will take time. But tonight, let’s agree to make that effort. And let’s stop expelling talented, responsible young people who could be staffing our research labs or starting a new business, who could be further enriching this Nation. The third step in winning the future is rebuilding America. To attract new businesses to our shores, we need the fastest, most reliable ways to move people, goods, and information, from high-speed rail to high-speed Internet. Our infrastructure used to be the best, but our lead has slipped. South Korean homes now have greater Internet access than we do. Countries in Europe and Russia invest more in their roads and railways than we do. China is building faster trains and newer airports. Meanwhile, when our own engineers graded our Nation’s infrastructure, they gave us a D. We have to do better. America is the nation that built the transcontinental railroad, brought electricity to rural communities, constructed the Interstate Highway System. The jobs created by these projects didn’t just come from laying down track or pavement. They came from businesses that opened near a town’s new train station or the new off-ramp. So over the last 2 years, we’ve begun rebuilding for the 21st century, a project that has meant thousands of good jobs for the hard-hit construction industry. And tonight I’m proposing that we redouble those efforts. We’ll put more Americans to work repairing crumbling roads and bridges. We’ll make sure this is fully paid for, attract private investment, and pick projects based [on]* what’s best for the economy, not politicians. Within 25 years, our goal is to give 80 percent of Americans access to high-speed rail. This could allow you to go places in half the time it takes to travel by car. For some trips, it will be faster than flying, without the pat-down. [Laughter] As we speak, routes in California and the Midwest are already underway. Within the next 5 years, we’ll make it possible for businesses to deploy the next generation of high-speed wireless coverage to 98 percent of all Americans. This isn’t just about–this isn’t about faster Internet or fewer dropped calls. It’s about connecting every part of America to the digital age. It’s about a rural community in Iowa or Alabama where farmers and small-business owners will be able to sell their products all over the world. It’s about a firefighter who can download the design of a burning building onto a handheld device, a student who can take classes with a digital textbook, or a patient who can have face-to-face video chats with her doctor. All these investments–in innovation, education, and infrastructure–will make America a better place to do business and create jobs. But to help our companies compete, we also have to knock down barriers that stand in the way of their success. For example, over the years, a parade of lobbyists has rigged the Tax Code to benefit particular companies and industries. Those with accountants or lawyers to work the system can end up paying no taxes at all. But all the rest are hit with one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world. It makes no sense, and it has to change. So tonight I’m asking Democrats and Republicans to simplify the system, get rid of the loopholes, level the playing field, and use the savings to lower the corporate tax rate for the first time in 25 years without adding to our deficit. It can be done. To help businesses sell more products abroad, we set a goal of doubling our exports by 2014. Because the more we export, the more jobs we create here at home. Already, our exports are up. Recently, we signed agreements with India and China that will support more than 250,000 jobs here in the United States. And last month, we finalized a trade agreement with South Korea that will support at least 70,000 American jobs. This agreement has unprecedented support from business and labor, Democrats and Republicans, and I ask this Congress to pass it as soon as possible. Now, before I took office, I made it clear that we would enforce our trade agreements and that I would only sign deals that keep faith with American workers and promote American jobs. That’s what we did with Korea, and that’s what I intend to do as we pursue agreements with Panama and Colombia and continue our Asia-Pacific and global trade talks. To reduce barriers to growth and investment, I’ve ordered a review of Government regulations. When we find rules that put an unnecessary burden on businesses, we will fix them. But I will not hesitate to create or enforce commonsense safeguards to protect the American people. That’s what we’ve done in this country for more than a century. It’s why our food is safe to eat, our water is safe to drink, and our air is safe to breathe. It’s why we have speed limits and child labor laws. It’s why last year, we put in place consumer protections against hidden fees and penalties by credit card companies and new rules to prevent another financial crisis. And it’s why we passed reform that finally prevents the health insurance industry from exploiting patients. Now, I have heard rumors that a few of you still have concerns about our new health care law. [Laughter] So let me be the first to say that anything can be improved. If you have ideas about how to improve this law by making care better or more affordable, I am eager to work with you. We can start right now by correcting a flaw in the legislation that has placed an unnecessary bookkeeping burden on small businesses. What I’m not willing to do–what I’m not willing to do–is go back to the days when insurance companies could deny someone coverage because of a preexisting condition. I’m not willing to tell James Howard, a brain cancer patient from Texas, that his treatment might not be covered. I’m not willing to tell Jim Houser, a small-businessman from Oregon, that he has to go back to paying $5,000 more to cover his employees. As we speak, this law is making prescription drugs cheaper for seniors and giving uninsured students a chance to stay on their patients’–parents’ coverage. So I say to this Chamber tonight: Instead of refighting the battles of the last 2 years, let’s fix what needs fixing, and let’s move forward. Now, the final critical step in winning the future is to make sure we aren’t buried under a mountain of debt. We are living with a legacy of deficit spending that began almost a decade ago. And in the wake of the financial crisis, some of that was necessary to keep credit flowing, save jobs, and put money in people’s pockets. But now that the worst of the recession is over, we have to confront the fact that our Government spends more than it takes in. That is not sustainable. Every day, families sacrifice to live within their means. They deserve a Government that does the same. So tonight I am proposing that starting this year, we freeze annual domestic spending for the next 5 years. Now, this would reduce the deficit by more than $400 billion over the next decade and will bring discretionary spending to the lowest share of our economy since Dwight Eisenhower was President. This freeze will require painful cuts. Already, we’ve frozen the salaries of hard-working Federal employees for the next 2 years. I’ve proposed cuts to things I care deeply about, like community action programs. The Secretary of Defense has also agreed to cut tens of billions of dollars in spending that he and his generals believe our military can do without. Now, I recognize that some in this Chamber have already proposed deeper cuts, and I’m willing to eliminate whatever we can honestly afford to do without. But let’s make sure that we’re not doing it on the backs of our most vulnerable citizens. And let’s make sure that what we’re cutting is really excess weight. Cutting the deficit by gutting our investments in innovation and education is like lightening an overloaded airplane by removing its engine. It may make you feel like you’re flying high at first, but it won’t take long before you feel the impact. [Laughter] Now, most of the cuts and savings I’ve proposed only address annual domestic spending, which represents a little more than 12 percent of our budget. To make further progress, we have to stop pretending that cutting this kind of spending alone will be enough. It won’t. The bipartisan fiscal commission I created last year made this crystal clear. I don’t agree with all their proposals, but they made important progress. And their conclusion is that the only way to tackle our deficit is to cut excessive spending wherever we find it, in domestic spending, defense spending, health care spending, and spending through tax breaks and loopholes. This means further reducing health care costs, including programs like Medicare and Medicaid, which are the single biggest contributor to our long-term deficit. The health insurance law we passed last year will slow these rising costs, which is part of the reason that nonpartisan economists have said that repealing the health care law would add a quarter of a trillion dollars to our deficit. Still, I’m willing to look at other ideas to bring down costs, including one that Republicans suggested last year: medical malpractice reform to rein in frivolous lawsuits. To put us on solid ground, we should also find a bipartisan solution to strengthen Social Security for future generations. We must do it without putting at risk current retirees, the most vulnerable, or people with disabilities, without slashing benefits for future generations, and without subjecting Americans’ guaranteed retirement income to the whims of the stock market. And if we truly care about our deficit, we simply can’t afford a permanent extension of the tax cuts for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans. Before we take money away from our schools or scholarships away from our students, we should ask millionaires to give up their tax break. It’s not a matter of punishing their success, it’s about promoting America’s success. In fact, the best thing we could do on taxes for all Americans is to simplify the individual Tax Code. This will be a tough job, but members of both parties have expressed an interest in doing this, and I am prepared to join them. So now is the time to act. Now is the time for both sides and both Houses of Congress, Democrats and Republicans, to forge a principled compromise that gets the job done. If we make the hard choices now to rein in our deficits, we can make the investments we need to win the future. Let me take this one step further. We shouldn’t just give our people a Government that’s more affordable, we should give them a Government that’s more competent and more efficient. We can’t win the future with a Government of the past. We live and do business in the Information Age, but the last major reorganization of the Government happened in the age of black-and-white TV. There are 12 different agencies that deal with exports. There are at least five different agencies that deal with housing policy. Then there’s my favorite example: The Interior Department is in charge of salmon while they’re in fresh water, but the Commerce Department handles them when they’re in saltwater. [Laughter] I hear it gets even more complicated once they’re smoked. [Laughter] Now, we’ve made great strides over the last 2 years in using technology and getting rid of waste. Veterans can now download their electronic medical records with a click of the mouse. We’re selling acres of Federal office space that hasn’t been used in years, and we’ll cut through redtape to get rid of more. But we need to think bigger. In the coming months, my administration will develop a proposal to merge, consolidate, and reorganize the Federal Government in a way that best serves the goal of a more competitive America. I will submit that proposal to Congress for a vote, and we will push to get it passed. In the coming year, we’ll also work to rebuild people’s faith in the institution of Government. Because you deserve to know exactly how and where your tax dollars are being spent, you’ll be able to go to a web site and get that information for the very first time in history. Because you deserve to know when your elected officials are meeting with lobbyists, I ask Congress to do what the White House has already done: put that information online. And because the American people deserve to know that special interests aren’t larding up legislation with pet projects, both parties in Congress should know this: If a bill comes to my desk with earmarks inside, I will veto it. I will veto it. The 21st-century Government that’s open and competent, a government that lives within its means, an economy that’s driven by new skills and new ideas–our success in this new and changing world will require reform, responsibility, and innovation. It will also require us to approach that world with a new level of engagement in our foreign affairs. Just as jobs and businesses can now race across borders, so can new threats and new challenges. No single wall separates East and West. No one rival superpower is aligned against us. And so we must defeat determined enemies, wherever they are, and build coalitions that cut across lines of region and race and religion. And America’s moral example must always shine for all who yearn for freedom and justice and dignity. And because we’ve begun this work, tonight we can say that American leadership has been renewed and America’s standing has been restored. Look to Iraq, where nearly 100,000 of our brave men and women have left with their heads held high. American combat patrols have ended, violence is down, and a new Government has been formed. This year, our civilians will forge a lasting partnership with the Iraqi people, while we finish the job of bringing our troops out of Iraq. America’s commitment has been kept. The Iraq war is coming to an end. Of course, as we speak, Al Qaida and their affiliates continue to plan attacks against us. Thanks to our intelligence and law enforcement professionals, we’re disrupting plots and securing our cities and skies. And as extremists try to inspire acts of violence within our borders, we are responding with the strength of our communities, with respect for the rule of law, and with the conviction that American Muslims are a part of our American family. We’ve also taken the fight to Al Qaida and their allies abroad. In Afghanistan, our troops have taken Taliban strongholds and trained Afghan security forces. Our purpose is clear: By preventing the Taliban from reestablishing a stranglehold over the Afghan people, we will deny Al Qaida the safe haven that served as a launching pad for 9/11. Thanks to our heroic troops and civilians, fewer Afghans are under the control of the insurgency. There will be tough fighting ahead, and the Afghan Government will need to deliver better governance. But we are strengthening the capacity of the Afghan people and building an enduring partnership with them. This year, we will work with nearly 50 countries to begin a transition to an Afghan lead, and this July, we will begin to bring our troops home. In Pakistan, Al Qaida’s leadership is under more pressure than at any point since 2001. Their leaders and operatives are being removed from the battlefield. Their safe havens are shrinking. And we’ve sent a message from the Afghan border to the Arabian Peninsula to all parts of the globe: We will not relent, we will not waver, and we will defeat you. American leadership can also be seen in the effort to secure the worst weapons of war. Because Republicans and Democrats approved the new START Treaty, far fewer nuclear weapons and launchers will be deployed. Because we rallied the world, nuclear materials are being locked down on every continent so they never fall into the hands of terrorists. Because of a diplomatic effort to insist that Iran meet its obligations, the Iranian Government now faces tougher sanctions, tighter sanctions than ever before. And on the Korean Peninsula, we stand with our ally South Korea and insist that North Korea keeps its commitment to abandon nuclear weapons. This is just a part of how we’re shaping a world that favors peace and prosperity. With our European allies, we revitalized NATO and increased our cooperation on everything from counterterrorism to missile defense. We’ve reset our relationship with Russia, strengthened Asian alliances, built new partnerships with nations like India. This March, I will travel to Brazil, Chile, and El Salvador to forge new alliances across the Americas. Around the globe, we’re standing with those who take responsibility, helping farmers grow more food, supporting doctors who care for the sick, and combating the corruption that can rot a society and rob people of opportunity. Recent events have shown us that what sets us apart must not just be our power; it must also be the purpose behind it. In south Sudan–with our assistance–the people were finally able to vote for independence after years of war. Thousands lined up before dawn. People danced in the streets. One man who lost four of his brothers at war summed up the scene around him. “This was a battlefield for most of my life,” he said. “Now we want to be free.” And we saw that same desire to be free in Tunisia, where the will of the people proved more powerful than the writ of a dictator. And tonight let us be clear: The United States of America stands with the people of Tunisia and supports the democratic aspirations of all people. We must never forget that the things we’ve struggled for and fought for live in the hearts of people everywhere. And we must always remember that the Americans who have borne the greatest burden in this struggle are the men and women who serve our country. Tonight let us speak with one voice in reaffirming that our Nation is united in support of our troops and their families. Let us serve them as well as they’ve served us, by giving them the equipment they need, by providing them with the care and benefits that they have earned, and by enlisting our veterans in the great task of building our own Nation. Our troops come from every corner of this country. They’re Black, White, Latino, Asian, Native American. They are Christian and Hindu, Jewish and Muslim. And yes, we know that some of them are gay. Starting this year, no American will be forbidden from serving the country they love because of who they love. And with that change, I call on all our college campuses to open their doors to our military recruiters and ROTC. It is time to leave behind the divisive battles of the past. It is time to move forward as one Nation. We should have no illusions about the work ahead of us. Reforming our schools, changing the way we use energy, reducing our deficit, none of this will be easy. All of it will take time. And it will be harder because we will argue about everything: the costs, the details, the letter of every law. Of course, some countries don’t have this problem. If the central government wants a railroad, they build a railroad, no matter how many homes get bulldozed. If they don’t want a bad story in the newspaper, it doesn’t get written. And yet, as contentious and frustrating and messy as our democracy can sometimes be, I know there isn’t a person here who would trade places with any other nation on Earth. We may have differences in policy, but we all believe in the rights enshrined in our Constitution. We may have different opinions, but we believe in the same promise that says this is a place where you can make it if you try. We may have different backgrounds, but we believe in the same dream that says this is a country where anything is possible, no matter who you are, no matter where you come from. That dream is why I can stand here before you tonight. That dream is why a working class kid from Scranton can sit behind me. [Laughter] That dream is why someone who began by sweeping the floors of his father’s Cincinnati bar can preside as Speaker of the House in the greatest nation on Earth. That dream–that American Dream–is what drove the Allen Brothers to reinvent their roofing company for a new era. It’s what drove those students at Forsyth Tech to learn a new skill and work towards the future. And that dream is the story of a small-business owner named Brandon Fisher. Brandon started a company in Berlin, Pennsylvania, that specializes in a new kind of drilling technology. And one day last summer, he saw the news that halfway across the world, 33 men were trapped in a Chilean mine, and no one knew how to save them. But Brandon thought his company could help. And so he designed a rescue that would come to be known as Plan B. His employees worked around the clock to manufacture the necessary drilling equipment, and Brandon left for Chile. Along with others, he began drilling a 2,000-foot hole into the ground, working 3 or 4 hour–3 or 4 days at a time without any sleep. Thirty-seven days later, Plan B succeeded and the miners were rescued. But because he didn’t want all of the attention, Brandon wasn’t there when the miners emerged. He’d already gone back home, back to work on his next project. And later, one of his employees said of the rescue, “We proved that Center Rock is a little company, but we do big things.” We do big things. From the earliest days of our founding, America has been the story of ordinary people who dare to dream. That’s how we win the future. We’re a nation that says, “I might not have a lot of money, but I have this great idea for a new company.” “I might not come from a family of college graduates, but I will be the first to get my degree.” “I might not know those people in trouble, but I think I can help them, and I need to try.” “I’m not sure how we’ll reach that better place beyond the horizon, but I know we’ll get there. I know we will.” We do big things. The idea of America endures. Our destiny remains our choice. And tonight, more than two centuries later, it’s because of our people that our future is hopeful, our journey goes forward, and the state of our Union is strong. Thank you. God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.	Barack Obama	2011	2009-2013	Democratic	speech	231
232	Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans: Last month, I went to Andrews Air Force Base and welcomed home some of our last troops to serve in Iraq. Together, we offered a final, proud salute to the colors under which more than a million of our fellow citizens fought and several thousand gave their lives. We gather tonight knowing that this generation of heroes has made the United States safer and more respected around the world. For the first time in 9 years, there are no Americans fighting in Iraq. For the first time in two decades, Usama bin Laden is not a threat to this country. Most of Al Qaida’s top lieutenants have been defeated. The Taliban’s momentum has been broken, and some troops in Afghanistan have begun to come home. These achievements are a testament to the courage, selflessness, and teamwork of America’s Armed Forces. At a time when too many of our institutions have let us down, they exceed all expectations. They’re not consumed with personal ambition. They don’t obsess over their differences. They focus on the mission at hand. They work together. Imagine what we could accomplish if we followed their example. Think about the America within our reach: a country that leads the world in educating its people; an America that attracts a new generation of high-tech manufacturing and high-paying jobs; a future where we’re in control of our own energy and our security and prosperity aren’t so tied to unstable parts of the world; an economy built to last, where hard work pays off and responsibility is rewarded. We can do this. I know we can, because we’ve done it before. At the end of World War II, when another generation of heroes returned home from combat, they built the strongest economy and middle class the world has ever known. My grandfather, a veteran of Patton’s army, got the chance to go to college on the GI bill. My grandmother, who worked on a bomber assembly line, was part of a workforce that turned out the best products on Earth. The two of them shared the optimism of a nation that had triumphed over a depression and fascism. They understood they were part of something larger, that they were contributing to a story of success that every American had a chance to share, the basic American promise that if you worked hard, you could do well enough to raise a family, own a home, send your kids to college, and put a little away for retirement. The defining issue of our time is how to keep that promise alive. No challenge is more urgent. No debate is more important. We can either settle for a country where a shrinking number of people do really well while a growing number of Americans barely get by. Or we can restore an economy where everyone gets a fair shot and everyone does their fair share and everyone plays by the same set of rules. What’s at stake aren’t Democratic values or Republican values, but American values. And we have to reclaim them. Let’s remember how we got here. Long before the recession, jobs and manufacturing began leaving our shores. Technology made businesses more efficient, but also made some jobs obsolete. Folks at the top saw their incomes rise like never before, but most hard-working Americans struggled with costs that were growing, paychecks that weren’t, and personal debt that kept piling up. In 2008, the house of cards collapsed. We learned that mortgages had been sold to people who couldn’t afford or understand them. Banks had made huge bets and bonuses with other people’s money. Regulators had looked the other way or didn’t have the authority to stop the bad behavior. It was wrong, it was irresponsible, and it plunged our economy into a crisis that put millions out of work, saddled us with more debt, and left innocent, hard-working Americans holding the bag. In the 6 months before I took office, we lost nearly 4 million jobs. And we lost another 4 million before our policies were in full effect. Those are the facts. But so are these: In the last 22 months, businesses have created more than 3 million jobs. Last year, they created the most jobs since 2005. American manufacturers are hiring again, creating jobs for the first time since the late 1990s. Together, we’ve agreed to cut the deficit by more than $2 trillion. And we’ve put in place new rules to hold Wall Street accountable so a crisis like this never happens again. The state of our Union is getting stronger. And we’ve come too far to turn back now. As long as I’m President, I will work with anyone in this Chamber to build on this momentum. But I intend to fight obstruction with action, and I will oppose any effort to return to the very same policies that brought on this economic crisis in the first place. No, we will not go back to an economy weakened by outsourcing, bad debt, and phony financial profits. Tonight I want to speak about how we move forward and lay out a blueprint for an economy that’s built to last, an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values. Now, this blueprint begins with American manufacturing. On the day I took office, our auto industry was on the verge of collapse. Some even said we should let it die. With a million jobs at stake, I refused to let that happen. In exchange for help, we demanded responsibility. We got workers and automakers to settle their differences. We got the industry to retool and restructure. Today, General Motors is back on top as the world’s number-one automaker. Chrysler has grown faster in the U.S. than any major car company. Ford is investing billions in U.S. plants and factories. And together, the entire industry added nearly a hundred and sixty thousand jobs. We bet on American workers. We bet on American ingenuity. And tonight, the American auto industry is back. What’s happening in Detroit can happen in other industries. It can happen in Cleveland and Pittsburgh and Raleigh. We can’t bring every job back that’s left our shore. But right now it’s getting more expensive to do business in places like China. Meanwhile, America is more productive. A few weeks ago, the CEO of Master Lock told me that it now makes business sense for him to bring jobs back home. Today, for the first time in 15 years, Master Lock’s unionized plant in Milwaukee is running at full capacity. So we have a huge opportunity at this moment to bring manufacturing back. But we have to seize it. Tonight my message to business leaders is simple: Ask yourselves what you can do to bring jobs back to your country, and your country will do everything we can to help you succeed. We should start with our Tax Code. Right now companies get tax breaks for moving jobs and profits overseas. Meanwhile, companies that choose to stay in America get hit with one of the highest tax rates in the world. It makes no sense, and everyone knows it. So let’s change it. First, if you’re a business that wants to outsource jobs, you shouldn’t get a tax deduction for doing it. That money should be used to cover moving expenses for companies like Master Lock that decide to bring jobs home. Second, no American company should be able to avoid paying its fair share of taxes by moving jobs and profits overseas. From now on, every multinational company should have to pay a basic minimum tax. And every penny should go towards lowering taxes for companies that choose to stay here and hire here in America. Third, if you’re an American manufacturer, you should get a bigger tax cut. If you’re a high-tech manufacturer, we should double the tax deduction you get for making your products here. And if you want to relocate in a community that was hit hard when a factory left town, you should get help financing a new plant, equipment, or training for new workers. So my message is simple: It is time to stop rewarding businesses that ship jobs overseas, and start rewarding companies that create jobs right here in America. Send me these tax reforms, and I will sign them right away. We’re also making it easier for American businesses to sell products all over the world. Two years ago, I set a goal of doubling U.S. exports over 5 years. With the bipartisan trade agreements we signed into law, we’re on track to meet that goal ahead of schedule. And soon there will be millions of new customers for American goods in Panama, Colombia, and South Korea. Soon there will be new cars on the streets of Seoul imported from Detroit and Toledo and Chicago. I will go anywhere in the world to open new markets for American products. And I will not stand by when our competitors don’t play by the rules. We’ve brought trade cases against China at nearly twice the rate as the last administration, and it’s made a difference. Over a thousand Americans are working today because we stopped a surge in Chinese tires. But we need to do more. It’s not right when another country lets our movies, music, and software be pirated. It’s not fair when foreign manufacturers have a leg up on ours only because they’re heavily subsidized. Tonight I’m announcing the creation of a trade enforcement unit that will be charged with investigating unfair trading practices in countries like China. There will be more inspections to prevent counterfeit or unsafe goods from crossing our borders. And this Congress should make sure that no foreign company has an advantage over American manufacturing when it comes to accessing financing or new markets like Russia. Our workers are the most productive on Earth, and if the playing field is level, I promise you, America will always win. I also hear from many business leaders who want to hire in the United States, but can’t find workers with the right skills. Growing industries in science and technology have twice as many openings as we have workers who can do the job. Think about that: openings at a time when millions of Americans are looking for work. It’s inexcusable, and we know how to fix it. Jackie Bray is a single mom from North Carolina who was laid off from her job as a mechanic. Then Siemens opened a gas turbine factory in Charlotte and formed a partnership with Central Piedmont Community College. The company helped the college design courses in laser and robotics training. It paid Jackie’s tuition, then hired her to help operate their plant. I want every American looking for work to have the same opportunity as Jackie did. Join me in a national commitment to train 2 million Americans with skills that will lead directly to a job. My administration has already lined up more companies that want to help. Model partnerships between businesses like Siemens and community colleges in places like Charlotte and Orlando and Louisville are up and running. Now you need to give more community colleges the resources they need to become community career centers, places that teach people skills that businesses are looking for right now, from data management to high-tech manufacturing. And I want to cut through the maze of confusing training programs so that from now on, people like Jackie have one program, one web site, and one place to go for all the information and help that they need. It is time to turn our unemployment system into a reemployment system that puts people to work. These reforms will help people get jobs that are open today. But to prepare for the jobs of tomorrow, our commitment to skills and education has to start earlier. For less than 1 percent of what our Nation spends on education each year, we’ve convinced nearly every State in the country to raise their standards for teaching and learning, the first time that’s happened in a generation. But challenges remain, and we know how to solve them. At a time when other countries are doubling down on education, tight budgets have forced States to lay off thousands of teachers. We know a good teacher can increase the lifetime income of a classroom by over $250,000. A great teacher can offer an escape from poverty to the child who dreams beyond his circumstance. Every person in this Chamber can point to a teacher who changed the trajectory of their lives. Most teachers work tirelessly, with modest pay, sometimes digging into their own pocket for school supplies, just to make a difference. Teachers matter. So instead of bashing them or defending the status quo, let’s offer schools a deal. Give them the resources to keep good teachers on the job and reward the best ones. And in return, grant schools flexibility to teach with creativity and passion, to stop teaching to the test, and to replace teachers who just aren’t helping kids learn. That’s a bargain worth making. We also know that when students don’t walk away from their education, more of them walk the stage to get their diploma. When students are not allowed to drop out, they do better. So tonight I am proposing that every State-;every State-;requires that all students stay in high school until they graduate or turn 18. When kids do graduate, the most daunting challenge can be the cost of college. At a time when Americans owe more in tuition debt than credit card debt, this Congress needs to stop the interest rates on student loans from doubling in July. Extend the tuition tax credit we started that saves millions of middle class families thousands of dollars and give more young people the chance to earn their way through college by doubling the number of work-study jobs in the next 5 years. Of course, it’s not enough for us to increase student aid. We can’t just keep subsidizing skyrocketing tuition; we’ll run out of money. States also need to do their part by making higher education a higher priority in their budgets. And colleges and universities have to do their part by working to keep costs down. Recently, I spoke with a group of college presidents who have done just that. Some schools redesign courses to help students finish more quickly. Some use better technology. The point is, it’s possible. So let me put colleges and universities on notice: If you can’t stop tuition from going up, the funding you get from taxpayers will go down. Higher education can’t be a luxury. It is an economic imperative that every family in America should be able to afford. Let’s also remember that hundreds of thousands of talented, hard-working students in this country face another challenge: the fact that they aren’t yet American citizens. Many were brought here as small children, are American through and through, yet they live every day with the threat of deportation. Others came more recently, to study business and science and engineering, but as soon as they get their degree, we send them home to invent new products and create new jobs somewhere else. That doesn’t make sense. I believe as strongly as ever that we should take on illegal immigration. That’s why my administration has put more boots on the border than ever before. That’s why there are fewer illegal crossings than when I took office. The opponents of action are out of excuses. We should be working on comprehensive immigration reform right now. But if election-year politics keeps Congress from acting on a comprehensive plan, let’s at least agree to stop expelling responsible young people who want to staff our labs, start new businesses, defend this country. Send me a law that gives them the chance to earn their citizenship. I will sign it right away. You see, an economy built to last is one where we encourage the talent and ingenuity of every person in this country. That means women should earn equal pay for equal work. It means we should support everyone who’s willing to work and every risk taker and entrepreneur who aspires to become the next Steve Jobs. After all, innovation is what America has always been about. Most new jobs are created in startups and small businesses. So let’s pass an agenda that helps them succeed. Tear down regulations that prevent aspiring entrepreneurs from getting the financing to grow. Expand tax relief to small businesses that are raising wages and creating good jobs. Both parties agree on these ideas. So put them in a bill and get it on my desk this year. Innovation also demands basic research. Today, the discoveries taking place in our federally financed labs and universities could lead to new treatments that kill cancer cells, but leave healthy ones untouched, new lightweight vests for cops and soldiers that can stop any bullet. Don’t gut these investments in our budget. Don’t let other countries win the race for the future. Support the same kind of research and innovation that led to the computer chip and the Internet, to new American jobs and new American industries. And nowhere is the promise of innovation greater than in American-made energy. Over the last 3 years, we’ve opened millions of new acres for oil and gas exploration, and tonight I’m directing my administration to open more than 75 percent of our potential offshore oil and gas resources. Right now-;right now-;American oil production is the highest that it’s been in 8 years. That’s right, 8 years. Not only that, last year, we relied less on foreign oil than in any of the past 16 years. But with only 2 percent of the world’s oil reserves, oil isn’t enough. This country needs an all-out, all-of-the-above strategy that develops every available source of American energy, a strategy that’s cleaner, cheaper, and full of new jobs. We have a supply of natural gas that can last America nearly 100 years. And my administration will take every possible action to safely develop this energy. Experts believe this will support more than 600,000 jobs by the end of the decade. And I’m requiring all companies that drill for gas on public lands to disclose the chemicals they use. Because America will develop this resource without putting the health and safety of our citizens at risk. The development of natural gas will create jobs and power trucks and factories that are cleaner and cheaper, proving that we don’t have to choose between our environment and our economy. And by the way, it was public research dollars, over the course of 30 years, that helped develop the technologies to extract all this natural gas out of shale rock, reminding us that Government support is critical in helping businesses get new energy ideas off the ground. Now, what’s true for natural gas is just as true for clean energy. In 3 years, our partnership with the private sector has already positioned America to be the world’s leading manufacturer of high-tech batteries. Because of Federal investments, renewable energy use has nearly doubled, and thousands of Americans have jobs because of it. When Bryan Ritterby was laid off from his job making furniture, he said he worried that at 55 no one would give him a second chance. But he found work at Energetx, a wind turbine manufacturer in Michigan. Before the recession, the factory only made luxury yachts. Today, it’s hiring workers like Bryan, who said, “I’m proud to be working in the industry of the future.” Our experience with shale gas, our experience with natural gas, shows us that the payoffs on these public investments don’t always come right away. Some technologies don’t pan out, some companies fail. But I will not walk away from the promise of clean energy. I will not walk away from workers like Bryan. I will not cede the wind or solar or battery industry to China or Germany because we refuse to make the same commitment here. We’ve subsidized oil companies for a century. That’s long enough. It’s time to end the taxpayer giveaways to an industry that rarely has been more profitable and double down on a clean energy industry that never has been more promising. Pass clean energy tax credits. Create these jobs. We can also spur energy innovation with new incentives. The differences in this Chamber may be too deep right now to pass a comprehensive plan to fight climate change. But there’s no reason why Congress shouldn’t at least set a clean energy standard that creates a market for innovation. So far, you haven’t acted. Well, tonight I will. I’m directing my administration to allow the development of clean energy on enough public land to power 3 million homes. And I’m proud to announce that the Department of Defense, working with us, the world’s largest consumer of energy, will make one of the largest commitments to clean energy in history, with the Navy purchasing enough capacity to power a quarter of a million homes a year. Of course, the easiest way to save money is to waste less energy. So here’s a proposal: Help manufacturers eliminate energy waste in their factories and give businesses incentives to upgrade their buildings. Their energy bills will be a hundred billion dollars lower over the next decade, and America will have less pollution, more manufacturing, more jobs for construction workers who need them. Send me a bill that creates these jobs. Building this new energy future should be just one part of a broader agenda to repair America’s infrastructure. So much of America needs to be rebuilt. We’ve got crumbling roads and bridges, a power grid that wastes too much energy, an incomplete high-speed broadband network that prevents a small-business owner in rural America from selling her products all over the world. During the Great Depression, America built the Hoover Dam and the Golden Gate Bridge. After World War II, we connected our States with a system of highways. Democratic and Republican administrations invested in great projects that benefited everybody, from the workers who built them to the businesses that still use them today. In the next few weeks, I will sign an Executive order clearing away the redtape that slows down too many construction projects. But you need to fund these projects. Take the money we’re no longer spending at war, use half of it to pay down our debt, and use the rest to do some nation-building right here at home. There’s never been a better time to build, especially since the construction industry was one of the hardest hit when the housing bubble burst. Of course, construction workers weren’t the only ones who were hurt. So were millions of innocent Americans who’ve seen their home values decline. And while Government can’t fix the problem on its own, responsible homeowners shouldn’t have to sit and wait for the housing market to hit bottom to get some relief. And that’s why I’m sending this Congress a plan that gives every responsible homeowner the chance to save about $3,000 a year on their mortgage by refinancing at historically low rates. No more redtape. No more runaround from the banks. A small fee on the largest financial institutions will ensure that it won’t add to the deficit and will give those banks that were rescued by taxpayers a chance to repay a deficit of trust. Let’s never forget: Millions of Americans who work hard and play by the rules every day deserve a Government and a financial system that do the same. It’s time to apply the same rules from top to bottom. No bailouts, no handouts, and no copouts. An America built to last insists on responsibility from everybody. We’ve all paid the price for lenders who sold mortgages to people who couldn’t afford them and buyers who knew they couldn’t afford them. That’s why we need smart regulations to prevent irresponsible behavior. Rules to prevent financial fraud or toxic dumping or faulty medical devices, these don’t destroy the free market. They make the free market work better. There’s no question that some regulations are outdated, unnecessary, or too costly. In fact, I’ve approved fewer regulations in the first 3 years of my Presidency than my Republican predecessor did in his. I’ve ordered every Federal agency to eliminate rules that don’t make sense. We’ve already announced over 500 reforms, and just a fraction of them will save business and citizens more than $10 billion over the next 5 years. We got rid of one rule from 40 years ago that could have forced some dairy farmers to spend $10,000 a year proving that they could contain a spill, because milk was somehow classified as an oil. With a rule like that, I guess it was worth crying over spilled milk. [Laughter] Now, I’m confident a farmer can contain a milk spill without a Federal agency looking over his shoulder. Absolutely. But I will not back down from making sure an oil company can contain the kind of oil spill we saw in the Gulf 2 years ago. I will not back down from protecting our kids from mercury poisoning or making sure that our food is safe and our water is clean. I will not go back to the days when health insurance companies had unchecked power to cancel your policy, deny your coverage, or charge women differently than men. And I will not go back to the days when Wall Street was allowed to play by its own set of rules. The new rules we passed restore what should be any financial system’s core purpose: getting funding to entrepreneurs with the best ideas and getting loans to responsible families who want to buy a home or start a business or send their kids to college. So if you are a big bank or financial institution, you’re no longer allowed to make risky bets with your customers’ deposits. You’re required to write out a “living will” that details exactly how you’ll pay the bills if you fail, because the rest of us are not bailing you out ever again. And if you’re a mortgage lender or a payday lender or a credit card company, the days of signing people up for products they can’t afford with confusing forms and deceptive practices, those days are over. Today, American consumers finally have a watchdog in Richard Cordray, with one job: to look out for them. We’ll also establish a financial crimes unit of highly trained investigators to crack down on large-scale fraud and protect people’s investments. Some financial firms violate major antifraud laws because there’s no real penalty for being a repeat offender. That’s bad for consumers, and it’s bad for the vast majority of bankers and financial service professionals who do the right thing. So pass legislation that makes the penalties for fraud count. And tonight I’m asking my Attorney General to create a special unit of Federal prosecutors and leading State attorney general to expand our investigations into the abusive lending and packaging of risky mortgages that led to the housing crisis. This new unit will hold accountable those who broke the law, speed assistance to homeowners, and help turn the page on an era of recklessness that hurt so many Americans. Now, a return to the American values of fair play and shared responsibility will help protect our people and our economy. But it should also guide us as we look to pay down our debt and invest in our future. Right now our most immediate priority is stopping a tax hike on a hundred and sixty million working Americans while the recovery is still fragile. People cannot afford losing $40 out of each paycheck this year. There are plenty of ways to get this done. So let’s agree right here, right now. No side issues. No drama. Pass the payroll tax cut without delay. Let’s get it done. When it comes to the deficit, we’ve already agreed to more than $2 trillion in cuts and savings. But we need to do more, and that means making choices. Right now we’re poised to spend nearly $1 trillion more on what was supposed to be a temporary tax break for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans. Right now because of loopholes and shelters in the Tax Code, a quarter of all millionaires pay lower tax rates than millions of middle class households. Right now Warren Buffett pays a lower tax rate than his secretary. Do we want to keep these tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans? Or do we want to keep our investments in everything else, like education and medical research, a strong military and care for our veterans? Because if we’re serious about paying down our debt, we can’t do both. The American people know what the right choice is. So do I. As I told the Speaker this summer, I’m prepared to make more reforms that rein in the long-term costs of Medicare and Medicaid and strengthen Social Security, so long as those programs remain a guarantee of security for seniors. But in return, we need to change our Tax Code so that people like me, and an awful lot of Members of Congress, pay our fair share of taxes. Tax reform should follow the Buffett rule. If you make more than a million dollars a year, you should not pay less than 30 percent in taxes. And my Republican friend Tom Coburn is right: Washington should stop subsidizing millionaires. In fact, if you’re earning a million dollars a year, you shouldn’t get special tax subsidies or deductions. On the other hand, if you make under $250,000 a year, like 98 percent of American families, your taxes shouldn’t go up. You’re the ones struggling with rising costs and stagnant wages. You’re the ones who need relief. Now, you can call this class warfare all you want. But asking a billionaire to pay at least as much as his secretary in taxes? Most Americans would call that common sense. We don’t begrudge financial success in this country. We admire it. When Americans talk about folks like me paying my fair share of taxes, it’s not because they envy the rich. It’s because they understand that when I get a tax break I don’t need and the country can’t afford, it either adds to the deficit or somebody else has to make up the difference, like a senior on a fixed income or a student trying to get through school or a family trying to make ends meet. That’s not right. Americans know that’s not right. They know that this generation’s success is only possible because past generations felt a responsibility to each other and to the future of their country, and they know our way of life will only endure if we feel that same sense of shared responsibility. That’s how we’ll reduce our deficit. That’s an America built to last. Now, I recognize that people watching tonight have differing views about taxes and debt, energy and health care. But no matter what party they belong to, I bet most Americans are thinking the same thing right about now: Nothing will get done in Washington this year or next year or maybe even the year after that, because Washington is broken. Can you blame them for feeling a little cynical? The greatest blow to our confidence in our economy last year didn’t come from events beyond our control. It came from a debate in Washington over whether the United States would pay its bills or not. Who benefited from that fiasco? I’ve talked tonight about the deficit of trust between Main Street and Wall Street. But the divide between this city and the rest of the country is at least as bad, and it seems to get worse every year. Now, some of this has to do with the corrosive influence of money in politics. So together, let’s take some steps to fix that. Send me a bill that bans insider trading by Members of Congress. I will sign it tomorrow. Let’s limit any elected official from owning stocks in industries they impact. Let’s make sure people who bundle campaign contributions for Congress can’t lobby Congress and vice versa, an idea that has bipartisan support, at least outside of Washington. Some of what’s broken has to do with the way Congress does its business these days. A simple majority is no longer enough to get anything-;even routine business-;passed through the Senate. Neither party has been blameless in these tactics. Now both parties should put an end to it. For starters, I ask the Senate to pass a simple rule that all judicial and public service nominations receive a simple up-or-down vote within 90 days. The executive branch also needs to change. Too often, it’s inefficient, outdated, and remote. That’s why I’ve asked this Congress to grant me the authority to consolidate the Federal bureaucracy so that our Government is leaner, quicker, and more responsive to the needs of the American people. Finally, none of this can happen unless we also lower the temperature in this town. We need to end the notion that the two parties must be locked in a perpetual campaign of mutual destruction, that politics is about clinging to rigid ideologies instead of building consensus around commonsense ideas. I’m a Democrat, but I believe what Republican Abraham Lincoln believed: That Government should do for people only what they cannot do better by themselves and no more. That’s why my education reform offers more competition and more control for schools and States. That’s why we’re getting rid of regulations that don’t work. That’s why our health care law relies on a reformed private market, not a Government program. On the other hand, even my Republican friends who complain the most about Government spending have supported federally financed roads and clean energy projects and Federal offices for the folks back home. The point is, we should all want a smarter, more effective Government. And while we may not be able to bridge our biggest philosophical differences this year, we can make real progress. With or without this Congress, I will keep taking actions that help the economy grow. But I can do a whole lot more with your help. Because when we act together, there’s nothing the United States of America can’t achieve. That’s the lesson we’ve learned from our actions abroad over the last few years. Ending the Iraq war has allowed us to strike decisive blows against our enemies. From Pakistan to Yemen, the Al Qaida operatives who remain are scrambling, knowing that they can’t escape the reach of the United States of America. From this position of strength, we’ve begun to wind down the war in Afghanistan. Ten thousand of our troops have come home. Twenty-three thousand more will leave by the end of this summer. This transition to Afghan lead will continue, and we will build an enduring partnership with Afghanistan so that it is never again a source of attacks against America. As the tide of war recedes, a wave of change has washed across the Middle East and North Africa, from Tunis to Cairo, from Sana’a to Tripoli. A year ago, Qadhafi was one of the world’s longest serving dictators, a murderer with American blood on his hands. Today, he is gone. And in Syria, I have no doubt that the Asad regime will soon discover that the forces of change cannot be reversed and that human dignity cannot be denied. How this incredible transformation will end remains uncertain. But we have a huge stake in the outcome. And while it’s ultimately up to the people of the region to decide their fate, we will advocate for those values that have served our own country so well. We will stand against violence and intimidation. We will stand for the rights and dignity of all human beings: men and women; Christians, Muslims, and Jews. We will support policies that lead to strong and stable democracies and open markets, because tyranny is no match for liberty. And we will safeguard America’s own security against those who threaten our citizens, our friends, and our interests. Look at Iran. Through the power of our diplomacy, a world that was once divided about how to deal with Iran’s nuclear program now stands as one. The regime is more isolated than ever before. Its leaders are faced with crippling sanctions, and as long as they shirk their responsibilities, this pressure will not relent. Let there be no doubt: America is determined to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, and I will take no options off the table to achieve that goal. But a peaceful resolution of this issue is still possible, and far better. And if Iran changes course and meets its obligations, it can rejoin the community of nations. The renewal of American leadership can be felt across the globe. Our oldest alliances in Europe and Asia are stronger than ever. Our ties to the Americas are deeper. Our ironclad commitment-;and I mean ironclad-;to Israel’s security has meant the closest military cooperation between our two countries in history. We’ve made it clear that America is a Pacific power, and a new beginning in Burma has lit a new hope. From the coalitions we’ve built to secure nuclear materials, to the missions we’ve led against hunger and disease, from the blows we’ve dealt to our enemies, to the enduring power of our moral example, America is back. Anyone who tells you otherwise, anyone who tells you that America is in decline or that our influence has waned, doesn’t know what they’re talking about. That’s not the message we get from leaders around the world who are eager to work with us. That’s not how people feel from Tokyo to Berlin, from Cape Town to Rio, where opinions of America are higher than they’ve been in years. Yes, the world is changing. No, we can’t control every event. But America remains the one indispensable nation in world affairs, and as long as I’m President, I intend to keep it that way. That’s why, working with our military leaders, I’ve proposed a new defense strategy that ensures we maintain the finest military in the world, while saving nearly half a trillion dollars in our budget. To stay one step ahead of our adversaries, I’ve already sent this Congress legislation that will secure our country from the growing dangers of cyber threats. Above all, our freedom endures because of the men and women in uniform who defend it. As they come home, we must serve them as well as they’ve served us. That includes giving them the care and the benefits they have earned, which is why we’ve increased annual VA spending every year I’ve been President. And it means enlisting our veterans in the work of rebuilding our Nation. With the bipartisan support of this Congress, we’re providing new tax credits to companies that hire vets. Michelle and Jill Biden have worked with American businesses to secure a pledge of 135,000 jobs for veterans and their families. And tonight I’m proposing a veterans jobs corps that will help our communities hire veterans as cops and firefighters, so that America is as strong as those who defend her. Which brings me back to where I began. Those of us who’ve been sent here to serve can learn a thing or two from the service of our troops. When you put on that uniform, it doesn’t matter if you’re Black or White, Asian, Latino, Native American; conservative, liberal; rich, poor; gay, straight. When you’re marching into battle, you look out for the person next to you or the mission fails. When you’re in the thick of the fight, you rise or fall as one unit, serving one nation, leaving no one behind. You know, one of my proudest possessions is the flag that the SEAL team took with them on the mission to get bin Laden. On it are each of their names. Some may be Democrats, some may be Republicans, but that doesn’t matter. Just like it didn’t matter that day in the Situation Room, when I sat next to Bob Gates, a man who was George Bush’s Defense Secretary, and Hillary Clinton, a woman who ran against me for President. All that mattered that day was the mission. No one thought about politics. No one thought about themselves. One of the young men involved in the raid later told me that he didn’t deserve credit for the mission. It only succeeded, he said, because every single member of that unit did their job: the pilot who landed the helicopter that spun out of control, the translator who kept others from entering the compound, the troops who separated the women and children from the fight, the SEALs who charged up the stairs. More than that, the mission only succeeded because every member of that unit trusted each other, because you can’t charge up those stairs into darkness and danger unless you know that there’s somebody behind you, watching your back. So it is with America. Each time I look at that flag, I’m reminded that our destiny is stitched together like those 50 stars and those 13 stripes. No one built this country on their own. This Nation is great because we built it together. This Nation is great because we worked as a team. This Nation is great because we get each other’s backs. And if we hold fast to that truth, in this moment of trial, there is no challenge too great, no mission too hard. As long as we are joined in common purpose, as long as we maintain our common resolve, our journey moves forward, and our future is hopeful, and the state of our Union will always be strong. Thank you, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.	Barack Obama	2012	2009-2013	Democratic	speech	232
233	Please, everybody, have a seat. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, fellow Americans: Fifty-one years ago, John F. Kennedy declared to this Chamber that “the Constitution makes us not rivals for power, but partners for progress.” “It is my task,” he said, “to report the state of the Union; to improve it is the task of us all.” Tonight, thanks to the grit and determination of the American people, there is much progress to report. After a decade of grinding war, our brave men and women in uniform are coming home. After years of grueling recession, our businesses have created over 6 million new jobs. We buy more American cars than we have in 5 years and less foreign oil than we have in 20. Our housing market is healing, our stock market is rebounding, and consumers, patients, and homeowners enjoy stronger protections than ever before. So together, we have cleared away the rubble of crisis, and we can say with renewed confidence that the state of our Union is stronger. But we gather here knowing that there are millions of Americans whose hard work and dedication have not yet been rewarded. Our economy is adding jobs, but too many people still can’t find full-time employment. Corporate profits have skyrocketed to alltime highs, but for more than a decade, wages and incomes have barely budged. It is our generation’s task, then, to reignite the true engine of America’s economic growth: a rising, thriving middle class. It is our unfinished task to restore the basic bargain that built this country: the idea that if you work hard and meet your responsibilities, you can get ahead, no matter where you come from, no matter what you look like or who you love. It is our unfinished task to make sure that this Government works on behalf of the many, and not just the few; that it encourages free enterprise, rewards individual initiative, and opens the doors of opportunity to every child across this great Nation. The American people don’t expect government to solve every problem. They don’t expect those of us in this Chamber to agree on every issue. But they do expect us to put the Nation’s interests before party. They do expect us to forge reasonable compromise where we can. For they know that America moves forward only when we do so together and that the responsibility of improving this Union remains the task of us all. Now, our work must begin by making some basic decisions about our budget, decisions that will have a huge impact on the strength of our recovery. Over the last few years, both parties have worked together to reduce the deficit by more than $2.5 trillion, mostly through spending cuts, but also by raising tax rates on the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans. As a result, we are more than halfway towards the goal of $4 trillion in deficit reduction that economists say we need to stabilize our finances. Now we need to finish the job. And the question is, how? In 2011, Congress passed a law saying that if both parties couldn’t agree on a plan to reach our deficit goal, about a trillion dollars’ worth of budget cuts would automatically go into effect this year. These sudden, harsh, arbitrary cuts would jeopardize our military readiness. They’d devastate priorities like education and energy and medical research. They would certainly slow our recovery and cost us hundreds of thousands of jobs. And that’s why Democrats, Republicans, business leaders, and economists have already said that these cuts-;known here in Washington as the sequester-;are a really bad idea. Now, some in Congress have proposed preventing only the defense cuts by making even bigger cuts to things like education and job training, Medicare, and Social Security benefits. That idea is even worse. Yes, the biggest driver of our long-term debt is the rising cost of health care for an aging population. And those of us who care deeply about programs like Medicare must embrace the need for modest reforms; otherwise, our retirement programs will crowd out the investments we need for our children and jeopardize the promise of a secure retirement for future generations. But we can’t ask senior citizens and working families to shoulder the entire burden of deficit reduction while asking nothing more from the wealthiest and the most powerful. We won’t grow the middle class simply by shifting the cost of health care or college onto families that are already struggling or by forcing communities to lay off more teachers and more cops and more firefighters. Most Americans-;Democrats, Republicans, and Independents-;understand that we can’t just cut our way to prosperity. They know that broad-based economic growth requires a balanced approach to deficit reduction, with spending cuts and revenue and with everybody doing their fair share. And that’s the approach I offer tonight. On Medicare, I’m prepared to enact reforms that will achieve the same amount of health care savings by the beginning of the next decade as the reforms proposed by the bipartisan Simpson-Bowles Commission. Already, the Affordable Care Act is helping to slow the growth of health care costs. And the reforms I’m proposing go even further. We’ll reduce taxpayer subsidies to prescription drug companies and ask more from the wealthiest seniors. We’ll bring down costs by changing the way our Government pays for Medicare, because our medical bills shouldn’t be based on the number of tests ordered or days spent in the hospital; they should be based on the quality of care that our seniors receive. And I am open to additional reforms from both parties, so long as they don’t violate the guarantee of a secure retirement. Our Government shouldn’t make promises we cannot keep, but we must keep the promises we’ve already made. To hit the rest of our deficit reduction target, we should do what leaders in both parties have already suggested and save hundreds of billions of dollars by getting rid of tax loopholes and deductions for the well-off and the well-connected. After all, why would we choose to make deeper cuts to education and Medicare just to protect special interest tax breaks? How is that fair? Why is it that deficit reduction is a big emergency justifying making cuts in Social Security benefits, but not closing some loopholes? How does that promote growth? Now is our best chance for bipartisan, comprehensive tax reform that encourages job creation and helps bring down the deficit. We can get this done. The American people deserve a Tax Code that helps small businesses spend less time filling out complicated forms and more time expanding and hiring; a Tax Code that ensures billionaires with high-powered accountants can’t work the system and pay a lower rate than their hard-working secretaries; a Tax Code that lowers incentives to move jobs overseas and lowers tax rates for businesses and manufacturers that are creating jobs right here in the United States of America. That’s what tax reform can deliver. That’s what we can do together. I realize that tax reform and entitlement reform will not be easy. The politics will be hard for both sides. None of us will get a hundred percent of what we want. But the alternative will cost us jobs, hurt our economy, visit hardship on millions of hard-working Americans. So let’s set party interests aside and work to pass a budget that replaces reckless cuts with smart savings and wise investments in our future. And let’s do it without the brinksmanship that stresses consumers and scares off investors. The greatest nation on Earth cannot keep conducting its business by drifting from one manufactured crisis to the next. We can’t do it. Let’s agree right here, right now to keep the people’s Government open and pay our bills on time and always uphold the full faith and credit of the United States of America. The American people have worked too hard, for too long, rebuilding from one crisis to see their elected officials cause another. Now, most of us agree that a plan to reduce the deficit must be part of our agenda. But let’s be clear: Deficit reduction alone is not an economic plan. A growing economy that creates good, middle class jobs, that must be the north star that guides our efforts. Every day, we should ask ourselves three questions as a nation: How do we attract more jobs to our shores? How do we equip our people with the skills they need to get those jobs? And how do we make sure that hard work leads to a decent living? Now, a year and a half ago, I put forward an American Jobs Act that independent economists said would create more than 1 million new jobs. And I thank the last Congress for passing some of that agenda. I urge this Congress to pass the rest. But tonight I’ll lay out additional proposals that are fully paid for and fully consistent with the budget framework both parties agreed to just 18 months ago. Let me repeat: Nothing I’m proposing tonight should increase our deficit by a single dime. It is not a bigger Government we need, but a smarter Government that sets priorities and invests in broad-based growth. That’s what we should be looking for. Our first priority is making America a magnet for new jobs and manufacturing. After shedding jobs for more than 10 years, our manufacturers have added about 500,000 jobs over the past 3. Caterpillar is bringing jobs back from Japan. Ford is bringing jobs back from Mexico. And this year, Apple will start making Macs in America again. There are things we can do right now to accelerate this trend. Last year, we created our first manufacturing innovation institute in Youngstown, Ohio. A once-shuttered warehouse is now a state-of-the-art lab where new workers are mastering the 3-D printing that has the potential to revolutionize the way we make almost everything. There’s no reason this can’t happen in other towns. So tonight I’m announcing the launch of three more of these manufacturing hubs, where businesses will partner with the Department of Defense and Energy to turn regions left behind by globalization into global centers of high-tech jobs. And I ask this Congress to help create a network of 15 of these hubs and guarantee that the next revolution in manufacturing is made right here in America. We can get that done. Now, if we want to make the best products, we also have to invest in the best ideas. Every dollar we invested to map the human genome returned $140 to our economy-;every dollar. Today, our scientists are mapping the human brain to unlock the answers to Alzheimer’s. They’re developing drugs to regenerate damaged organs, devising new materials to make batteries 10 times more powerful. Now is not the time to gut these job-creating investments in science and innovation, now is the time to reach a level of research and development not seen since the height of the space race. We need to make those investments. Today, no area holds more promise than our investments in American energy. After years of talking about it, we’re finally poised to control our own energy future. We produce more oil at home than we have in 15 years. We have doubled the distance our cars will go on a gallon of gas and the amount of renewable energy we generate from sources like wind and solar, with tens of thousands of good American jobs to show for it. We produce more natural gas than ever before, and nearly everyone’s energy bill is lower because of it. And over the last 4 years, our emissions of the dangerous carbon pollution that threatens our planet have actually fallen. But for the sake of our children and our future, we must do more to combat climate change. Now, it’s true that no single event makes a trend. But the fact is, the 12 hottest years on record have all come in the last 15. Heat waves, droughts, wildfires, floods-;all are now more frequent and more intense. We can choose to believe that Superstorm Sandy and the most severe drought in decades and the worst wildfires some States have ever seen were all just a freak coincidence. Or we can choose to believe in the overwhelming judgment of science and act before it’s too late. Now, the good news is we can make meaningful progress on this issue while driving strong economic growth. I urge this Congress to get together, pursue a bipartisan, market-based solution to climate change, like the one John McCain and Joe Lieberman worked on together a few years ago. But if Congress won’t act soon to protect future generations, I will. I will direct my Cabinet to come up with executive actions we can take, now and in the future, to reduce pollution, prepare our communities for the consequences of climate change, and speed the transition to more sustainable sources of energy. And 4 years ago, other countries dominated the clean energy market and the jobs that came with it. And we’ve begun to change that. Last year, wind energy added nearly half of all new power capacity in America. So let’s generate even more. Solar energy gets cheaper by the year; let’s drive down costs even further. As long as countries like China keep going all in on clean energy, so must we. Now, in the meantime, the natural gas boom has led to cleaner power and greater energy independence. We need to encourage that. And that’s why my administration will keep cutting redtape and speeding up new oil and gas permits. That’s got to be part of an all-of-the-above plan. But I also want to work with this Congress to encourage the research and technology that helps natural gas burn even cleaner and protects our air and our water. In fact, much of our new-found energy is drawn from lands and waters that we, the public, own together. So tonight I propose we use some of our oil and gas revenues to fund an energy security trust that will drive new research and technology to shift our cars and trucks off oil for good. If a nonpartisan coalition of CEOs and retired generals and admirals can get behind this idea, then so can we. Let’s take their advice and free our families and businesses from the painful spikes in gas prices we’ve put up with for far too long. I’m also issuing a new goal for America: Let’s cut in half the energy wasted by our homes and businesses over the next 20 years. We’ll work with the States to do it. Those States with the best ideas to create jobs and lower energy bills by constructing more efficient buildings will receive Federal support to help make that happen. America’s energy sector is just one part of an aging infrastructure badly in need of repair. Ask any CEO where they’d rather locate and hire, a country with deteriorating roads and bridges or one with high-speed rail and Internet, high-tech schools, self-healing power grids. The CEO of Siemens America-;a company that brought hundreds of new jobs to North Carolina-;said that if we upgrade our infrastructure, they’ll bring even more jobs. And that’s the attitude of a lot of companies all around the world. And I know you want these job-creating projects in your district. I’ve seen all those ribbon-cuttings. [Laughter] So tonight I propose a Fix-It-First program to put people to work as soon as possible on our most urgent repairs, like the nearly 70,000 structurally deficient bridges across the country. And to make sure taxpayers don’t shoulder the whole burden, I’m also proposing a partnership to rebuild America that attracts private capital to upgrade what our businesses need most: modern ports to move our goods, modern pipelines to withstand a storm, modern schools worthy of our children. Let’s prove there’s no better place to do business than here in the United States of America, and let’s start right away. We can get this done. And part of our rebuilding effort must also involve our housing sector. The good news is, our housing market is finally healing from the collapse of 2007. Home prices are rising at the fastest pace in 6 years. Home purchases are up nearly 50 percent, and construction is expanding again. But even with mortgage rates near a 50-year low, too many families with solid credit who want to buy a home are being rejected. Too many families who never missed a payment and want to refinance are being told no. That’s holding our entire economy back. We need to fix it. Right now there’s a bill in this Congress that would give every responsible homeowner in America the chance to save $3,000 a year by refinancing at today’s rates. Democrats and Republicans have supported it before, so what are we waiting for? Take a vote and send me that bill. Why are-;why would we be against that? Why would that be a partisan issue, helping folks refinance? Right now overlapping regulations keep responsible young families from buying their first home. What’s holding us back? Let’s streamline the process and help our economy grow. These initiatives in manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, housing, all these things will help entrepreneurs and small-business owners expand and create new jobs. But none of it will matter unless we also equip our citizens with the skills and training to fill those jobs. And that has to start at the earliest possible age. Study after study shows that the sooner a child begins learning, the better he or she does down the road. But today, fewer than 3 in 10 4-year-olds are enrolled in a high-quality preschool program. Most middle class parents can’t afford a few hundred bucks a week for a private preschool. And for poor kids who need help the most, this lack of access to preschool education can shadow them for the rest of their lives. So tonight I propose working with States to make high-quality preschool available to every single child in America. That’s something we should be able to do. Every dollar we invest in high-quality early childhood education can save more than 7 dollars later on: by boosting graduation rates, reducing teen pregnancy, even reducing violent crime. In States that make it a priority to educate our youngest children, like Georgia or Oklahoma, studies show students grow up more likely to read and do math at grade level, graduate high school, hold a job, form more stable families of their own. We know this works. So let’s do what works and make sure none of our children start the race of life already behind. Let’s give our kids that chance. Let’s also make sure that a high school diploma puts our kids on a path to a good job. Right now countries like Germany focus on graduating their high school students with the equivalent of a technical degree from one of our community colleges. So those German kids, they’re ready for a job when they graduate high school. They’ve been trained for the jobs that are there. Now at schools like P-TECH in Brooklyn, a collaboration between New York Public Schools and City University of New York and IBM, students will graduate with a high school diploma and an associate’s degree in computers or engineering. We need to give every American student opportunities like this. And 4 years ago, we started Race to the Top, a competition that convinced almost every State to develop smarter curricula and higher standards, all for about 1 percent of what we spend on education each year. Tonight I’m announcing a new challenge to redesign America’s high schools so they better equip graduates for the demands of a high-tech economy. And we’ll reward schools that develop new partnerships with colleges and employers and create classes that focus on science, technology, engineering, and math: the skills today’s employers are looking for to fill the jobs that are there right now and will be there in the future. Now, even with better high schools, most young people will need some higher education. It’s a simple fact: The more education you’ve got, the more likely you are to have a good job and work your way into the middle class. But today, skyrocketing costs price too many young people out of a higher education or saddle them with unsustainable debt. Through tax credits, grants, and better loans, we’ve made college more affordable for millions of students and families over the last few years. But taxpayers can’t keep on subsidizing higher and higher and higher costs for higher education. Colleges must do their part to keep costs down, and it’s our job to make sure that they do. So tonight I ask Congress to change the Higher Education Act so that affordability and value are included in determining which colleges receive certain types of Federal aid. And tomorrow my administration will release a new college scorecard that parents and students can use to compare schools based on a simple criterion: where you can get the most bang for your educational buck. Now, to grow our middle class, our citizens have to have access to the education and training that today’s jobs require. But we also have to make sure that America remains a place where everyone who’s willing to work-;everybody who’s willing to work hard-;has the chance to get ahead. Our economy is stronger when we harness the talents and ingenuity of striving, hopeful immigrants. And right now leaders from the business, labor, law enforcement, faith communities, they all agree that the time has come to pass comprehensive immigration reform. Now is the time to do it. Now is the time to get it done. Now is the time to get it done. Real reform means stronger border security, and we can build on the progress my administration has already made: putting more boots on the southern border than at any time in our history and reducing illegal crossings to their lowest levels in 40 years. Real reform means establishing a responsible pathway to earned citizenship, a path that includes passing a background check, paying taxes and a meaningful penalty, learning English, and going to the back of the line behind the folks trying to come here legally. And real reform means fixing the legal immigration system to cut waiting periods and attract the highly skilled entrepreneurs and engineers that will help create jobs and grow our economy. In other words, we know what needs to be done. And as we speak, bipartisan groups in both Chambers are working diligently to draft a bill, and I applaud their efforts. So let’s get this done. Send me a comprehensive immigration reform bill in the next few months, and I will sign it right away. And America will be better for it. Let’s get it done. Let’s get it done. But we can’t stop there. We know our economy is stronger when our wives, our mothers, our daughters can live their lives free from discrimination in the workplace and free from the fear of domestic violence. Today the Senate passed the “Violence Against Women’s Act” that Joe Biden originally wrote almost 20 years ago. And I now urge the House to do the same. Good job, Joe. And I ask this Congress to declare that women should earn a living equal to their efforts, and finally pass the “Paycheck Fairness Act” this year. We know our economy is stronger when we reward an honest day’s work with honest wages. But today, a full-time worker making the minimum wage earns $14,500 a year. Even with the tax relief we put in place, a family with two kids that earns the minimum wage still lives below the poverty line. That’s wrong. That’s why, since the last time this Congress raised the minimum wage, 19 States have chosen to bump theirs even higher. Tonight let’s declare that in the wealthiest nation on Earth, no one who works full-time should have to live in poverty and raise the Federal minimum wage to $9 an hour. We should be able to get that done. This single step would raise the incomes of millions of working families. It could mean the difference between groceries or the food bank, rent or eviction, scraping by or finally getting ahead. For businesses across the country, it would mean customers with more money in their pockets. And a whole lot of folks out there would probably need less help from government. In fact, working folks shouldn’t have to wait year after year for the minimum wage to go up while CEO pay has never been higher. So here’s an idea that Governor Romney and I actually agreed on last year: Let’s tie the minimum wage to the cost of living so that it finally becomes a wage you can live on. Tonight let’s also recognize that there are communities in this country where no matter how hard you work, it is virtually impossible to get ahead: factory towns decimated from years of plants packing up; inescapable pockets of poverty, urban and rural, where young adults are still fighting for their first job. America is not a place where the chance of birth or circumstance should decide our destiny. And that’s why we need to build new ladders of opportunity into the middle class for all who are willing to climb them. Let’s offer incentives to companies that hire Americans who’ve got what it takes to fill that job opening, but have been out of work so long that no one will give them a chance anymore. Let’s put people back to work rebuilding vacant homes in rundown neighborhoods. And this year, my administration will begin to partner with 20 of the hardest hit towns in America to get these communities back on their feet. Now, we’ll work with local leaders to target resources at public safety and education and housing. We’ll give new tax credits to businesses that hire and invest. And we’ll work to strengthen families by removing the financial deterrents to marriage for low-income couples and do more to encourage fatherhood, because what makes you a man isn’t the ability to conceive a child, it’s having the courage to raise one. And we want to encourage that. We want to help that. Stronger families. Stronger communities. A stronger America. It is this kind of prosperity-;broad, shared, built on a thriving middle class-;that has always been the source of our progress at home. It’s also the foundation of our power and influence throughout the world. Tonight we stand united in saluting the troops and civilians who sacrifice every day to protect us. Because of them, we can say with confidence that America will complete its mission in Afghanistan and achieve our objective of defeating the core of Al Qaida. Already, we have brought home 33,000 of our brave service men and women. This spring, our forces will move into a support role, while Afghan security forces take the lead. Tonight I can announce that over the next year, another 34,000 American troops will come home from Afghanistan. This drawdown will continue, and by the end of next year, our war in Afghanistan will be over. Beyond 2014, America’s commitment to a unified and sovereign Afghanistan will endure, but the nature of our commitment will change. We’re negotiating an agreement with the Afghan Government that focuses on two missions: training and equipping Afghan forces so that the country does not again slip into chaos and counterterrorism efforts that allow us to pursue the remnants of Al Qaida and their affiliates. Today, the organization that attacked us on 9/11 is a shadow of its former self. It’s true, different Al Qaida affiliates and extremist groups have emerged, from the Arabian Peninsula to Africa. The threat these groups pose is evolving. But to meet this threat, we don’t need to send tens of thousands of our sons and daughters abroad or occupy other nations. Instead, we’ll need to help countries like Yemen and Libya and Somalia provide for their own security and help allies who take the fight to terrorists, as we have in Mali. And where necessary, through a range of capabilities, we will continue to take direct action against those terrorists who pose the gravest threat to Americans. Now, as we do, we must enlist our values in the fight. That’s why my administration has worked tirelessly to forge a durable legal and policy framework to guide our counterterrorism efforts. Throughout, we have kept Congress fully informed of our efforts. I recognize that in our democracy, no one should just take my word for it that we’re doing things the right way. So, in the months ahead, I will continue to engage Congress to ensure not only that our targeting, detention, and prosecution of terrorists remains consistent with our laws and system of checks and balances, but that our efforts are even more transparent to the American people and to the world. Of course, our challenges don’t end with Al Qaida. America will continue to lead the effort to prevent the spread of the world’s most dangerous weapons. The regime in North Korea must know they will only achieve security and prosperity by meeting their international obligations. Provocations of the sort we saw last night will only further isolate them, as we stand by our allies, strengthen our own missile defense, and lead the world in taking firm action in response to these threats. Likewise, the leaders of Iran must recognize that now is the time for a diplomatic solution, because a coalition stands united in demanding that they meet their obligations, and we will do what is necessary to prevent them from getting a nuclear weapon. At the same time, we’ll engage Russia to seek further reductions in our nuclear arsenals and continue leading the global effort to secure nuclear materials that could fall into the wrong hands, because our ability to influence others depends on our willingness to lead and meet our obligations. America must also face the rapidly growing threat from cyber attacks. Now, we know hackers steal people’s identities and infiltrate private e-mails. We know foreign countries and companies swipe our corporate secrets. Now our enemies are also seeking the ability to sabotage our power grid, our financial institutions, our air traffic control systems. We cannot look back years from now and wonder why we did nothing in the face of real threats to our security and our economy. And that’s why, earlier today, I signed a new Executive order that will strengthen our cyber defenses by increasing information sharing and developing standards to protect our national security, our jobs, and our privacy. But now Congress must act as well, by passing legislation to give our Government a greater capacity to secure our networks and deter attacks. This is something we should be able to get done on a bipartisan basis. Now, even as we protect our people, we should remember that today’s world presents not just dangers, not just threats, it presents opportunities. To boost American exports, support American jobs and level the playing field in the growing markets of Asia, we intend to complete negotiations on a Trans-Pacific Partnership. And tonight I’m announcing that we will launch talks on a comprehensive transatlantic trade and investment partnership with the European Union, because trade that is fair and free across the Atlantic supports millions of good-paying American jobs. We also know that progress in the most impoverished parts of our world enriches us all, not only because it creates new markets, more stable order in certain regions of the world, but also because it’s the right thing to do. In many places, people live on little more than a dollar a day. So the United States will join with our allies to eradicate such extreme poverty in the next two decades by connecting more people to the global economy, by empowering women, by giving our young and brightest minds new opportunities to serve and helping communities to feed and power and educate themselves, by saving the world’s children from preventable deaths, and by realizing the promise of an AIDS-free generation, which is within our reach. You see, America must remain a beacon to all who seek freedom during this period of historic change. I saw the power of hope last year in Rangoon, in Burma, when Aung San Suu Kyi welcomed an American President into the home where she had been imprisoned for years; when thousands of Burmese lined the streets, waving American flags, including a man who said: “There is justice and law in the United States. I want our country to be like that.” In defense of freedom, we’ll remain the anchor of strong alliances from the Americas to Africa, from Europe to Asia. In the Middle East, we will stand with citizens as they demand their universal rights and support stable transitions to democracy. We know the process will be messy, and we cannot presume to dictate the course of change in countries like Egypt, but we can and will insist on respect for the fundamental rights of all people. We’ll keep the pressure on a Syrian regime that has murdered its own people and support opposition leaders that respect the rights of every Syrian. And we will stand steadfast with Israel in pursuit of security and a lasting peace. These are the messages I’ll deliver when I travel to the Middle East next month. And all this work depends on the courage and sacrifice of those who serve in dangerous places at great personal risk: our diplomats, our intelligence officers, and the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. As long as I’m Commander in Chief, we will do whatever we must to protect those who serve their country abroad, and we will maintain the best military the world has ever known. We’ll invest in new capabilities, even as we reduce waste and wartime spending. We will ensure equal treatment for all servicemembers and equal benefits for their families, gay and straight. We will draw upon the courage and skills of our sisters and daughters and moms, because women have proven under fire that they are ready for combat. We will keep faith with our veterans, investing in world-class care-;including mental health care-;for our wounded warriors, supporting our military families, giving our veterans the benefits and education and job opportunities that they have earned. And I want to thank my wife Michelle and Dr. Jill Biden for their continued dedication to serving our military families as well as they have served us. Thank you, honey. Thank you, Jill. Defending our freedom, though, is not just the job of our military alone. We must all do our part to make sure our God-given rights are protected here at home. That includes one of the most fundamental rights of a democracy: the right to vote. Now, when any American, no matter where they live or what their party, are denied that right because they can’t afford to wait for 5 or 6 or 7 hours just to cast their ballot, we are betraying our ideals. So tonight I’m announcing a nonpartisan commission to improve the voting experience in America. And it definitely needs improvement. I’m asking two long-time experts in the field-;who, by the way, recently served as the top attorneys for my campaign and for Governor Romney’s campaign-;to lead it. We can fix this, and we will. The American people demand it, and so does our democracy. Of course, what I’ve said tonight matters little if we don’t come together to protect our most precious resource: our children. It has been 2 months since Newtown. I know this is not the first time this country has debated how to reduce gun violence. But this time is different. Overwhelming majorities of Americans-;Americans who believe in the Second Amendment-;have come together around commonsense reform, like background checks that will make it harder for criminals to get their hands on a gun. Senators of both parties are working together on tough new laws to prevent anyone from buying guns for resale to criminals. Police chiefs are asking our help to get weapons of war and massive ammunition magazines off our streets, because these police chiefs, they’re tired of seeing their guys and gals being outgunned. Each of these proposals deserves a vote in Congress. Now, if you want to vote no, that’s your choice. But these proposals deserve a vote. Because in the 2 months since Newtown, more than a thousand birthdays, graduations, anniversaries have been stolen from our lives by a bullet from a gun-;more than a thousand. One of those we lost was a young girl named Hadiya Pendleton. She was 15 years old. She loved Fig Newtons and lip gloss. She was a majorette. She was so good to her friends, they all thought they were her best friend. Just 3 weeks ago, she was here, in Washington, with her classmates, performing for her country at my Inauguration. And a week later, she was shot and killed in a Chicago park after school, just a mile away from my house. Hadiya’s parents, Nate and Cleo, are in this Chamber tonight, along with more than two dozen Americans whose lives have been torn apart by gun violence. They deserve a vote. They deserve a vote. They deserve a vote. Gabby Giffords deserves a vote. The families of Newtown deserve a vote. The families of Aurora deserve a vote. The families of Oak Creek and Tucson and Blacksburg, and the countless other communities ripped open by gun violence, they deserve a simple vote. They deserve a simple vote. Our actions will not prevent every senseless act of violence in this country. In fact, no laws, no initiatives, no administrative acts will perfectly solve all the challenges I’ve outlined tonight. But we were never sent here to be perfect. We were sent here to make what difference we can, to secure this Nation, expand opportunity, uphold our ideals through the hard, often frustrating, but absolutely necessary work of self-government. We were sent here to look out for our fellow Americans the same way they look out for one another, every single day, usually without fanfare, all across this country. We should follow their example. We should follow the example of a New York City nurse named Menchu Sanchez. When Hurricane Sandy plunged her hospital into darkness, she wasn’t thinking about how her own home was faring. Her mind was on the 20 precious newborns in her care and the rescue plan she devised that kept them all safe. We should follow the example of a North Miami woman named Desiline Victor. When Desiline arrived at her polling place, she was told the wait to vote might be 6 hours. And as time ticked by, her concern was not with her tired body or aching feet, but whether folks like her would get to have their say. And hour after hour, a throng of people stayed in line to support her, because Desiline is 102 years old. And they erupted in cheers when she finally put on a sticker that read, “I voted.” There’s Desiline. We should follow the example of a police officer named Brian Murphy. When a gunman opened fire on a Sikh temple in Wisconsin and Brian was the first to arrive-;and he did not consider his own safety. He fought back until help arrived and ordered his fellow officers to protect the safety of the Americans worshiping inside, even as he lay bleeding from 12 bullet wounds. And when asked how he did that, Brian said, “That’s just the way we’re made.” That’s just the way we’re made. We may do different jobs and wear different uniforms and hold different views than the person beside us. But as Americans, we all share the same proud title: We are citizens. It’s a word that doesn’t just describe our nationality or legal status. It describes the way we’re made. It describes what we believe. It captures the enduring idea that this country only works when we accept certain obligations to one another and to future generations; that our rights are wrapped up in the rights of others; and that well into our third century as a nation, it remains the task of us all, as citizens of these United States, to be the authors of the next great chapter of our American story. Thank you. God bless you, and God bless these United States of America.	Barack Obama	2013	2013-2016	Democratic	speech	233
234	The President. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, my fellow Americans: Today in America, a teacher spent extra time with a student who needed it and did her part to lift America’s graduation rate to its highest levels in more than three decades. An entrepreneur flipped on the lights in her tech startup and did her part to add to the more than 8 million new jobs our businesses have created over the past 4 years. An autoworker fine-tuned some of the best, most fuel-efficient cars in the world and did his part to help America wean itself off foreign oil. A farmer prepared for the spring after the strongest 5-year stretch of farm exports in our history. A rural doctor gave a young child the first prescription to treat asthma that his mother could afford. A man took the bus home from the graveyard shift, bone-tired, but dreaming big dreams for his son. And in tight-knit communities all across America, fathers and mothers will tuck in their kids, put an arm around their spouse, remember fallen comrades, and give thanks for being home from a war that after 12 long years is finally coming to an end. Tonight this Chamber speaks with one voice to the people we represent: It is you, our citizens, who make the state of our Union strong. And here are the results of your efforts: the lowest unemployment rate in over 5 years; a rebounding housing market; a manufacturing sector that’s adding jobs for the first time since the 1990s; more oil produced at home than we buy from the rest of the world, the first time that’s happened in nearly 20 years; our deficits cut by more than half. And for the first time in over a decade, business leaders around the world have declared that China is no longer the world’s number-one place to invest, America is. That’s why I believe this can be a breakthrough year for America. After 5 years of grit and determined effort, the United States is better positioned for the 21st century than any other nation on Earth. The question for everyone in this Chamber, running through every decision we make this year, is whether we are going to help or hinder this progress. For several years now, this town has been consumed by a rancorous argument over the proper size of the Federal Government. It’s an important debate, one that dates back to our very founding. But when that debate prevents us from carrying out even the most basic functions of our democracy-;when our differences shut down Government or threaten the full faith and credit of the United States-;then we are not doing right by the American people. Now, as President, I’m committed to making Washington work better and rebuilding the trust of the people who sent us here. And I believe most of you are too. Last month, thanks to the work of Democrats and Republicans, Congress finally produced a budget that undoes some of last year’s severe cuts to priorities like education. Nobody got everything they wanted, and we can still do more to invest in this country’s future while bringing down our deficit in a balanced way, but the budget compromise should leave us freer to focus on creating new jobs, not creating new crises. And in the coming months, let’s see where else we can make progress together. Let’s make this a year of action. That’s what most Americans want: for all of us in this Chamber to focus on their lives, their hopes, their aspirations. And what I believe unites the people of this Nation-;regardless of race or region or party, young or old, rich or poor-;is the simple, profound belief in opportunity for all: the notion that if you work hard and take responsibility, you can get ahead in America. Now, let’s face it, that belief has suffered some serious blows. Over more than three decades, even before the great recession hit, massive shifts in technology and global competition had eliminated a lot of good, middle class jobs and weakened the economic foundations that families depend on. Today, after 4 years of economic growth, corporate profits and stock prices have rarely been higher, and those at the top have never done better. But average wages have barely budged. Inequality has deepened. Upward mobility has stalled. The cold, hard fact is that even in the midst of recovery, too many Americans are working more than ever just to get by, let alone to get ahead. And too many still aren’t working at all. So our job is to reverse these trends. It won’t happen right away, and we won’t agree on everything. But what I offer tonight is a set of concrete, practical proposals to speed up growth, strengthen the middle class, and build new ladders of opportunity into the middle class. Some require congressional action, and I am eager to work with all of you. But America does not stand still, and neither will I. So wherever and whenever I can take steps without legislation to expand opportunity for more American families, that’s what I’m going to do. As usual, our First Lady sets a good example. Well-;[applause]. Michelle’s “Let’s Move!” partnership with schools, businesses, local leaders has helped bring down childhood obesity rates for the first time in 30 years. And that’s an achievement that will improve lives and reduce health care costs for decades to come. The Joining Forces alliance that Michelle and Jill Biden launched has already encouraged employers to hire or train nearly 400,000 veterans and military spouses. Taking a page from that playbook, the White House just organized a College Opportunity Summit, where already, 150 universities, businesses, nonprofits have made concrete commitments to reduce inequality in access to higher education and to help every hard-working kid go to college and succeed when they get to campus. And across the country, we’re partnering with mayors, Governors, and State legislatures on issues from homelessness to marriage equality. The point is, there are millions of Americans outside of Washington who are tired of stale political arguments and are moving this country forward. They believe-;and I believe-;that here in America, our success should depend not on accident of birth, but the strength of our work ethic and the scope of our dreams. That’s what drew our forebears here. That’s how the daughter of a factory worker is CEO of America’s largest automaker; how the son of a barkeep is Speaker of the House; how the son of a single mom can be President of the greatest nation on Earth. Opportunity is who we are. And the defining project of our generation must be to restore that promise. We know where to start: The best measure of opportunity is access to a good job. With the economy picking up speed, companies say they intend to hire more people this year. And over half of big manufacturers say they’re thinking of insourcing jobs from abroad. So let’s make that decision easier for more companies. Both Democrats and Republicans have argued that our Tax Code is riddled with wasteful, complicated loopholes that punish businesses investing here and reward companies that keep profits abroad. Let’s flip that equation. Let’s work together to close those loopholes, end those incentives to ship jobs overseas, and lower tax rates for businesses that create jobs right here at home. Moreover, we can take the money we save from this transition to tax reform to create jobs rebuilding our roads, upgrading our ports, unclogging our commutes, because in today’s global economy, first-class jobs gravitate to first-class infrastructure. We’ll need Congress to protect more than 3 million jobs by finishing transportation and waterways bills this summer. That can happen. But I’ll act on my own to slash bureaucracy and streamline the permitting process for key projects so we can get more construction workers on the job as fast as possible. We also have the chance, right now, to beat other countries in the race for the next wave of high-tech manufacturing jobs. My administration has launched two hubs for high-tech manufacturing in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Youngstown, Ohio, where we’ve connected businesses to research universities that can help America lead the world in advanced technologies. Tonight I’m announcing, we’ll launch six more this year. Bipartisan bills in both Houses could double the number of these hubs and the jobs they create. So get those bills to my desk. Put more Americans back to work. Let’s do more to help the entrepreneurs and small-business owners who create most new jobs in America. Over the past 5 years, my administration has made more loans to small-business owners than any other. And when 98 percent of our exporters are small businesses, new trade partnerships with Europe and Asia-;the Asia-Pacific will help them create more jobs. We need to work together on tools like bipartisan trade promotion authority to protect our workers, protect our environment, and open new markets to new goods stamped “Made in the U.S.A.” Listen, China and Europe aren’t standing on the sidelines, and neither should we. We know that the nation that goes all-in on innovation today will own the global economy tomorrow. This is an edge America cannot surrender. Federally funded research helped lead to the ideas and inventions behind Google and smartphones. And that’s why Congress should undo the damage done by last year’s cuts to basic research so we can unleash the next great American discovery. There are entire industries to be built based on vaccines that stay ahead of drug-resistant bacteria or paper-thin material that’s stronger than steel. And let’s pass a patent reform bill that allows our businesses to stay focused on innovation, not costly and needless litigation. Now, one of the biggest factors in bringing more jobs back is our commitment to American energy. The all-of-the-above energy strategy I announced a few years ago is working, and today, America is closer to energy independence than we have been in decades. One of the reasons why is natural gas. If extracted safely, it’s the bridge fuel that can power our economy with less of the carbon pollution that causes climate change. Businesses plan to invest almost $100 billion in new factories that use natural gas. I’ll cut redtape to help States get those factories built and put folks to work, and this Congress can help by putting people to work building fueling stations that shift more cars and trucks from foreign oil to American natural gas. Meanwhile, my administration will keep working with the industry to sustain production and jobs growth while strengthening protection of our air, our water, our communities. And while we’re at it, I’ll use my authority to protect more of our pristine Federal lands for future generations. Well, it’s not just oil and natural gas production that’s booming, we’re becoming a global leader in solar too. Every 4 minutes, another American home or business goes solar, every panel pounded into place by a worker whose job cannot be outsourced. Let’s continue that progress with a smarter tax policy that stops giving $4 billion a year to fossil fuel industries that don’t need it so we can invest more in fuels of the future that do. And even as we’ve increased energy production, we’ve partnered with businesses, builders, and local communities to reduce the energy we consume. When we rescued our automakers, for example, we worked with them to set higher fuel efficiency standards for our cars. In the coming months, I’ll build on that success by setting new standards for our trucks so we can keep driving down oil imports and what we pay at the pump. And taken together, our energy policy is creating jobs and leading to a cleaner, safer planet. Over the past 8 years, the United States has reduced our total carbon pollution more than any other nation on Earth. But we have to act with more urgency, because a changing climate is already harming Western communities struggling with drought and coastal cities dealing with floods. That’s why I directed my administration to work with States, utilities, and others to set new standards on the amount of carbon pollution our power plants are allowed to dump into the air. The shift to a cleaner energy economy won’t happen overnight, and it will require some tough choices along the way. But the debate is settled. Climate change is a fact. And when our children’s children look us in the eye and ask if we did all we could to leave them a safer, more stable world, with new sources of energy, I want us to be able to say, yes, we did. Finally, if we’re serious about economic growth, it is time to heed the call of business leaders, labor leaders, faith leaders, law enforcement and fix our broken immigration system. Republicans and Democrats in the Senate have acted, and I know that members of both parties in the House want to do the same. Independent economists say immigration reform will grow our economy and shrink our deficits by almost $1 trillion in the next two decades. And for good reason: When people come here to fulfill their dreams-;to study, invent, contribute to our culture-;they make our country a more attractive place for businesses to locate and create jobs for everybody. So let’s get immigration reform done this year. Let’s get it done. It’s time. The ideas I’ve outlined so far can speed up growth and create more jobs. But in this rapidly changing economy, we have to make sure that every American has the skills to fill those jobs. The good news is, we know how to do it. Two years ago, as the auto industry came roaring back, Andra Rush opened up a manufacturing firm in Detroit. She knew that Ford needed parts for the best selling truck in America, and she knew how to make those parts. She just needed the workforce. So she dialed up what we call an American Job Center, places where folks can walk in to get the help or training they need to find a new job or a better job. She was flooded with new workers. And today, Detroit Manufacturing Systems has more than 700 employees. And what Andra and her employees experienced is how it should be for every employer and every job seeker. So tonight I’ve asked Vice President Biden to lead an across-the-board reform of America’s training programs to make sure they have one mission: train Americans with the skills employers need and match them to good jobs that need to be filled right now. That means more on-the-job training and more apprenticeships that set a young worker on an upward trajectory for life. It means connecting companies to community colleges that can help design training to fill their specific needs. And if Congress wants to help, you can concentrate funding on proven programs that connect more ready-to-work Americans with ready-to-be-filled jobs. I’m also convinced we can help Americans return to the workforce faster by reforming unemployment insurance so that it’s more effective in today’s economy. But first, this Congress needs to restore the unemployment insurance you just let expire for 1.6 million people. Let me tell you why. Misty DeMars is a mother of two young boys. She’d been steadily employed since she was a teenager, put herself through college. She’d never collected unemployment benefits, but she’d been paying taxes. In May, she and her husband used their life savings to buy their first home. A week later, budget cuts claimed the job she loved. Last month, when their unemployment insurance was cut off, she sat down and wrote me a letter, the kind I get every day. “We are the face of the unemployment crisis,” she wrote. “I’m not dependent on the government. Our country depends on people like us who build careers, contribute to society, care about our neighbors. I’m confident that in time, I will find a job, I will pay my taxes, and we will raise our children in their own home in the community we love. Please give us this chance.” Congress, give these hard-working, responsible Americans that chance. Give them that chance. Give them the chance. They need our help right now. But more important, this country needs them in the game. That’s why I’ve been asking CEOs to give more long-term unemployed workers a fair shot at new jobs, a new chance to support their families. And in fact, this week, many will come to the White House to make that commitment real. Tonight I ask every business leader in America to join us and to do the same, because we are stronger when America fields a full team. Of course, it’s not enough to train today’s workforce. We also have to prepare tomorrow’s workforce, by guaranteeing every child access to a world-class education. Estiven Rodriguez couldn’t speak a word of English when he moved to New York City at age 9. But last month, thanks to the support of great teachers and an innovative tutoring program, he led a march of his classmates through a crowd of cheering parents and neighbors from their high school to the post office, where they mailed off their college applications. And this son of a factory worker just found out, he’s going to college this fall. Five years ago, we set out to change the odds for all our kids. We worked with lenders to reform student loans, and today, more young people are earning college degrees than ever before. Race to the Top, with the help of Governors from both parties, has helped States raise expectations and performance. Teachers and principals in schools from Tennessee to Washington, DC, are making big strides in preparing students with the skills for the new economy: problem solving, critical thinking, science, technology, engineering, math. Now, some of this change is hard. It requires everything from more challenging curriculums and more demanding parents to better support for teachers and new ways to measure how well our kids think, not how well they can fill in a bubble on a test. But it is worth it, and it is working. The problem is, we’re still not reaching enough kids, and we’re not reaching them in time. And that has to change. Research shows that one of the best investments we can make in a child’s life is high-quality early education. Last year, I asked this Congress to help States make high-quality pre-K available to every 4-year-old. And as a parent as well as a President, I repeat that request tonight. But in the meantime, 30 States have raised pre-K funding on their own. They know we can’t wait. So just as we worked with States to reform our schools, this year, we’ll invest in new partnerships with States and communities across the country in a Race to the Top for our youngest children. And as Congress decides what it’s going to do, I’m going to pull together a coalition of elected officials, business leaders, and philanthropists willing to help more kids access the high-quality pre-K that they need. It is right for America. We need to get this done. Last year, I also pledged to connect 99 percent of our students to high-speed broadband over the next 4 years. Tonight I can announce that with the support of the FCC and companies like Apple, Microsoft, Sprint, and Verizon, we’ve got a down payment to start connecting more than 15,000 schools and 20 million students over the next 2 years, without adding a dime to the deficit. We’re working to redesign high schools and partner them with colleges and employers that offer the real-world education and hands-on training that can lead directly to a job and career. We’re shaking up our system of higher education to give parents more information and colleges more incentive to offer better value so that no middle class kid is priced out of a college education. We’re offering millions the opportunity to cap their monthly student loan payments to 10 percent of their income, and I want to work with Congress to see how we can help even more Americans who feel trapped by student loan debt. And I’m reaching out to some of America’s leading foundations and corporations on a new initiative to help more young men of color facing especially tough odds to stay on track and reach their full potential. The bottom line is, Michelle and I want every child to have the same chance this country gave us. But we know our opportunity agenda won’t be complete, and too many young people entering the workforce today will see the American Dream as an empty promise, unless we also do more to make sure our economy honors the dignity of work and hard work pays off for every single American. Today, women make up about half our workforce, but they still make 77 cents for every dollar a man earns. That is wrong, and in 2014, it’s an embarrassment. Women deserve equal pay for equal work. She deserves to have a baby without sacrificing her job. A mother deserves a day off to care for a sick child or a sick parent without running into hardship. And you know what, a father does too. It is time to do away with workplace policies that belong in a “Mad Men” episode. [Laughter] This year, let’s all come together-;Congress, the White House, businesses from Wall Street to Main Street-;to give every woman the opportunity she deserves. Because I believe when women succeed, America succeeds. Now, women hold a majority of lower wage jobs, but they’re not the only ones stifled by stagnant wages. Americans understand that some people will earn more money than others, and we don’t resent those who, by virtue of their efforts, achieve incredible success. That’s what America is all about. But Americans overwhelmingly agree that no one who works full-time should ever have to raise a family in poverty. In the year since I asked this Congress to raise the minimum wage, five States have passed laws to raise theirs. Many businesses have done it on their own. Nick Chute is here today with his boss, John Soranno. John’s an owner of Punch Pizza in Minneapolis, and Nick helps make the dough. [Laughter] Only now he makes more of it. [Laughter] John just gave his employees a raise to 10 bucks an hour, and that’s a decision that has eased their financial stress and boosted their morale. Tonight I ask more of America’s business leaders to follow John’s lead: Do what you can to raise your employees’ wages. It’s good for the economy. It’s good for America. To every mayor, Governor, State legislator in America, I say: You don’t have to wait for Congress to act; Americans will support you if you take this on. And as a chief executive, I intend to lead by example. Profitable corporations like Costco see higher wages as the smart way to boost productivity and reduce turnover. We should too. In the coming weeks, I will issue an Executive order requiring Federal contractors to pay their federally funded employees a fair wage of at least 10 dollars and 10 cents an hour. Because if you cook our troops’ meals or wash their dishes, you should not have to live in poverty. Of course, to reach millions more, Congress does need to get on board. Today, the Federal minimum wage is worth about 20 percent less than it was when Ronald Reagan first stood here. And Tom Harkin and George Miller have a bill to fix that by lifting the minimum wage to 10 dollars and 10 cents. It’s easy to remember: 10-10. This will help families. It will give businesses customers with more money to spend. It does not involve any new bureaucratic program. So join the rest of the country. Say yes. Give America a raise. Give them a raise. There are other steps we can take to help families make ends meet, and few are more effective at reducing inequality and helping families pull themselves up through hard work than the earned-income tax credit. Right now it helps about half of all parents at some point. Think about that: It helps about half of all parents in America at some point in their lives. But I agree with Republicans like Senator Rubio that it doesn’t do enough for single workers who don’t have kids. So let’s work together to strengthen the credit, reward work, help more Americans get ahead. Let’s do more to help Americans save for retirement. Today, most workers don’t have a pension. A Social Security check often isn’t enough on its own. And while the stock market has doubled over the last 5 years, that doesn’t help folks who don’t have 401(k)s. That’s why, tomorrow, I will direct the Treasury to create a new way for working Americans to start their own retirement savings: MyI-;MyRA. It’s a new savings bond that encourages folks to build a nest egg. MyRA guarantees a decent return with no risk of losing what you put in. And if this Congress wants to help, work with me to fix an upside-down Tax Code that gives big tax breaks to help the wealthy save, but does little or nothing for middle class Americans. Offer every American access to an automatic IRA on the job so they can save at work just like everybody in this Chamber can. And since the most important investment many families make is their home, send me legislation that protects taxpayers from footing the bill for a housing crisis ever again and keeps the dream of homeownership alive for future generations. One last point on financial security: For decades, few things exposed hard-working families to economic hardship more than a broken health care system. And in case you haven’t heard, we’re in the process of fixing that. Now, a preexisting condition used to mean that someone like Amanda Shelley, a physician’s assistant and single mom from Arizona, couldn’t get health insurance. But on January 1, she got covered. On January 3, she felt a sharp pain. On January 6, she had emergency surgery. Just one week earlier, Amanda said, and that surgery would have meant bankruptcy. That’s what health insurance reform is all about: the peace of mind that if misfortune strikes, you don’t have to lose everything. Already, because of the Affordable Care Act, more than 3 million Americans under age 26 have gained coverage under their parent’s plan. More than 9 million Americans have signed up for private health insurance or Medicaid coverage. Nine million. And here’s another number: zero. Because of this law, no American-;none, zero-;can ever again be dropped or denied coverage for a preexisting condition like asthma or back pain or cancer. No woman can ever be charged more just because she’s a woman. And we did all this while adding years to Medicare’s finances, keeping Medicare premiums flat, and lowering prescription costs for millions of seniors. Now, I do not expect to convince my Republican friends on the merits of this law. [Laughter] But I know that the American people are not interested in refighting old battles. So again, if you have specific plans to cut costs, cover more people, increase choice, tell America what you’d do differently. Let’s see if the numbers add up. But let’s not have another 40-something votes to repeal a law that’s already helping millions of Americans like Amanda. The first 40 were plenty. [Laughter] We all owe it to the American people to say what we’re for, not just what we’re against. And if you want to know the real impact this law is having, just talk to Governor Steve Beshear of Kentucky, who’s here tonight. Now, Kentucky is not the most liberal part of the country. That’s not where I got my highest vote totals. [Laughter] But he’s like a man possessed when it comes to covering his Commonwealth’s families. They’re our neighbors and our friends, he said: “They’re people we shop and go to church with, farmers out on the tractor, grocery clerks. They’re people who go to work every morning praying they don’t get sick. No one deserves to live that way.” Steve’s right. That’s why tonight I ask every American who knows someone without health insurance to help them get covered by March 31. Help them get covered. Moms, get on your kids to sign up. Kids, call your mom and walk her through the application. It will give her some peace of mind, and plus, she’ll appreciate hearing from you. [Laughter] After all, that’s the spirit that has always moved this Nation forward. It’s the spirit of citizenship, the recognition that through hard work and responsibility, we can pursue our individual dreams, but still come together as one American family to make sure the next generation can pursue its dreams as well. Citizenship means standing up for everyone’s right to vote. Last year, part of the Voting Rights Act was weakened, but conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats are working together to strengthen it. And the bipartisan Commission I appointed, chaired by my campaign lawyer and Governor Romney’s campaign lawyer, came together and have offered reforms so that no one has to wait more than a half hour to vote. Let’s support these efforts. It should be the power of our vote, not the size of our bank accounts, that drives our democracy. Citizenship means standing up for the lives that gun violence steals from us each day. I’ve seen the courage of parents, students, pastors, police officers all over this country who say, “We are not afraid.” And I intend to keep trying, with or without Congress, to help stop more tragedies from visiting innocent Americans in our movie theaters, in our shopping malls, or schools like Sandy Hook. Citizenship demands a sense of common purpose, participation in the hard work of self-government, an obligation to serve our communities. And I know this Chamber agrees that few Americans give more to their country than our diplomats and the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. Thank you. Tonight, because of the extraordinary troops and civilians who risk and lay down their lives to keep us free, the United States is more secure. When I took office, nearly 180,000 Americans were serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, all our troops are out of Iraq. More than 60,000 of our troops have already come home from Afghanistan. With Afghan forces now in the lead for their own security, our troops have moved to a support role. Together with our allies, we will complete our mission there by the end of this year, and America’s longest war will finally be over. After 2014, we will support a unified Afghanistan as it takes responsibility for its own future. If the Afghan Government signs a security agreement that we have negotiated, a small force of Americans could remain in Afghanistan with NATO allies to carry out two narrow missions: training and assisting Afghan forces and counterterrorism operations to pursue any remnants of Al Qaida. For while our relationship with Afghanistan will change, one thing will not: our resolve that terrorists do not launch attacks against our country. The fact is, that danger remains. While we’ve put Al Qaida’s core leadership on a path to defeat, the threat has evolved as Al Qaida affiliates and other extremists take root in different parts of the world. In Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, Mali, we have to keep working with partners to disrupt and disable those networks. In Syria, we’ll support the opposition that rejects the agenda of terrorist networks. Here at home, we’ll keep strengthening our defenses and combat new threats like cyber attacks. And as we reform our defense budget, we will have to keep faith with our men and women in uniform and invest in the capabilities they need to succeed in future missions. We have to remain vigilant. But I strongly believe our leadership and our security cannot depend on our outstanding military alone. As Commander in Chief, I have used force when needed to protect the American people, and I will never hesitate to do so as long as I hold this office. But I will not send our troops into harm’s way unless it is truly necessary, nor will I allow our sons and daughters to be mired in open-ended conflicts. We must fight the battles that need to be fought, not those that terrorists prefer from us: large-scale deployments that drain our strength and may ultimately feed extremism. So even as we actively and aggressively pursue terrorist networks through more targeted efforts and by building the capacity of our foreign partners, America must move off a permanent war footing. That’s why I’ve imposed prudent limits on the use of drones. For we will not be safer if people abroad believe we strike within their countries without regard for the consequence. That’s why, working with this Congress, I will reform our surveillance programs, because the vital work of our intelligence community depends on public confidence, here and abroad, that privacy of ordinary people is not being violated. And with the Afghan war ending, this needs to be the year Congress lifts the remaining restrictions on detainee transfers and we close the prison at Guantanamo Bay. Because we counter terrorism not just through intelligence and military actions, but by remaining true to our constitutional ideals and setting an example for the rest of the world. You see, in a world of complex threats, our security, our leadership, depends on all elements of our power, including strong and principled diplomacy. American diplomacy has rallied more than 50 countries to prevent nuclear materials from falling into the wrong hands and allowed us to reduce our own reliance on cold war stockpiles. American diplomacy, backed by the threat of force, is why Syria’s chemical weapons are being eliminated. And we will continue to work with the international community to usher in the future the Syrian people deserve, a future free of dictatorship, terror, and fear. As we speak, American diplomacy is supporting Israelis and Palestinians as they engage in the difficult but necessary talks to end the conflict there, to achieve dignity and an independent state for Palestinians and lasting peace and security for the State of Israel, a Jewish state that knows America will always be at their side. And it is American diplomacy, backed by pressure, that has halted the progress of Iran’s nuclear program and rolled back parts of that program for the very first time in a decade. As we gather here tonight, Iran has begun to eliminate its stockpile of higher levels of enriched uranium. It’s not installing advanced centrifuges. Unprecedented inspections help the world verify every day that Iran is not building a bomb. And with our allies and partners, we’re engaged in negotiations to see if we can peacefully achieve a goal we all share: preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. These negotiations will be difficult. They may not succeed. We are clear eyed about Iran’s support for terrorist organizations like Hizballah, which threatens our allies. And we’re clear about the mistrust between our nations, mistrust that cannot be wished away. But these negotiations don’t rely on trust. Any long-term deal we agree to must be based on verifiable action that convinces us and the international community that Iran is not building a nuclear bomb. If John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan could negotiate with the Soviet Union, then surely a strong and confident America can negotiate with less powerful adversaries today. The sanctions that we put in place helped make this opportunity possible. But let me be clear: If this Congress sends me a new sanctions bill now that threatens to derail these talks, I will veto it. For the sake of our national security, we must give diplomacy a chance to succeed. If Iran’s leaders do not seize this opportunity, then I will be the first to call for more sanctions and stand ready to exercise all options to make sure Iran does not build a nuclear weapon. But if Iran’s leaders do seize the chance-;and we’ll know soon enough-;then Iran could take an important step to rejoin the community of nations, and we will have resolved one of the leading security challenges of our time without the risks of war. Now, finally, let’s remember that our leadership is defined not just by our defense against threats, but by the enormous opportunities to do good and promote understanding around the globe: to forge greater cooperation, to expand new markets, to free people from fear and want. And no one is better positioned to take advantage of those opportunities than America. Our alliance with Europe remains the strongest the world has ever known. From Tunisia to Burma, we’re supporting those who are willing to do the hard work of building democracy. In Ukraine, we stand for the principle that all people have the right to express themselves freely and peacefully and to have a say in their country’s future. Across Africa, we’re bringing together businesses and governments to double access to electricity and help end extreme poverty. In the Americas, we’re building new ties of commerce, but we’re also expanding cultural and educational exchanges among young people. And we will continue to focus on the Asia-Pacific, where we support our allies, shape a future of greater security and prosperity, and extend a hand to those devastated by disaster, as we did in the Philippines, when our Marines and civilians rushed to aid those battered by a typhoon, and who were greeted with words like, “We will never forget your kindness” and “God bless America.” We do these things because they help promote our long-term security, and we do them because we believe in the inherent dignity and equality of every human being, regardless of race or religion, creed or sexual orientation. And next week, the world will see one expression of that commitment, when Team U.S.A. marches the red, white, and blue into the Olympic Stadium and brings home the gold. [Laughter] Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. My fellow Americans, no other country in the world does what we do. On every issue, the world turns to us, not simply because of the size of our economy or our military might, but because of the ideals we stand for and the burdens we bear to advance them. No one knows this better than those who serve in uniform. As this time of war draws to a close, a new generation of heroes returns to civilian life. We’ll keep slashing that backlog so our veterans receive the benefits they’ve earned and our wounded warriors receive the health care-;including the mental health care-;that they need. We’ll keep working to help all our veterans translate their skills and leadership into jobs here at home. And we will all continue to join forces to honor and support our remarkable military families. Let me tell you about one of those families I’ve come to know. I first met Cory Remsburg, a proud Army Ranger, at Omaha Beach on the 65th anniversary of D-day. Along with some of his fellow Rangers, he walked me through the program and the ceremony. He was a strong, impressive young man, had an easy manner, he was sharp as a tack. And we joked around and took pictures, and I told him to stay in touch. A few months later, on his 10th deployment, Cory was nearly killed by a massive roadside bomb in Afghanistan. His comrades found him in a canal, face down, underwater, shrapnel in his brain. For months, he lay in a coma. And the next time I met him, in the hospital, he couldn’t speak, could barely move. Over the years, he’s endured dozens of surgeries and procedures, hours of grueling rehab every day. Even now, Cory is still blind in one eye, still struggles on his left side. But slowly, steadily, with the support of caregivers like his dad Craig and the community around him, Cory has grown stronger. And day by day, he’s learned to speak again and stand again and walk again. And he’s working toward the day when he can serve his country again. “My recovery has not been easy,” he says. “Nothing in life that’s worth anything is easy.” Cory is here tonight. And like the Army he loves, like the America he serves, Sergeant First Class Cory Remsburg never gives up, and he does not quit. Cory. My fellow Americans, men and women like Cory remind us that America has never come easy. Our freedom, our democracy, has never been easy. Sometimes, we stumble, we make mistakes; we get frustrated or discouraged. But for more than 200 years, we have put those things aside and placed our collective shoulder to the wheel of progress: to create and build and expand the possibilities of individual achievement, to free other nations from tyranny and fear, to promote justice and fairness and equality under the law so that the words set to paper by our Founders are made real for every citizen. The America we want for our kids-;a rising America where honest work is plentiful and communities are strong, where prosperity is widely shared and opportunity for all lets us go as far as our dreams and toil will take us-;none of it is easy. But if we work together-;if we summon what is best in us, the way Cory summoned what is best in him-;with our feet planted firmly in today, but our eyes cast toward tomorrow, I know it is within our reach. Believe it. God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.	Barack Obama	2014	2013-2016	Democratic	speech	234
235	The President. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, my fellow Americans: We are 15 years into this new century. Fifteen years that dawned with terror touching our shores, that unfolded with a new generation fighting two long and costly wars, that saw a vicious recession spread across our Nation and the world. It has been and still is a hard time for many. But tonight we turn the page. Tonight, after a breakthrough year for America, our economy is growing and creating jobs at the fastest pace since 1999. Our unemployment rate is now lower than it was before the financial crisis. More of our kids are graduating than ever before. More of our people are insured than ever before. And we are as free from the grip of foreign oil as we’ve been in almost 30 years. Tonight, for the first time since 9/11, our combat mission in Afghanistan is over. Six years ago, nearly 180,000 American troops served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, fewer than 15,000 remain. And we salute the courage and sacrifice of every man and woman in this 9/11 generation who has served to keep us safe. We are humbled and grateful for your service. America, for all that we have endured, for all the grit and hard work required to come back, for all the tasks that lie ahead, know this: The shadow of crisis has passed, and the State of the Union is strong. At this moment-;with a growing economy, shrinking deficits, bustling industry, booming energy production-;we have risen from recession freer to write our own future than any other nation on Earth. It’s now up to us to choose who we want to be over the next 15 years and for decades to come. Will we accept an economy where only a few of us do spectacularly well? Or will we commit ourselves to an economy that generates rising incomes and chances for everyone who makes the effort? Will we approach the world fearful and reactive, dragged into costly conflicts that strain our military and set back our standing? Or will we lead wisely, using all elements of our power to defeat new threats and protect our planet? Will we allow ourselves to be sorted into factions and turned against one another? Or will we recapture the sense of common purpose that has always propelled America forward? In 2 weeks, I will send this Congress a budget filled with ideas that are practical, not partisan. And in the months ahead, I’ll crisscross the country making a case for those ideas. So tonight I want to focus less on a checklist of proposals and focus more on the values at stake in the choices before us. It begins with our economy. Seven years ago, Rebekah and Ben Erler of Minneapolis were newlyweds. [Laughter] She waited tables. He worked construction. Their first child Jack was on the way. They were young and in love in America. And it doesn’t get much better than that. “If only we had known,” Rebekah wrote to me last spring, “what was about to happen to the housing and construction market.” As the crisis worsened, Ben’s business dried up, so he took what jobs he could find, even if they kept him on the road for long stretches of time. Rebekah took out student loans and enrolled in community college and retrained for a new career. They sacrificed for each other. And slowly, it paid off. They bought their first home. They had a second son Henry. Rebekah got a better job and then a raise. Ben is back in construction and home for dinner every night. “It is amazing,” Rebekah wrote, “what you can bounce back from when you have to. . . . We are a strong, tight-knit family who has made it through some very, very hard times.” We are a strong, tight-knit family who has made it through some very, very hard times. America, Rebekah and Ben’s story is our story. They represent the millions who have worked hard and scrimped and sacrificed and retooled. You are the reason that I ran for this office. You are the people I was thinking of 6 years ago today, in the darkest months of the crisis, when I stood on the steps of this Capitol and promised we would rebuild our economy on a new foundation. And it has been your resilience, your effort that has made it possible for our country to emerge stronger. We believed we could reverse the tide of outsourcing and draw new jobs to our shores. And over the past 5 years, our businesses have created more than 11 million new jobs. We believed we could reduce our dependence on foreign oil and protect our planet. And today, America is number one in oil and gas. America is number one in wind power. Every 3 weeks, we bring online as much solar power as we did in all of 2008. And thanks to lower gas prices and higher fuel standards, the typical family this year should save about $750 at the pump. We believed we could prepare our kids for a more competitive world. And today, our younger students have earned the highest math and reading scores on record. Our high school graduation rate has hit an alltime high. More Americans finish college than ever before. We believed that sensible regulations could prevent another crisis, shield families from ruin, and encourage fair competition. Today, we have new tools to stop taxpayer-funded bailouts and a new consumer watchdog to protect us from predatory lending and abusive credit card practices. And in the past year alone, about 10 million uninsured Americans finally gained the security of health coverage. At every step, we were told our goals were misguided or too ambitious, that we would crush jobs and explode deficits. Instead, we’ve seen the fastest economic growth in over a decade, our deficits cut by two-thirds, a stock market that has doubled, and health care inflation at its lowest rate in 50 years. This is good news, people. [Laughter] So the verdict is clear. Middle class economics works. Expanding opportunity works. And these policies will continue to work as long as politics don’t get in the way. We can’t slow down businesses or put our economy at risk with Government shutdowns or fiscal showdowns. We can’t put the security of families at risk by taking away their health insurance or unraveling the new rules on Wall Street or refighting past battles on immigration when we’ve got to fix a broken system. And if a bill comes to my desk that tries to do any of these things, I will veto it. It will have earned my veto. Today, thanks to a growing economy, the recovery is touching more and more lives. Wages are finally starting to rise again. We know that more small-business owners plan to raise their employees’ pay than at any time since 2007. But here’s the thing: Those of us here tonight, we need to set our sights higher than just making sure Government doesn’t screw things up-;[laughter]-;that Government doesn’t halt the progress we’re making. We need to do more than just do no harm. Tonight, together, let’s do more to restore the link between hard work and growing opportunity for every American. Because families like Rebekah’s still need our help. She and Ben are working as hard as ever, but they’ve had to forego vacations and a new car so that they can pay off student loans and save for retirement. Friday night pizza, that’s a big splurge. Basic childcare for Jack and Henry costs more than their mortgage and almost as much as a year at the University of Minnesota. Like millions of hard-working Americans, Rebekah isn’t asking for a handout, but she is asking that we look for more ways to help families get ahead. And in fact, at every moment of economic change throughout our history, this country has taken bold action to adapt to new circumstances and to make sure everyone gets a fair shot. We set up worker protections, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid to protect ourselves from the harshest adversity. We gave our citizens schools and colleges, infrastructure and the Internet, tools they needed to go as far as their efforts and their dreams will take them. That’s what middle class economics is: the idea that this country does best when everyone gets their fair shot, everyone does their fair share, everyone plays by the same set of rules. We don’t just want everyone to share in America’s success, we want everyone to contribute to our success. So what does middle class economics require in our time? First, middle class economics means helping working families feel more secure in a world of constant change. That means helping folks afford childcare, college, health care, a home, retirement. And my budget will address each of these issues, lowering the taxes of working families and putting thousands of dollars back into their pockets each year. Here’s one example. During World War II, when men like my grandfather went off to war, having women like my grandmother in the workforce was a national security priority, so this country provided universal childcare. In today’s economy, when having both parents in the workforce is an economic necessity for many families, we need affordable, high-quality childcare more than ever. It’s not a nice-to-have, it’s a must-have. So it’s time we stop treating childcare as a side issue, or as a women’s issue, and treat it like the national economic priority that it is for all of us. And that’s why my plan will make quality childcare more available and more affordable for every middle class and low-income family with young children in America, by creating more slots and a new tax cut of up to $3,000 per child, per year. Here’s another example. Today, we are the only advanced country on Earth that doesn’t guarantee paid sick leave or paid maternity leave to our workers. Forty-three million workers have no paid sick leave-;43 million. Think about that. And that forces too many parents to make the gut-wrenching choice between a paycheck and a sick kid at home. So I’ll be taking new action to help States adopt paid leave laws of their own. And since paid sick leave won where it was on the ballot last November, let’s put it to a vote right here in Washington. Send me a bill that gives every worker in America the opportunity to earn 7 days of paid sick leave. It’s the right thing to do. It’s the right thing to do. Of course, nothing helps families make ends meet like higher wages. That’s why this Congress still needs to pass a law that makes sure a woman is paid the same as a man for doing the same work. I mean, it’s 2015. [Laughter] It’s time. We still need to make sure employees get the overtime they’ve earned. And to everyone in this Congress who still refuses to raise the minimum wage, I say this: If you truly believe you could work full time and support a family on less than $15,000 a year, try it. If not, vote to give millions of the hardest working people in America a raise. Now, these ideas won’t make everybody rich, won’t relieve every hardship. That’s not the job of government. To give working families a fair shot, we still need more employers to see beyond next quarter’s earnings and recognize that investing in their workforce is in their company’s long-term interest. We still need laws that strengthen rather than weaken unions, and give American workers a voice. But you know, things like childcare and sick leave and equal pay, things like lower mortgage premiums and a higher minimum wage-;these ideas will make a meaningful difference in the lives of millions of families. That’s a fact. And that’s what all of us, Republicans and Democrats alike, were sent here to do. Now, second, to make sure folks keep earning higher wages down the road, we have to do more to help Americans upgrade their skills. America thrived in the 20th century because we made high school free, sent a generation of GIs to college, trained the best workforce in the world. We were ahead of the curve. But other countries caught on. And in a 21st-century economy that rewards knowledge like never before, we need to up our game. We need to do more. By the end of this decade, two in three job openings will require some higher education-;two in three. And yet we still live in a country where too many bright, striving Americans are priced out of the education they need. It’s not fair to them, and it’s sure not smart for our future. And that’s why I’m sending this Congress a bold new plan to lower the cost of community college to zero. Keep in mind, 40 percent of our college students choose community college. Some are young and starting out. Some are older and looking for a better job. Some are veterans and single parents trying to transition back into the job market. Whoever you are, this plan is your chance to graduate ready for the new economy without a load of debt. Understand, you’ve got to earn it. You’ve got to keep your grades up and graduate on time. Tennessee, a State with Republican leadership, and Chicago, a city with Democratic leadership, are showing that free community college is possible. I want to spread that idea all across America so that 2 years of college becomes as free and universal in America as high school is today. Let’s stay ahead of the curve. And I want to work with this Congress to make sure those already burdened with student loans can reduce their monthly payments so that student debt doesn’t derail anyone’s dreams. Thanks to Vice President Biden’s great work to update our job training system, we’re connecting community colleges with local employers to train workers to fill high-paying jobs like coding and nursing and robotics. Tonight I’m also asking more businesses to follow the lead of companies like CVS and UPS and offer more educational benefits and paid apprenticeships, opportunities that give workers the chance to earn higher paying jobs even if they don’t have a higher education. And as a new generation of veterans comes home, we owe them every opportunity to live the American Dream they helped defend. Already, we’ve made strides towards ensuring that every veteran has access to the highest quality care. We’re slashing the backlog that had too many veterans waiting years to get the benefits they need. And we’re making it easier for vets to translate their training and experience into civilian jobs. And Joining Forces, the national campaign launched by Michelle and Jill Biden-;[applause]-;thank you, Michelle; thank you, Jill-;has helped nearly 700,000 veterans and military spouses get a new job. So to every CEO in America, let me repeat: If you want somebody who’s going to get the job done and done right, hire a veteran. Finally, as we better train our workers, we need the new economy to keep churning out high-wage jobs for our workers to fill. Since 2010, America has put more people back to work than Europe, Japan, and all advanced economies combined. Our manufacturers have added almost 800,000 new jobs. Some of our bedrock sectors, like our auto industry, are booming. But there are also millions of Americans who work in jobs that didn’t even exist 10 or 20 years ago, jobs at companies like Google and eBay and Tesla. So no one knows for certain which industries will generate the jobs of the future. But we do know we want them here in America. We know that. And that’s why the third part of middle class economics is all about building the most competitive economy anywhere, the place where businesses want to locate and hire. Twenty-first century businesses need 21st-century infrastructure: modern ports and stronger bridges, faster trains and the fastest Internet. Democrats and Republicans used to agree on this. So let’s set our sights higher than a single oil pipeline. Let’s pass a bipartisan infrastructure plan that could create more than 30 times as many jobs per year and make this country stronger for decades to come. Let’s do it. Let’s get it done. Let’s get it done. Twenty-first century businesses, including small businesses, need to sell more American products overseas. Today, our businesses export more than ever, and exporters tend to pay their workers higher wages. But as we speak, China wants to write the rules for the world’s fastest growing region. That would put our workers and our businesses at a disadvantage. Why would we let that happen? We should write those rules. We should level the playing field. And that’s why I’m asking both parties to give me trade promotion authority to protect American workers, with strong new trade deals from Asia to Europe that aren’t just free, but are also fair. It’s the right thing to do. Look, I’m the first one to admit that past trade deals haven’t always lived up to the hype, and that’s why we’ve gone after countries that break the rules at our expense. But 95 percent of the world’s customers live outside our borders. We can’t close ourselves off from those opportunities. More than half of manufacturing executives have said they’re actively looking to bring jobs back from China. So let’s give them one more reason to get it done. Twenty-first century businesses will rely on American science and technology, research and development. I want the country that eliminated polio and mapped the human genome to lead a new era of medicine, one that delivers the right treatment at the right time. In some patients with cystic fibrosis, this approach has reversed a disease once thought unstoppable. So tonight I’m launching a new precision medicine initiative to bring us closer to curing diseases like cancer and diabetes and to give all of us access to the personalized information we need to keep ourselves and our families healthier. We can do this. I intend to protect a free and open Internet, extend its reach to every classroom and every community and help folks build the fastest networks so that the next generation of digital innovators and entrepreneurs have the platform to keep reshaping our world. I want Americans to win the race for the kinds of discoveries that unleash new jobs: converting sunlight into liquid fuel; creating revolutionary prosthetics so that a veteran who gave his arms for his country can play catch with his kids again; pushing out into the solar system not just to visit, but to stay. Last month, we launched a new spacecraft as part of a reenergized space program that will send American astronauts to Mars. And in 2 months, to prepare us for those missions, Scott Kelly will begin a year-long stay in space. So good luck, Captain. Make sure to Instagram it. We’re proud of you. Now, the truth is, when it comes to issues like infrastructure and basic research, I know there’s bipartisan support in this Chamber. Members of both parties have told me so. Where we too often run onto the rocks is how to pay for these investments. As Americans, we don’t mind paying our fair share of taxes as long as everybody else does too. But for far too long, lobbyists have rigged the Tax Code with loopholes that let some corporations pay nothing while others pay full freight. They’ve riddled it with giveaways that the super-rich don’t need, while denying a break to middle class families who do. This year, we have an opportunity to change that. Let’s close loopholes so we stop rewarding companies that keep profits abroad and reward those that invest here in America. Let’s use those savings to rebuild our infrastructure and to make it more attractive for companies to bring jobs home. Let’s simplify the system and let a small-business owner file based on her actual bank statement, instead of the number of accountants she can afford. And let’s close the loopholes that lead to inequality by allowing the top 1 percent to avoid paying taxes on their accumulated wealth. We can use that money to help more families pay for childcare and send their kids to college. We need a Tax Code that truly helps working Americans trying to get a leg up in the new economy, and we can achieve that together. We can achieve it together. Helping hard-working families make ends meet, giving them the tools they need for good-paying jobs in this new economy, maintaining the conditions of growth and competitiveness-;this is where America needs to go. I believe it’s where the American people want to go. It will make our economy stronger a year from now, 15 years from now, and deep into the century ahead. Of course, if there’s one thing this new century has taught us, it’s that we cannot separate our work here at home from challenges beyond our shores. My first duty as Commander in Chief is to defend the United States of America. In doing so, the question is not whether America leads in the world, but how. When we make rash decisions, reacting to the headlines instead of using our heads, when the first response to a challenge is to send in our military, then we risk getting drawn into unnecessary conflicts and neglect the broader strategy we need for a safer, more prosperous world. That’s what our enemies want us to do. I believe in a smarter kind of American leadership. We lead best when we combine military power with strong diplomacy, when we leverage our power with coalition building, when we don’t let our fears blind us to the opportunities that this new century presents. That’s exactly what we’re doing right now. And around the globe, it is making a difference. First, we stand united with people around the world who have been targeted by terrorists, from a school in Pakistan to the streets of Paris. We will continue to hunt down terrorists and dismantle their networks, and we reserve the right to act unilaterally, as we have done relentlessly since I took office, to take out terrorists who pose a direct threat to us and our allies. At the same time, we’ve learned some costly lessons over the last 13 years. Instead of Americans patrolling the valleys of Afghanistan, we’ve trained their security forces, who have now taken the lead, and we’ve honored our troops’ sacrifice by supporting that country’s first democratic transition. Instead of sending large ground forces overseas, we’re partnering with nations from South Asia to North Africa to deny safe haven to terrorists who threaten America. In Iraq and Syria, American leadership-;including our military power-;is stopping ISIL’s advance. Instead of getting dragged into another ground war in the Middle East, we are leading a broad coalition, including Arab nations, to degrade and ultimately destroy this terrorist group. We’re also supporting a moderate opposition in Syria that can help us in this effort and assisting people everywhere who stand up to the bankrupt ideology of violent extremism. Now, this effort will take time. It will require focus. But we will succeed. And tonight I call on this Congress to show the world that we are united in this mission by passing a resolution to authorize the use of force against ISIL. We need that authority. Second, we’re demonstrating the power of American strength and diplomacy. We’re upholding the principle that bigger nations can’t bully the small, by opposing Russian aggression and supporting Ukraine’s democracy and reassuring our NATO allies. Last year, as we were doing the hard work of imposing sanctions along with our allies, as we were reinforcing our presence with frontline states, Mr. Putin’s aggression, it was suggested, was a masterful display of strategy and strength. That’s what I heard from some folks. [Laughter] Well, today, it is America that stands strong and united with our allies, while Russia is isolated with its economy in tatters. That’s how America leads: not with bluster, but with persistent, steady resolve. In Cuba, we are ending a policy that was long past its expiration date. When what you’re doing doesn’t work for 50 years, it’s time to try something new. [Laughter] And our shift in Cuba policy has the potential to end a legacy of mistrust in our hemisphere. It removes a phony excuse for restrictions in Cuba. It stands up for democratic values and extends the hand of friendship to the Cuban people. And this year, Congress should begin the work of ending the embargo. As His Holiness Pope Francis has said, diplomacy is the work of “small steps.” And these small steps have added up to new hope for the future in Cuba. And after years in prison, we are overjoyed that Alan Gross is back where he belongs. Welcome home, Alan. We’re glad you’re here. Our diplomacy is at work with respect to Iran, where, for the first time in a decade, we’ve halted the progress of its nuclear program and reduced its stockpile of nuclear material. Between now and this spring, we have a chance to negotiate a comprehensive agreement that prevents a nuclear-armed Iran, secures America and our allies, including Israel, while avoiding yet another Middle East conflict. There are no guarantees that negotiations will succeed, and I keep all options on the table to prevent a nuclear Iran. But new sanctions passed by this Congress, at this moment in time, will all but guarantee that diplomacy fails: alienating America from its allies, making it harder to maintain sanctions, and ensuring that Iran starts up its nuclear program again. It doesn’t make sense. And that’s why I will veto any new sanctions bill that threatens to undo this progress. The American people expect us only to go to war as a last resort, and I intend to stay true to that wisdom. Third, we’re looking beyond the issues that have consumed us in the past to shape the coming century. No foreign nation, no hacker, should be able to shut down our networks, steal our trade secrets, or invade the privacy of American families, especially our kids. So we’re making sure our Government integrates intelligence to combat cyber threats, just as we have done to combat terrorism. And tonight I urge this Congress to finally pass the legislation we need to better meet the evolving threat of cyber attacks, combat identity theft, and protect our children’s information. That should be a bipartisan effort. If we don’t act, we’ll leave our Nation and our economy vulnerable. If we do, we can continue to protect the technologies that have unleashed untold opportunities for people around the globe. In West Africa, our troops, our scientists, our doctors, our nurses, our health care workers are rolling back Ebola, saving countless lives and stopping the spread of disease. I could not be prouder of them, and I thank this Congress for your bipartisan support of their efforts. But the job is not yet done, and the world needs to use this lesson to build a more effective global effort to prevent the spread of future pandemics, invest in smart development, and eradicate extreme poverty. In the Asia-Pacific, we are modernizing alliances while making sure that other nations play by the rules: in how they trade, how they resolve maritime disputes, how they participate in meeting common international challenges like nonproliferation and disaster relief. And no challenge-;no challenge-;poses a greater threat to future generations than climate change. Two thousand fourteen was the planet’s warmest year on record. Now, 1 year doesn’t make a trend, but this does: 14 of the 15 warmest years on record have all fallen in the first 15 years of this century. Now, I’ve heard some folks try to dodge the evidence by saying they’re not scientists, that we don’t have enough information to act. Well, I’m not a scientist, either. But you know what, I know a lot of really good scientists-;[laughter]-;at NASA and at NOAA and at our major universities. And the best scientists in the world are all telling us that our activities are changing the climate, and if we don’t act forcefully, we’ll continue to see rising oceans, longer, hotter heat waves, dangerous droughts and floods, and massive disruptions that can trigger greater migration and conflict and hunger around the globe. The Pentagon says that climate change poses immediate risks to our national security. We should act like it. And that’s why, over the past 6 years, we’ve done more than ever to combat climate change, from the way we produce energy to the way we use it. That’s why we’ve set aside more public lands and waters than any administration in history. And that’s why I will not let this Congress endanger the health of our children by turning back the clock on our efforts. I am determined to make sure that American leadership drives international action. In Beijing, we made a historic announcement: The United States will double the pace at which we cut carbon pollution. And China committed, for the first time, to limiting their emissions. And because the world’s two largest economies came together, other nations are now stepping up and offering hope that this year the world will finally reach an agreement to protect the one planet we’ve got. And there’s one last pillar of our leadership, and that’s the example of our values. As Americans, we respect human dignity, even when we’re threatened, which is why I have prohibited torture and worked to make sure our use of new technology like drones is properly constrained. It’s why we speak out against the deplorable anti-Semitism that has resurfaced in certain parts of the world. It’s why we continue to reject offensive stereotypes of Muslims, the vast majority of whom share our commitment to peace. That’s why we defend free speech and advocate for political prisoners and condemn the persecution of women or religious minorities or people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. We do these things not only because they are the right thing to do, but because ultimately, they will make us safer. As Americans, we have a profound commitment to justice. So it makes no sense to spend $3 million per prisoner to keep open a prison that the world condemns and terrorists use to recruit. Since I’ve been President, we’ve worked responsibly to cut the population of Gitmo in half. Now it is time to finish the job. And I will not relent in my determination to shut it down. It is not who we are. It’s time to close Gitmo. As Americans, we cherish our civil liberties, and we need to uphold that commitment if we want maximum cooperation from other countries and industry in our fight against terrorist networks. So while some have moved on from the debates over our surveillance programs, I have not. As promised, our intelligence agencies have worked hard, with the recommendations of privacy advocates, to increase transparency and build more safeguards against potential abuse. And next month, we’ll issue a report on how we’re keeping our promise to keep our country safe while strengthening privacy. Looking to the future instead of the past, making sure we match our power with diplomacy and use force wisely, building coalitions to meet new challenges and opportunities, leading always with the example of our values-;that’s what makes us exceptional. That’s what keeps us strong. That’s why we have to keep striving to hold ourselves to the highest of standards: our own. You know, just over a decade ago, I gave a speech in Boston where I said there wasn’t a liberal America or a conservative America, a Black America or a White America, but a United States of America. I said this because I had seen it in my own life, in a nation that gave someone like me a chance; because I grew up in Hawaii, a melting pot of races and customs; because I made Illinois my home, a State of small towns, rich farmland, one of the world’s great cities, a microcosm of the country where Democrats and Republicans and Independents, good people of every ethnicity and every faith, share certain bedrock values. Over the past 6 years, the pundits have pointed out more than once that my Presidency hasn’t delivered on this vision. How ironic, they say, that our politics seems more divided than ever. It’s held up as proof not just of my own flaws-;of which there are many-;but also as proof that the vision itself is misguided, naive, that there are too many people in this town who actually benefit from partisanship and gridlock for us to ever do anything about it. I know how tempting such cynicism may be. But I still think the cynics are wrong. I still believe that we are one people. I still believe that together, we can do great things, even when the odds are long. I believe this because over and over in my 6 years in office, I have seen America at its best. I’ve seen the hopeful faces of young graduates from New York to California and our newest officers at West Point, Annapolis, Colorado Springs, New London. I’ve mourned with grieving families in Tucson and Newtown, in Boston, in West, Texas, and West Virginia. I’ve watched Americans beat back adversity from the Gulf Coast to the Great Plains, from Midwest assembly lines to the Mid-Atlantic seaboard. I’ve seen something like gay marriage go from a wedge issue used to drive us apart to a story of freedom across our country, a civil right now legal in States that 7 in 10 Americans call home. So I know the good and optimistic and big-hearted generosity of the American people who every day live the idea that we are our brother’s keeper and our sister’s keeper. And I know they expect those of us who serve here to set a better example. So the question for those of us here tonight is how we, all of us, can better reflect America’s hopes. I’ve served in Congress with many of you. I know many of you well. There are a lot of good people here on both sides of the aisle. And many of you have told me that this isn’t what you signed up for: arguing past each other on cable shows, the constant fundraising, always looking over your shoulder at how the base will react to every decision. Imagine if we broke out of these tired old patterns. Imagine if we did something different. Understand, a better politics isn’t one where Democrats abandon their agenda or Republicans simply embrace mine. A better politics is one where we appeal to each other’s basic decency instead of our basest fears. A better politics is one where we debate without demonizing each other, where we talk issues and values and principles and facts rather than “gotcha” moments or trivial gaffes or fake controversies that have nothing to do with people’s daily lives. A politics-;a better politics is one where we spend less time drowning in dark money for ads that pull us into the gutter and spend more time lifting young people up with a sense of purpose and possibility, asking them to join in the great mission of building America. If we’re going to have arguments, let’s have arguments, but let’s make them debates worthy of this body and worthy of this country. We still may not agree on a woman’s right to choose, but surely we can agree it’s a good thing that teen pregnancies and abortions are nearing alltime lows and that every woman should have access to the health care that she needs. Yes, passions still fly on immigration, but surely we can all see something of ourselves in the striving young student and agree that no one benefits when a hard-working mom is snatched from her child and that it’s possible to shape a law that upholds our tradition as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants. I’ve talked to Republicans and Democrats about that. That’s something that we can share. We may go at it in campaign season, but surely we can agree that the right to vote is sacred, that it’s being denied to too many, and that on this 50th anniversary of the great march from Selma to Montgomery and the passage of the Voting Rights Act, we can come together, Democrats and Republicans, to make voting easier for every single American. We may have different takes on the events of Ferguson and New York. But surely we can understand a father who fears his son can’t walk home without being harassed. And surely we can understand the wife who won’t rest until the police officer she married walks through the front door at the end of his shift. And surely we can agree that it’s a good thing that for the first time in 40 years, the crime rate and the incarceration rate have come down together, and use that as a starting point for Democrats and Republicans, community leaders and law enforcement, to reform America’s criminal justice system so that it protects and serves all of us. That’s a better politics. That’s how we start rebuilding trust. That’s how we move this country forward. That’s what the American people want. And that’s what they deserve. I have no more campaigns to run. [At this point, some audience members applauded.] My only agenda-;[laughter]. Audience member. [Inaudible] The President. I know because I won both of them. [Laughter] My only agenda for the next 2 years is the same as the one I’ve had since the day I swore an oath on the steps of this Capitol: to do what I believe is best for America. If you share the broad vision I outlined tonight, I ask you to join me in the work at hand. If you disagree with parts of it, I hope you’ll at least work with me where you do agree. And I commit to every Republican here tonight that I will not only seek out your ideas, I will seek to work with you to make this country stronger. Because I want this Chamber, I want this city to reflect the truth: that for all our blind spots and shortcomings, we are a people with the strength and generosity of spirit to bridge divides, to unite in common effort, to help our neighbors, whether down the street or on the other side of the world. I want our actions to tell every child in every neighborhood, your life matters, and we are committed to improving your life chances, as committed as we are to working on behalf of our own kids. I want future generations to know that we are a people who see our differences as a great gift, that we’re a people who value the dignity and worth of every citizen: man and woman, young and old, Black and White, Latino, Asian, immigrant, Native American, gay, straight, Americans with mental illness or physical disability. Everybody matters. I want them to grow up in a country that shows the world what we still know to be true: that we are still more than a collection of red States and blue States, that we are the United States of America. I want them to grow up in a country where a young mom can sit down and write a letter to her President with a story that sums up these past 6 years: “It’s amazing what you can bounce back from when you have to. . . . We are a strong, tight-knit family who’s made it through some very, very hard times.” My fellow Americans, we too are a strong, tight-knit family. We too have made it through some hard times. Fifteen years into this new century, we have picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves off, and begun again the work of remaking America. We have laid a new foundation. A brighter future is ours to write. Let’s begin this new chapter together, and let’s start the work right now. Thank you. God bless you. God bless this country we love. Thank you.	Barack Obama	2015	2013-2016	Democratic	speech	235
236	Thank you. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, my fellow Americans: Tonight marks the eighth year that I’ve come here to report on the State of the Union. And for this final one, I’m going to try to make it a little shorter. I know some of you are antsy to get back to Iowa. [Laughter] I’ve been there. I’ll be shaking hands afterwards if you want some tips. [Laughter] Now, I understand that because it’s an election season, expectations for what we will achieve this year are low. But, Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the constructive approach that you and other leaders took at the end of last year to pass a budget and make tax cuts permanent for working families. So I hope we can work together this year on some bipartisan priorities like criminal justice reform and helping people who are battling prescription drug abuse and heroin abuse. So, who knows, we might surprise the cynics again. But tonight I want to go easy on the traditional list of proposals for the year ahead. Don’t worry, I’ve got plenty-;[laughter]-;from helping students learn to write computer code to personalizing medical treatments for patients. And I will keep pushing for progress on the work that I believe still needs to be done: fixing a broken immigration system, protecting our kids from gun violence, equal pay for equal work, paid leave, raising the minimum wage. All these things still matter to hard-working families. They’re still the right thing to do. And I won’t let up until they get done. But for my final address to this Chamber, I don’t want to just talk about next year. I want to focus on the next 5 years, the next 10 years, and beyond. I want to focus on our future. We live in a time of extraordinary change, change that’s reshaping the way we live, the way we work, our planet, our place in the world. It’s change that promises amazing medical breakthroughs, but also economic disruptions that strain working families. It promises this education for girls in the most remote villages, but also connects terrorists plotting an ocean away. It’s change that can broaden opportunity or widen inequality. And whether we like it or not, the pace of this change will only accelerate. America has been through big changes before: wars and depression, the influx of new immigrants, workers fighting for a fair deal, movements to expand civil rights. Each time, there have been those who told us to fear the future; who claimed we could slam the brakes on change; who promised to restore past glory if we just got some group or idea that was threatening America under control. And each time, we overcame those fears. We did not, in the words of Lincoln, adhere to the “dogmas of the quiet past.” Instead, we thought anew and acted anew. We made change work for us, always extending America’s promise outward, to the next frontier, to more people. And because we did, because we saw opportunity with a-;where others saw peril, we emerged stronger and better than before. What was true then can be true now. Our unique strengths as a nation-;our optimism and work ethic, our spirit of discovery, our diversity, our commitment to rule of law-;these things give us everything we need to ensure prosperity and security for generations to come. In fact, it’s in that spirit that we have made progress these past 7 years. That’s how we recovered from the worst economic crisis in generations. That’s how we reformed our health care system and reinvented our energy sector. That’s how we delivered more care and benefits to our troops coming home and our veterans. That’s how we secured the freedom in every State to marry the person we love. But such progress is not inevitable. It’s the result of choices we make together. And we face such choices right now. Will we respond to the changes of our time with fear, turning inward as a nation, turning against each other as a people? Or will we face the future with confidence in who we are, in what we stand for, in the incredible things that we can do together? So let’s talk about the future and four big questions that I believe we as a country have to answer, regardless of who the next President is or who controls the next Congress. First, how do we give everyone a fair shot at opportunity and security in this new economy? Second, how do we make technology work for us and not against us, especially when it comes to solving urgent challenges like climate change? Third, how do we keep America safe and lead the world without becoming its policeman? And finally, how can we make our politics reflect what’s best in us and not what’s worst? Let me start with the economy and a basic fact: The United States of America right now has the strongest, most durable economy in the world. We’re in the middle of the longest streak of private sector job creation in history. More than 14 million new jobs, the strongest 2 years of job growth since the 1990s, an unemployment rate cut in half. Our auto industry just had its best year ever. That’s just part of a manufacturing surge that’s created nearly 900,000 new jobs in the past 6 years. And we’ve done all this while cutting our deficits by almost three-quarters. Anyone claiming that America’s economy is in decline is peddling fiction. Now, what is true-;and the reason that a lot of Americans feel anxious-;is that the economy has been changing in profound ways, changes that started long before the great recession hit, changes that have not let up. Today, technology doesn’t just replace jobs on the assembly line, but any job where work can be automated. Companies in a global economy can locate anywhere, and they face tougher competition. As a result, workers have less leverage for a raise. Companies have less loyalty to their communities. And more and more wealth and income is concentrated at the very top. All these trends have squeezed workers, even when they have jobs, even when the economy is growing. It’s made it harder for a hard-working family to pull itself out of poverty, harder for young people to start their careers, tougher for workers to retire when they want to. And although none of these trends are unique to America, they do offend our uniquely American belief that everybody who works hard should get a fair shot. For the past 7 years, our goal has been a growing economy that also works better for everybody. We’ve made progress, but we need to make more. And despite all the political arguments that we’ve had these past few years, there are actually some areas where Americans broadly agree. We agree that real opportunity requires every American to get the education and training they need to land a good-paying job. The bipartisan reform of No Child Left Behind was an important start, and together, we’ve increased early childhood education, lifted high school graduation rates to new highs, boosted graduates in fields like engineering. In the coming years, we should build on that progress, by providing pre-K for all and offering every student the hands-on computer science and math classes that make them job-ready on day one. We should recruit and support more great teachers for our kids. And we have to make college affordable for every American. No hard-working student should be stuck in the red. We’ve already reduced student loan payments by-;to 10 percent of a borrower’s income. And that’s good. But now we’ve actually got to cut the cost of college. Providing 2 years of community college at no cost for every responsible student is one of the best ways to do that, and I’m going to keep fighting to get that started this year. It’s the right thing to do. But a great education isn’t all we need in this new economy. We also need benefits and protections that provide a basic measure of security. It’s not too much of a stretch to say that some of the only people in America who are going to work the same job, in the same place, with a health and retirement package for 30 years are sitting in this Chamber. [Laughter] For everyone else, especially folks in their forties and fifties, saving for retirement or bouncing back from job loss has gotten a lot tougher. Americans understand that at some point in their careers, in this new economy, they may have to retool, they may have to retrain. But they shouldn’t lose what they’ve already worked so hard to build in the process. That’s why Social Security and Medicare are more important than ever. We shouldn’t weaken them, we should strengthen them. And for Americans short of retirement, basic benefits should be just as mobile as everything else is today. That, by the way, is what the Affordable Care Act is all about. It’s about filling the gaps in employer-based care so that when you lose a job or you go back to school or you strike out and launch that new business, you’ll still have coverage. Nearly 18 million people have gained coverage so far. And in the process, health care inflation has slowed. And our businesses have created jobs every single month since it became law. Now, I’m guessing we won’t agree on health care anytime soon, but-;[laughter]-;a little applause back there. [Laughter] Just a guess. But there should be other ways parties can work together to improve economic security. Say a hard-working American loses his job. We shouldn’t just make sure that he can get unemployment insurance, we should make sure that program encourages him to retrain for a business that’s ready to hire him. If that new job doesn’t pay as much, there should be a system of wage insurance in place so that he can still pay his bills. And even if he’s going from job to job, he should still be able to save for retirement and take his savings with him. That’s the way we make the new economy work better for everybody. I also know Speaker Ryan has talked about his interest in tackling poverty. America is about giving everybody willing to work a chance, a hand up. And I’d welcome a serious discussion about strategies we can all support, like expanding tax cuts for low-income workers who don’t have children. But there are some areas where-;we just have to be honest-;it has been difficult to find agreement over the last 7 years. And a lot of them fall under the category of what role the Government should play in making sure the system’s not rigged in favor of the wealthiest and biggest corporations. And it’s an honest disagreement, and the American people have a choice to make. I believe a thriving private sector is the lifeblood of our economy. I think there are outdated regulations that need to be changed. There is redtape that needs to be cut. There you go! Yes! See? But after years now of record corporate profits, working families won’t get more opportunity or bigger paychecks just by letting big banks or big oil or hedge funds make their own rules at everybody else’s expense. Middle class families are not going to feel more secure because we allowed attacks on collective bargaining to go unanswered. Food stamp recipients did not cause the financial crisis; recklessness on Wall Street did. Immigrants aren’t the principal reason wages haven’t gone up; those decisions are made in the boardrooms that all too often put quarterly earnings over long-term returns. It’s sure not the average family watching tonight that avoids paying taxes through offshore accounts. [Laughter] The point is, I believe that in this new economy, workers and startups and small businesses need more of a voice, not less. The rules should work for them. And I’m not alone in this. This year, I plan to lift up the many businesses who have figured out that doing right by their workers or their customers or their communities ends up being good for their shareholders. And I want to spread those best practices across America. That’s part of a brighter future. In fact, it turns, out many of our best corporate citizens are also our most creative. And this brings me to the second big question we as a country have to answer: How do we reignite that spirit of innovation to meet our biggest challenges? Sixty years ago, when the Russians beat us into space, we didn’t deny Sputnik was up there. [Laughter] We didn’t argue about the science or shrink our research and development budget. We built a space program almost overnight. And 12 years later, we were walking on the Moon. Now, that spirit of discovery is in our DNA. America is Thomas Edison and the Wright Brothers and George Washington Carver. America is Grace Hopper and Katherine Johnson and Sally Ride. America is every immigrant and entrepreneur from Boston to Austin to Silicon Valley, racing to shape a better future. That’s who we are. And over the past 7 years, we’ve nurtured that spirit. We’ve protected an open Internet and taken bold new steps to get more students and low-income Americans online. We’ve launched next-generation manufacturing hubs and online tools that give an entrepreneur everything he or she needs to start a business in a single day. But we can do so much more. Last year, Vice President Biden said that with a new moonshot, America can cure cancer. Last month, he worked with this Congress to give scientists at the National Institutes of Health the strongest resources that they’ve had in over a decade. Well-;so tonight I’m announcing a new national effort to get it done. And because he’s gone to the mat for all of us on so many issues over the past 40 years, I’m putting Joe in charge of mission control. For the loved ones we’ve all lost, for the families that we can still save, let’s make America the country that cures cancer once and for all. What do you say, Joe? Let’s make it happen. Now, medical research is critical. We need the same level of commitment when it comes to developing clean energy sources. Look, if anybody still wants to dispute the science around climate change, have at it. [Laughter] You will be pretty lonely, because you’ll be debating our military, most of America’s business leaders, the majority of the American people, almost the entire scientific community, and 200 nations around the world who agree it’s a problem and intend to solve it. But even if the planet wasn’t at stake, even if 2014 wasn’t the warmest year on record-;until 2015 turned out to be even hotter-;why would we want to pass up the chance for American businesses to produce and sell the energy of the future? Listen, 7 years ago, we made the single biggest investment in clean energy in our history. Here are the results. In fields from Iowa to Texas, wind power is now cheaper than dirtier, conventional power. On rooftops from Arizona to New York, solar is saving Americans tens of millions of dollars a year on their energy bills and employs more Americans than coal in jobs that pay better than average. We’re taking steps to give homeowners the freedom to generate and store their own energy, something, by the way, that environmentalists and Tea Partiers have teamed up to support. And meanwhile, we’ve cut our imports of foreign oil by nearly 60 percent and cut carbon pollution more than any other country on Earth. Gas under 2 bucks a gallon ain’t bad either. [Laughter] Now we’ve got to accelerate the transition away from old, dirtier energy sources. Rather than subsidize the past, we should invest in the future, especially in communities that rely on fossil fuels. We do them no favor when we don’t show them where the trends are going. And that’s why I’m going to push to change the way we manage our oil and coal resources so that they better reflect the costs they impose on taxpayers and our planet. And that way, we put money back into those communities and put tens of thousands of Americans to work building a 21st-century transportation system. Now, none of this is going to happen overnight. And yes, there are plenty of entrenched interests who want to protect the status quo. But the jobs we’ll create, the money we’ll save, the planet we’ll preserve-;that is the kind of future our kids and our grandkids deserve. And it’s within our grasp. Now, climate change is just one of many issues where our security is linked to the rest of the world. And that’s why the third big question that we have to answer together is how to keep America safe and strong without either isolating ourselves or trying to nation-build everywhere there’s a problem. Now, I told you earlier all the talk of America’s economic decline is political hot air. Well, so is all the rhetoric you hear about our enemies getting stronger and America getting weaker. Let me tell you something: The United States of America is the most powerful nation on Earth. Period. Period. It’s not even close. It’s not even close. It’s not even close. We spend more on our military than the next eight nations combined. Our troops are the finest fighting force in the history of the world. All right. No nation attacks us directly, or our allies, because they know that’s the path to ruin. Surveys show our standing around the world is higher than when I was elected to this office, and when it comes to every important international issue, people of the world do not look to Beijing or Moscow to lead. They call us. So I think it’s useful to level set here, because when we don’t, we don’t make good decisions. Now, as someone who begins every day with an intelligence briefing, I know this is a dangerous time. But that’s not primarily because of some looming superpower out there, and it’s certainly not because of diminished American strength. In today’s world, we’re threatened less by evil empires and more by failing states. The Middle East is going through a transformation that will play out for a generation, rooted in conflicts that date back millennia. Economic headwinds are blowing in from a Chinese economy that is in significant transition. Even as their economy severely contracts, Russia is pouring resources in to prop up Ukraine and Syria, client states that they saw slipping away from their orbit. And the international system we built after World War II is now struggling to keep pace with this new reality. It’s up to us, the United States of America, to help remake that system. And to do that well, it means that we’ve got to set priorities. Priority number one is protecting the American people and going after terrorist networks. Both Al Qaida and now ISIL pose a direct threat to our people, because in today’s world, even a handful of terrorists who place no value on human life, including their own, can do a lot of damage. They use the Internet to poison the minds of individuals inside our country. Their actions undermine and destabilize our allies. We have to take them out. But as we focus on destroying ISIL, over-the-top claims that this is world war III just play into their hands. Masses of fighters on the back of pickup trucks, twisted souls plotting in apartments or garages, they pose an enormous danger to civilians; they have to be stopped. But they do not threaten our national existence. That is the story ISIL wants to tell. That’s the kind of propaganda they use to recruit. We don’t need to build them up to show that we’re serious, and we sure don’t need to push away vital allies in this fight by echoing the lie that ISIL is somehow representative of one of the world’s largest religions. We just need to call them what they are: killers and fanatics who have to be rooted out, hunted down, and destroyed. And that’s exactly what we’re doing. For more than a year, America has led a coalition of more than 60 countries to cut off ISIL’s financing, disrupt their plots, stop the flow of terrorist fighters, and stamp out their vicious ideology. With nearly 10,000 airstrikes, we’re taking out their leadership, their oil, their training camps, their weapons. We’re training, arming, and supporting forces who are steadily reclaiming territory in Iraq and Syria. If this Congress is serious about winning this war and wants to send a message to our troops and the world, authorize the use of military force against ISIL. Take a vote. Take a vote. But the American people should know that with or without congressional action, ISIL will learn the same lessons as terrorists before them. If you doubt America’s commitment-;or mine-;to see that justice is done, just ask Usama bin Laden. Ask the leader of Al Qaida in Yemen, who was taken out last year, or the perpetrator of the Benghazi attacks, who sits in a prison cell. When you come after Americans, we go after you. And it may take time, but we have long memories, and our reach has no limits. Our foreign policy has to be focused on the threat from ISIL and Al Qaida, but it can’t stop there. For even without ISIL, even without Al Qaida, instability will continue for decades in many parts of the world: in the Middle East, in Afghanistan and parts of Pakistan, in parts of Central America, in Africa and Asia. Some of these places may become safe havens for new terrorist networks. Others will just fall victim to ethnic conflict or famine, feeding the next wave of refugees. The world will look to us to help solve these problems, and our answer needs to be more than tough talk or calls to carpet-bomb civilians. That may work as a TV sound bite, but it doesn’t pass muster on the world stage. We also can’t try to take over and rebuild every country that falls into crisis, even if it’s done with the best of intentions. That’s not leadership; that’s a recipe for quagmire, spilling American blood and treasure that ultimately will weaken us. It’s the lesson of Vietnam; it’s the lesson of Iraq. And we should have learned it by now. Now, fortunately there is a smarter approach: a patient and disciplined strategy that uses every element of our national power. It says America will always act, alone if necessary, to protect our people and our allies, but on issues of global concern, we will mobilize the world to work with us and make sure other countries pull their own weight. That’s our approach to conflicts like Syria, where we’re partnering with local forces and leading international efforts to help that broken society pursue a lasting peace. That’s why we built a global coalition, with sanctions and principled diplomacy, to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. And as we speak, Iran has rolled back its nuclear program, shipped out its uranium stockpile, and the world has avoided another war. That’s how we stopped the spread of Ebola in West Africa. Our military, our doctors, our development workers-;they were heroic; they set up the platform that then allowed other countries to join in behind us and stamp out that epidemic. Hundreds of thousands, maybe a couple million, lives were saved. That’s how we forged a Trans-Pacific Partnership to open markets and protect workers and the environment and advance American leadership in Asia. It cuts 18,000 taxes on products made in America, which will then support more good jobs here in America. With TPP, China does not set the rules in that region, we do. You want to show our strength in this new century? Approve this agreement. Give us the tools to enforce it. It’s the right thing to do. Let me give you another example. Fifty years of isolating Cuba had failed to promote democracy. It set us back in Latin America. That’s why we restored diplomatic relations, opened the door to travel and commerce, positioned ourselves to improve the lives of the Cuban people. So if you want to consolidate our leadership and credibility in the hemisphere, recognize that the cold war is over. Lift the embargo. The point is, American leadership in the 21st century is not a choice between ignoring the rest of the world-;except when we kill terrorists-;or occupying and rebuilding whatever society is unraveling. Leadership means a wise application of military power and rallying the world behind causes that are right. It means seeing our foreign assistance as a part of our national security, not something separate, not charity. When we lead nearly 200 nations to the most ambitious agreement in history to fight climate change, yes, that helps vulnerable countries, but it also protects our kids. When we help Ukraine defend its democracy or Colombia resolve a decades-long war, that strengthens the international order we depend on. When we help African countries feed their people and care for the sick, it’s the right thing to do, and it prevents the next pandemic from reaching our shores. Right now we’re on track to end the scourge of HIV/AIDS. That’s within our grasp. And we have the chance to accomplish the same thing with malaria, something I’ll be pushing this Congress to fund this year. That’s American strength. That’s American leadership. And that kind of leadership depends on the power of our example. That’s why I will keep working to shut down the prison at Guantanamo. It is expensive, it is unnecessary, and it only serves as a recruitment brochure for our enemies. There’s a better way. And that’s why we need to reject any politics-;any politics-;that targets people because of race or religion. Let me just say this. This is not a matter of political correctness, this is a matter of understanding just what it is that makes us strong. The world respects us not just for our arsenal, it respects us for our diversity and our openness and the way we respect every faith. His Holiness Pope Francis told this body from the very spot that I’m standing on tonight that “to imitate the hatred and violence of tyrants and murderers is the best way to take their place.” When politicians insult Muslims, whether abroad or our fellow citizens, when a mosque is vandalized or a kid is called names, that doesn’t make us safer. That’s not telling it what-;telling it like it is. It’s just wrong. It diminishes us in the eyes of the world. It makes it harder to achieve our goals. It betrays who we are as a country. “We the People.” Our Constitution begins with those three simple words, words we’ve come to recognize mean all the people, not just some; words that insist we rise and fall together, that that’s how we might perfect our Union. And that brings me to the fourth and maybe most important thing that I want to say tonight. The future we want-;all of us want-;opportunity and security for our families, a rising standard of living, a sustainable, peaceful planet for our kids-;all that is within our reach. But it will only happen if we work together. It will only happen if we can have rational, constructive debates. It will only happen if we fix our politics. A better politics doesn’t mean we have to agree on everything. This is a big country: different regions, different attitudes, different interests. That’s one of our strengths too. Our Founders distributed power between States and branches of government and expected us to argue, just as they did, fiercely, over the size and shape of government, over commerce and foreign relations, over the meaning of liberty and the imperatives of security. But democracy does require basic bonds of trust between its citizens. It doesn’t work if we think the people who disagree with us are all motivated by malice. It doesn’t work if we think that our political opponents are unpatriotic or trying to weaken America. Democracy grinds to a halt without a willingness to compromise or when even basic facts are contested or when we listen only to those who agree with us. Our public life withers when only the most extreme voices get all the attention. And most of all, democracy breaks down when the average person feels their voice doesn’t matter, that the system is rigged in favor of the rich or the powerful or some special interest. Too many Americans feel that way right now. It’s one of the few regrets of my Presidency: that the rancor and suspicion between the parties has gotten worse instead of better. I have no doubt, a President with the gifts of Lincoln or Roosevelt might have better bridged the divide, and I guarantee, I’ll keep trying to be better so long as I hold this office. But, my fellow Americans, this cannot be my task-;or any President’s-;alone. There are a whole lot of folks in this Chamber, good people, who would like to see more cooperation, would like to see a more elevated debate in Washington, but feel trapped by the imperatives of getting elected, by the noise coming out of your base. I know; you’ve told me. It’s the worst kept secret in Washington. And a lot of you aren’t enjoying being trapped in that kind of rancor. But that means if we want a better politics-;and I’m addressing the American people now-;if we want a better politics, it’s not enough just to change a Congressman or change a Senator or even change a President. We have to change the system to reflect our better selves. I think we’ve got to end the practice of drawing our congressional districts so that politicians can pick their voters and not the other way around. Let a bipartisan group do it. I believe we’ve got to reduce the influence of money in our politics so that a handful of families or hidden interests can’t bankroll our elections. And if our existing approach to campaign finance reform can’t pass muster in the courts, we need to work together to find a real solution. Because it’s a problem. And most of you don’t like raising money. [Laughter] I know. I’ve done it. We’ve got to make it easier to vote, not harder. We need to modernize it for the way we live now. This is America: We want to make it easier for people to participate. And over the course of this year, I intend to travel the country to push for reforms that do just that. But I can’t do these things on my own. Changes in our political process-;in not just who gets elected, but how they get elected-;that will only happen when the American people demand it. It depends on you. That’s what’s meant by a government of, by, and for the people. What I’m suggesting is hard. It’s a lot easier to be cynical; to accept that change is not possible and politics is hopeless and the problem is, all the folks who are elected don’t care; and to believe that our voices and our actions don’t matter. But if we give up now, then we forsake a better future. Those with money and power will gain greater control over the decisions that could send a young soldier to war or allow another economic disaster or roll back the equal rights and voting rights that generations of Americans have fought, even died, to secure. And then, as frustration grows, there will be voices urging us to fall back into our respective tribes, to scapegoat fellow citizens who don’t look like us or pray like us or vote like we do or share the same background. We can’t afford to go down that path. It won’t deliver the economy we want. It will not produce the security we want. But most of all, it contradicts everything that makes us the envy of the world. So, my fellow Americans, whatever you may believe, whether you prefer one party or no party, whether you supported my agenda or fought as hard as you could against it, our collective futures depends on your willingness to uphold your duties as a citizen. To vote. To speak out. To stand up for others, especially the weak, especially the vulnerable, knowing that each of us is only here because somebody, somewhere, stood up for us. We need every American to stay active in our public life-;and not just during election time-;so that our public life reflects the goodness and the decency that I see in the American people every single day. It is not easy. Our brand of democracy is hard. But I can promise that a little over a year from now, when I no longer hold this office, I will be right there with you as a citizen, inspired by those voices of fairness and vision, of grit and good humor and kindness, that have helped America travel so far. Voices that help us see ourselves not, first and foremost, as Black or White or Asian or Latino, not as gay or straight, immigrant or native born, not Democrat or Republican, but as Americans first, bound by a common creed. Voices Dr. King believed would have the final word: voices of “unarmed truth and unconditional love.” And they’re out there, those voices. They don’t get a lot of attention; they don’t seek a lot of fanfare; but they’re busy doing the work this country needs doing. I see them everywhere I travel in this incredible country of ours. I see you, the American people. And in your daily acts of citizenship, I see our future unfolding. I see it in the worker on the assembly line who clocked extra shifts to keep his company open and the boss who pays him higher wages instead of laying him off. I see it in the dreamer who stays up late at night to finish her science project and the teacher who comes in early, maybe with some extra supplies that she bought because she knows that that young girl might someday cure a disease. I see it in the American who served his time, made bad mistakes as a child, but now is dreaming of starting over. And I see it in the business owner who gives him that second chance. The protester determined to prove that justice matters and the young cop walking the beat, treating everybody with respect, doing the brave, quiet work of keeping us safe. I see it in the soldier who gives almost everything to save his brothers, the nurse who tends to him till he can run a marathon, the community that lines up to cheer him on. It’s the son who finds the courage to come out as who he is and the father whose love for that son overrides everything he’s been taught. I see it in the elderly woman who will wait in line to cast her vote as long as she has to, the new citizen who casts his vote for the first time, the volunteers at the polls who believe every vote should count. Because each of them, in different ways, know how much that precious right is worth. That’s the America I know. That’s the country we love: clear eyed, big hearted, undaunted by challenge. Optimistic that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word. That’s what makes me so hopeful about our future. I believe in change because I believe in you, the American people. And that’s why I stand here as confident as I have ever been that the state of our Union is strong. Thank you. God bless you. God bless the United States of America. Thank you.	Barack Obama	2016	2013-2016	Democratic	speech	236

Topic Model Obama 1 SOTU

convert to dfm

use the TM package - data need to be one token per row per document. We only have one document.

obama <- readLines(sp[231])
obama <- paste(obama, collapse = " ")
head(obama)

## [1] "Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans: Tonight I want to begin by congratulating the men and women of the 112th Congress, as well as your new Speaker, John Boehner. And as we mark this occasion, we're also mindful of the empty chair in this Chamber, and we pray for the health of our colleague and our friend Gabby Giffords.  It's no secret that those of us here tonight have had our differences over the last 2 years. The debates have been contentious; we have fought fiercely for our beliefs. And that's a good thing. That's what a robust democracy demands. That's what helps set us apart as a nation.  But there's a reason the tragedy in Tucson gave us pause. Amid all the noise and passion and rancor of our public debate, Tucson reminded us that no matter who we are or where we come from, each of us is a part of something greater, something more consequential than party or political preference.  We are part of the American family. We believe that in a country where every race and faith and point of view can be found, we are still bound together as one people, that we share common hopes and a common creed, that the dreams of a little girl in Tucson are not so different than those of our own children, that they all deserve the chance to be fulfilled. That too is what sets us apart as a nation.  Now, by itself, this simple recognition won't usher in a new era of cooperation. What comes of this moment is up to us. What comes of this moment will be determined not by whether we can sit together tonight, but whether we can work together tomorrow.  I believe we can, and I believe we must. That's what the people who sent us here expect of us. With their votes, they've determined that governing will now be a shared responsibility between parties. New laws will only pass with support from Democrats and Republicans. We will move forward together or not at all, for the challenges we face are bigger than party and bigger than politics.  At stake right now is not who wins the next election. After all, we just had an election. At stake is whether new jobs and industries take root in this country or somewhere else. It's whether the hard work and industry of our people is rewarded. It's whether we sustain the leadership that has made America not just a place on a map, but the light to the world.  We are poised for progress. Two years after the worst recession most of us have ever known, the stock market has come roaring back, corporate profits are up, the economy is growing again.  But we have never measured progress by these yardsticks alone. We measure progress by the success of our people, by the jobs they can find and the quality of life those jobs offer, by the prospects of a small-business owner who dreams of turning a good idea into a thriving enterprise, by the opportunities for a better life that we pass on to our children.  That's the project the American people want us to work on--together.  Now, we did that in December. Thanks to the tax cuts we passed, Americans' paychecks are a little bigger today. Every business can write off the full cost of new investments that they make this year. And these steps, taken by Democrats and Republicans, will grow the economy and add to the more than 1 million private sector jobs created last year.  But we have to do more. These steps we've taken over the last 2 years may have broken the back of this recession, but to win the future, we'll need to take on challenges that have been decades in the making.  Many people watching tonight can probably remember a time when finding a good job meant showing up at a nearby factory or a business downtown. You didn't always need a degree, and your competition was pretty much limited to your neighbors. If you worked hard, chances are you'd have a job for life, with a decent paycheck and good benefits and the occasional promotion. Maybe you'd even have the pride of seeing your kids work at the same company.  That world has changed. And for many, the change has been painful. I've seen it in the shuttered windows of once booming factories and the vacant storefronts on once busy Main Streets. I've heard it in the frustrations of Americans who've seen their paychecks dwindle or their jobs disappear, proud men and women who feel like the rules have been changed in the middle of the game.  They're right. The rules have changed. In a single generation, revolutions in technology have transformed the way we live, work, and do business. Steel mills that once needed 1,000 workers can now do the same work with 100. Today, just about any company can set up shop, hire workers, and sell their products wherever there's an Internet connection.  Meanwhile, nations like China and India realized that with some changes of their own, they could compete in this new world. And so they started educating their children earlier and longer, with greater emphasis on math and science. They're investing in research and new technologies. Just recently, China became the home to the world's largest private solar research facility and the world's fastest computer.  So yes, the world is changed. The competition for jobs is real. But this shouldn't discourage us. It should challenge us. Remember, for all the hits we've taken these last few years, for all the naysayers predicting our decline, America still has the largest, most prosperous economy in the world. No workers are more productive than ours. No country has more successful companies or grants more patents to inventors and entrepreneurs. We're the home to the world's best colleges and universities, where more students come to study than any place on Earth.  What's more, we are the first nation to be founded for the sake of an idea: the idea that each of us deserves the chance to shape our own destiny. That's why centuries of pioneers and immigrants have risked everything to come here. It's why our students don't just memorize equations, but answer questions like: \"What do you think of that idea? What would you change about the world? What do you want to be when you grow up?\"  The future is ours to win. But to get there, we can't just stand still. As Robert Kennedy told us: \"The future is not a gift. It is an achievement.\" Sustaining the American Dream has never been about standing pat. It has required each generation to sacrifice and struggle and meet the demands of a new age.  And now it's our turn. We know what it takes to compete for the jobs and industries of our time. We need to outinnovate, outeducate, and outbuild the rest of the world. We have to make America the best place on Earth to do business. We need to take responsibility for our deficit and reform our Government. That's how our people will prosper. That's how we'll win the future. And tonight I'd like to talk about how we get there.  The first step in winning the future is encouraging American innovation. None of us can predict with certainty what the next big industry will be or where the new jobs will come from. Thirty years ago, we couldn't know that something called the Internet would lead to an economic revolution. What we can do--what America does better than anyone else--is spark the creativity and imagination of our people. We're the nation that put cars in driveways and computers in offices; the nation of Edison and the Wright brothers, of Google and Facebook. In America, innovation doesn't just change our lives. It is how we make our living.  Our free enterprise system is what drives innovation. But because it's not always profitable for companies to invest in basic research, throughout our history, our Government has provided cutting-edge scientists and inventors with the support that they need. That's what planted the seeds for the Internet. That's what helped make possible things like computer chips and GPS. Just think of all the good jobs--from manufacturing to retail--that have come from these breakthroughs.  Half a century ago, when the Soviets beat us into space with the launch of a satellite called Sputnik, we had no idea how we would beat them to the Moon. The science wasn't even there yet. NASA didn't exist. But after investing in better research and education, we didn't just surpass the Soviets, we unleashed a wave of innovation that created new industries and millions of new jobs.  This is our generation's Sputnik moment. Two years ago, I said that we needed to reach a level of research and development we haven't seen since the height of the space race. And in a few weeks, I will be sending a budget to Congress that helps us meet that goal. We'll invest in biomedical research, information technology, and especially clean energy technology, an investment that will strengthen our security, protect our planet, and create countless new jobs for our people.  Already, we're seeing the promise of renewable energy. Robert and Gary Allen are brothers who run a small Michigan roofing company. After September 11, they volunteered their best roofers to help repair the Pentagon. But half of their factory went unused, and the recession hit them hard. Today, with the help of a Government loan, that empty space is being used to manufacture solar shingles that are being sold all across the country. In Robert's words, \"We reinvented ourselves.\"  That's what Americans have done for over 200 years: reinvented ourselves. And to spur on more success stories like the Allen Brothers, we've begun to reinvent our energy policy. We're not just handing out money. We're issuing a challenge. We're telling America's scientists and engineers that if they assemble teams of the best minds in their fields and focus on the hardest problems in clean energy, we'll fund the Apollo projects of our time.  At the California Institute of Technology, they're developing a way to turn sunlight and water into fuel for our cars. At Oak Ridge National Laboratory, they're using supercomputers to get a lot more power out of our nuclear facilities. With more research and incentives, we can break our dependence on oil with biofuels and become the first country to have a million electric vehicles on the road by 2015.  We need to get behind this innovation. And to help pay for it, I'm asking Congress to eliminate the billions in taxpayer dollars we currently give to oil companies. I don't know if you've noticed, but they're doing just fine on their own. [Laughter] So instead of subsidizing yesterday's energy, let's invest in tomorrow's.  Now, clean energy breakthroughs will only translate into clean energy jobs if businesses know there will be a market for what they're selling. So tonight I challenge you to join me in setting a new goal: By 2035, 80 percent of America's electricity will come from clean energy sources.  Some folks want wind and solar. Others want nuclear, clean coal, and natural gas. To meet this goal, we will need them all, and I urge Democrats and Republicans to work together to make it happen.  Maintaining our leadership in research and technology is crucial to America's success. But if we want to win the future, if we want innovation to produce jobs in America and not overseas, then we also have to win the race to educate our kids.  Think about it. Over the next 10 years, nearly half of all new jobs will require education that goes beyond a high school education. And yet as many as a quarter of our students aren't even finishing high school. The quality of our math and science education lags behind many other nations. America has fallen to ninth in the proportion of young people with a college degree. And so the question is whether all of us, as citizens and as parents, are willing to do what's necessary to give every child a chance to succeed.  That responsibility begins not in our classrooms, but in our homes and communities. It's family that first instills the love of learning in a child. Only parents can make sure the TV is turned off and homework gets done. We need to teach our kids that it's not just the winner of the Super Bowl who deserves to be celebrated, but the winner of the science fair. We need to teach them that success is not a function of fame or PR, but of hard work and discipline.  Our schools share this responsibility. When a child walks into a classroom, it should be a place of high expectations and high performance. But too many schools don't meet this test. That's why instead of just pouring money into a system that's not working, we launched a competition called Race to the Top. To all 50 States, we said, \"If you show us the most innovative plans to improve teacher quality and student achievement, we'll show you the money.\"  Race to the Top is the most meaningful reform of our public schools in a generation. For less than 1 percent of what we spend on education each year, it has led over 40 States to raise their standards for teaching and learning. And these standards were developed, by the way, not by Washington, but by Republican and Democratic Governors throughout the country. And Race to the Top should be the approach we follow this year as we replace No Child Left Behind with a law that's more flexible and focused on what's best for our kids.  You see, we know what's possible from our children when reform isn't just a top-down mandate, but the work of local teachers and principals, school boards and communities. Take a school like Bruce Randolph in Denver. Three years ago, it was rated one of the worst schools in Colorado, located on turf between two rival gangs. But last May, 97 percent of the seniors received their diploma. Most will be the first in their families to go to college. And after the first year of the school's transformation, the principal who made it possible wiped away tears when a student said, \"Thank you, Ms. Waters, for showing that we are smart and we can make it.\" That's what good schools can do, and we want good schools all across the country.  Let's also remember that after parents, the biggest impact on a child's success comes from the man or woman at the front of the classroom. In South Korea, teachers are known as nation builders. Here in America, it's time we treated the people who educate our children with the same level of respect. We want to reward good teachers and stop making excuses for bad ones. And over the next 10 years, with so many baby boomers retiring from our classrooms, we want to prepare 100,000 new teachers in the fields of science and technology and engineering and math.  In fact, to every young person listening tonight who's contemplating their career choice: If you want to make a difference in the life of our Nation, if you want to make a difference in the life of a child, become a teacher. Your country needs you.  Of course, the education race doesn't end with a high school diploma. To compete, higher education must be within the reach of every American. That's why we've ended the unwarranted taxpayer subsidies that went to banks and used the savings to make college affordable for millions of students. And this year, I ask Congress to go further and make permanent our tuition tax credit, worth $10,000 for 4 years of college. It's the right thing to do.  Because people need to be able to train for new jobs and careers in today's fast-changing economy, we're also revitalizing America's community colleges. Last month, I saw the promise of these schools at Forsyth Tech in North Carolina. Many of the students there used to work in the surrounding factories that have since left town. One mother of two, a woman named Kathy Proctor, had worked in the furniture industry since she was 18 years old. And she told me she's earning her degree in biotechnology now, at 55 years old, not just because the furniture jobs are gone, but because she wants to inspire her children to pursue their dreams too. As Kathy said, \"I hope it tells them to never give up.\"  If we take these steps, if we raise expectations for every child and give them the best possible chance at an education, from the day they are born until the last job they take, we will reach the goal that I set 2 years ago: By the end of the decade, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.  One last point about education: Today, there are hundreds of thousands of students excelling in our schools who are not American citizens. Some are the children of undocumented workers, who had nothing to do with the actions of their parents. They grew up as Americans and pledge allegiance to our flag, and yet they live every day with the threat of deportation. Others come here from abroad to study in our colleges and universities. But as soon as they obtain advanced degrees, we send them back home to compete against us. It makes no sense.  Now, I strongly believe that we should take on, once and for all, the issue of illegal immigration. And I am prepared to work with Republicans and Democrats to protect our borders, enforce our laws, and address the millions of undocumented workers who are now living in the shadows. I know that debate will be difficult. I know it will take time. But tonight, let's agree to make that effort. And let's stop expelling talented, responsible young people who could be staffing our research labs or starting a new business, who could be further enriching this Nation.  The third step in winning the future is rebuilding America. To attract new businesses to our shores, we need the fastest, most reliable ways to move people, goods, and information, from high-speed rail to high-speed Internet.  Our infrastructure used to be the best, but our lead has slipped. South Korean homes now have greater Internet access than we do. Countries in Europe and Russia invest more in their roads and railways than we do. China is building faster trains and newer airports. Meanwhile, when our own engineers graded our Nation's infrastructure, they gave us a D.  We have to do better. America is the nation that built the transcontinental railroad, brought electricity to rural communities, constructed the Interstate Highway System. The jobs created by these projects didn't just come from laying down track or pavement. They came from businesses that opened near a town's new train station or the new off-ramp.  So over the last 2 years, we've begun rebuilding for the 21st century, a project that has meant thousands of good jobs for the hard-hit construction industry. And tonight I'm proposing that we redouble those efforts.  We'll put more Americans to work repairing crumbling roads and bridges. We'll make sure this is fully paid for, attract private investment, and pick projects based [on]* what's best for the economy, not politicians.   Within 25 years, our goal is to give 80 percent of Americans access to high-speed rail. This could allow you to go places in half the time it takes to travel by car. For some trips, it will be faster than flying, without the pat-down. [Laughter] As we speak, routes in California and the Midwest are already underway.  Within the next 5 years, we'll make it possible for businesses to deploy the next generation of high-speed wireless coverage to 98 percent of all Americans. This isn't just about--this isn't about faster Internet or fewer dropped calls. It's about connecting every part of America to the digital age. It's about a rural community in Iowa or Alabama where farmers and small-business owners will be able to sell their products all over the world. It's about a firefighter who can download the design of a burning building onto a handheld device, a student who can take classes with a digital textbook, or a patient who can have face-to-face video chats with her doctor.  All these investments--in innovation, education, and infrastructure--will make America a better place to do business and create jobs. But to help our companies compete, we also have to knock down barriers that stand in the way of their success.  For example, over the years, a parade of lobbyists has rigged the Tax Code to benefit particular companies and industries. Those with accountants or lawyers to work the system can end up paying no taxes at all. But all the rest are hit with one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world. It makes no sense, and it has to change.  So tonight I'm asking Democrats and Republicans to simplify the system, get rid of the loopholes, level the playing field, and use the savings to lower the corporate tax rate for the first time in 25 years without adding to our deficit. It can be done.  To help businesses sell more products abroad, we set a goal of doubling our exports by 2014. Because the more we export, the more jobs we create here at home. Already, our exports are up. Recently, we signed agreements with India and China that will support more than 250,000 jobs here in the United States. And last month, we finalized a trade agreement with South Korea that will support at least 70,000 American jobs. This agreement has unprecedented support from business and labor, Democrats and Republicans, and I ask this Congress to pass it as soon as possible.  Now, before I took office, I made it clear that we would enforce our trade agreements and that I would only sign deals that keep faith with American workers and promote American jobs. That's what we did with Korea, and that's what I intend to do as we pursue agreements with Panama and Colombia and continue our Asia-Pacific and global trade talks.  To reduce barriers to growth and investment, I've ordered a review of Government regulations. When we find rules that put an unnecessary burden on businesses, we will fix them. But I will not hesitate to create or enforce commonsense safeguards to protect the American people. That's what we've done in this country for more than a century. It's why our food is safe to eat, our water is safe to drink, and our air is safe to breathe. It's why we have speed limits and child labor laws. It's why last year, we put in place consumer protections against hidden fees and penalties by credit card companies and new rules to prevent another financial crisis. And it's why we passed reform that finally prevents the health insurance industry from exploiting patients.  Now, I have heard rumors that a few of you still have concerns about our new health care law. [Laughter] So let me be the first to say that anything can be improved. If you have ideas about how to improve this law by making care better or more affordable, I am eager to work with you. We can start right now by correcting a flaw in the legislation that has placed an unnecessary bookkeeping burden on small businesses.  What I'm not willing to do--what I'm not willing to do--is go back to the days when insurance companies could deny someone coverage because of a preexisting condition.  I'm not willing to tell James Howard, a brain cancer patient from Texas, that his treatment might not be covered. I'm not willing to tell Jim Houser, a small-businessman from Oregon, that he has to go back to paying $5,000 more to cover his employees. As we speak, this law is making prescription drugs cheaper for seniors and giving uninsured students a chance to stay on their patients'--parents' coverage.  So I say to this Chamber tonight: Instead of refighting the battles of the last 2 years, let's fix what needs fixing, and let's move forward.  Now, the final critical step in winning the future is to make sure we aren't buried under a mountain of debt.  We are living with a legacy of deficit spending that began almost a decade ago. And in the wake of the financial crisis, some of that was necessary to keep credit flowing, save jobs, and put money in people's pockets.  But now that the worst of the recession is over, we have to confront the fact that our Government spends more than it takes in. That is not sustainable. Every day, families sacrifice to live within their means. They deserve a Government that does the same.  So tonight I am proposing that starting this year, we freeze annual domestic spending for the next 5 years. Now, this would reduce the deficit by more than $400 billion over the next decade and will bring discretionary spending to the lowest share of our economy since Dwight Eisenhower was President.  This freeze will require painful cuts. Already, we've frozen the salaries of hard-working Federal employees for the next 2 years. I've proposed cuts to things I care deeply about, like community action programs. The Secretary of Defense has also agreed to cut tens of billions of dollars in spending that he and his generals believe our military can do without.  Now, I recognize that some in this Chamber have already proposed deeper cuts, and I'm willing to eliminate whatever we can honestly afford to do without. But let's make sure that we're not doing it on the backs of our most vulnerable citizens. And let's make sure that what we're cutting is really excess weight. Cutting the deficit by gutting our investments in innovation and education is like lightening an overloaded airplane by removing its engine. It may make you feel like you're flying high at first, but it won't take long before you feel the impact. [Laughter]  Now, most of the cuts and savings I've proposed only address annual domestic spending, which represents a little more than 12 percent of our budget. To make further progress, we have to stop pretending that cutting this kind of spending alone will be enough. It won't.  The bipartisan fiscal commission I created last year made this crystal clear. I don't agree with all their proposals, but they made important progress. And their conclusion is that the only way to tackle our deficit is to cut excessive spending wherever we find it, in domestic spending, defense spending, health care spending, and spending through tax breaks and loopholes.  This means further reducing health care costs, including programs like Medicare and Medicaid, which are the single biggest contributor to our long-term deficit. The health insurance law we passed last year will slow these rising costs, which is part of the reason that nonpartisan economists have said that repealing the health care law would add a quarter of a trillion dollars to our deficit. Still, I'm willing to look at other ideas to bring down costs, including one that Republicans suggested last year: medical malpractice reform to rein in frivolous lawsuits.  To put us on solid ground, we should also find a bipartisan solution to strengthen Social Security for future generations. We must do it without putting at risk current retirees, the most vulnerable, or people with disabilities, without slashing benefits for future generations, and without subjecting Americans' guaranteed retirement income to the whims of the stock market.  And if we truly care about our deficit, we simply can't afford a permanent extension of the tax cuts for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans. Before we take money away from our schools or scholarships away from our students, we should ask millionaires to give up their tax break. It's not a matter of punishing their success, it's about promoting America's success.  In fact, the best thing we could do on taxes for all Americans is to simplify the individual Tax Code. This will be a tough job, but members of both parties have expressed an interest in doing this, and I am prepared to join them.  So now is the time to act. Now is the time for both sides and both Houses of Congress, Democrats and Republicans, to forge a principled compromise that gets the job done. If we make the hard choices now to rein in our deficits, we can make the investments we need to win the future.  Let me take this one step further. We shouldn't just give our people a Government that's more affordable, we should give them a Government that's more competent and more efficient. We can't win the future with a Government of the past.  We live and do business in the Information Age, but the last major reorganization of the Government happened in the age of black-and-white TV. There are 12 different agencies that deal with exports. There are at least five different agencies that deal with housing policy. Then there's my favorite example: The Interior Department is in charge of salmon while they're in fresh water, but the Commerce Department handles them when they're in saltwater. [Laughter] I hear it gets even more complicated once they're smoked. [Laughter]  Now, we've made great strides over the last 2 years in using technology and getting rid of waste. Veterans can now download their electronic medical records with a click of the mouse. We're selling acres of Federal office space that hasn't been used in years, and we'll cut through redtape to get rid of more. But we need to think bigger. In the coming months, my administration will develop a proposal to merge, consolidate, and reorganize the Federal Government in a way that best serves the goal of a more competitive America. I will submit that proposal to Congress for a vote, and we will push to get it passed.  In the coming year, we'll also work to rebuild people's faith in the institution of Government. Because you deserve to know exactly how and where your tax dollars are being spent, you'll be able to go to a web site and get that information for the very first time in history. Because you deserve to know when your elected officials are meeting with lobbyists, I ask Congress to do what the White House has already done: put that information online. And because the American people deserve to know that special interests aren't larding up legislation with pet projects, both parties in Congress should know this: If a bill comes to my desk with earmarks inside, I will veto it. I will veto it.  The 21st-century Government that's open and competent, a government that lives within its means, an economy that's driven by new skills and new ideas--our success in this new and changing world will require reform, responsibility, and innovation. It will also require us to approach that world with a new level of engagement in our foreign affairs.  Just as jobs and businesses can now race across borders, so can new threats and new challenges. No single wall separates East and West. No one rival superpower is aligned against us.  And so we must defeat determined enemies, wherever they are, and build coalitions that cut across lines of region and race and religion. And America's moral example must always shine for all who yearn for freedom and justice and dignity. And because we've begun this work, tonight we can say that American leadership has been renewed and America's standing has been restored.  Look to Iraq, where nearly 100,000 of our brave men and women have left with their heads held high. American combat patrols have ended, violence is down, and a new Government has been formed. This year, our civilians will forge a lasting partnership with the Iraqi people, while we finish the job of bringing our troops out of Iraq. America's commitment has been kept. The Iraq war is coming to an end.  Of course, as we speak, Al Qaida and their affiliates continue to plan attacks against us. Thanks to our intelligence and law enforcement professionals, we're disrupting plots and securing our cities and skies. And as extremists try to inspire acts of violence within our borders, we are responding with the strength of our communities, with respect for the rule of law, and with the conviction that American Muslims are a part of our American family.  We've also taken the fight to Al Qaida and their allies abroad. In Afghanistan, our troops have taken Taliban strongholds and trained Afghan security forces. Our purpose is clear: By preventing the Taliban from reestablishing a stranglehold over the Afghan people, we will deny Al Qaida the safe haven that served as a launching pad for 9/11.  Thanks to our heroic troops and civilians, fewer Afghans are under the control of the insurgency. There will be tough fighting ahead, and the Afghan Government will need to deliver better governance. But we are strengthening the capacity of the Afghan people and building an enduring partnership with them. This year, we will work with nearly 50 countries to begin a transition to an Afghan lead, and this July, we will begin to bring our troops home.  In Pakistan, Al Qaida's leadership is under more pressure than at any point since 2001. Their leaders and operatives are being removed from the battlefield. Their safe havens are shrinking. And we've sent a message from the Afghan border to the Arabian Peninsula to all parts of the globe: We will not relent, we will not waver, and we will defeat you.  American leadership can also be seen in the effort to secure the worst weapons of war. Because Republicans and Democrats approved the new START Treaty, far fewer nuclear weapons and launchers will be deployed. Because we rallied the world, nuclear materials are being locked down on every continent so they never fall into the hands of terrorists.  Because of a diplomatic effort to insist that Iran meet its obligations, the Iranian Government now faces tougher sanctions, tighter sanctions than ever before. And on the Korean Peninsula, we stand with our ally South Korea and insist that North Korea keeps its commitment to abandon nuclear weapons.  This is just a part of how we're shaping a world that favors peace and prosperity. With our European allies, we revitalized NATO and increased our cooperation on everything from counterterrorism to missile defense. We've reset our relationship with Russia, strengthened Asian alliances, built new partnerships with nations like India.  This March, I will travel to Brazil, Chile, and El Salvador to forge new alliances across the Americas. Around the globe, we're standing with those who take responsibility, helping farmers grow more food, supporting doctors who care for the sick, and combating the corruption that can rot a society and rob people of opportunity.  Recent events have shown us that what sets us apart must not just be our power; it must also be the purpose behind it. In south Sudan--with our assistance--the people were finally able to vote for independence after years of war. Thousands lined up before dawn. People danced in the streets. One man who lost four of his brothers at war summed up the scene around him. \"This was a battlefield for most of my life,\" he said. \"Now we want to be free.\"  And we saw that same desire to be free in Tunisia, where the will of the people proved more powerful than the writ of a dictator. And tonight let us be clear: The United States of America stands with the people of Tunisia and supports the democratic aspirations of all people.  We must never forget that the things we've struggled for and fought for live in the hearts of people everywhere. And we must always remember that the Americans who have borne the greatest burden in this struggle are the men and women who serve our country.  Tonight let us speak with one voice in reaffirming that our Nation is united in support of our troops and their families. Let us serve them as well as they've served us, by giving them the equipment they need, by providing them with the care and benefits that they have earned, and by enlisting our veterans in the great task of building our own Nation.  Our troops come from every corner of this country. They're Black, White, Latino, Asian, Native American. They are Christian and Hindu, Jewish and Muslim. And yes, we know that some of them are gay. Starting this year, no American will be forbidden from serving the country they love because of who they love. And with that change, I call on all our college campuses to open their doors to our military recruiters and ROTC. It is time to leave behind the divisive battles of the past. It is time to move forward as one Nation.  We should have no illusions about the work ahead of us. Reforming our schools, changing the way we use energy, reducing our deficit, none of this will be easy. All of it will take time. And it will be harder because we will argue about everything: the costs, the details, the letter of every law.  Of course, some countries don't have this problem. If the central government wants a railroad, they build a railroad, no matter how many homes get bulldozed. If they don't want a bad story in the newspaper, it doesn't get written.  And yet, as contentious and frustrating and messy as our democracy can sometimes be, I know there isn't a person here who would trade places with any other nation on Earth.  We may have differences in policy, but we all believe in the rights enshrined in our Constitution. We may have different opinions, but we believe in the same promise that says this is a place where you can make it if you try. We may have different backgrounds, but we believe in the same dream that says this is a country where anything is possible, no matter who you are, no matter where you come from.  That dream is why I can stand here before you tonight. That dream is why a working class kid from Scranton can sit behind me. [Laughter] That dream is why someone who began by sweeping the floors of his father's Cincinnati bar can preside as Speaker of the House in the greatest nation on Earth.  That dream--that American Dream--is what drove the Allen Brothers to reinvent their roofing company for a new era. It's what drove those students at Forsyth Tech to learn a new skill and work towards the future. And that dream is the story of a small-business owner named Brandon Fisher.  Brandon started a company in Berlin, Pennsylvania, that specializes in a new kind of drilling technology. And one day last summer, he saw the news that halfway across the world, 33 men were trapped in a Chilean mine, and no one knew how to save them.  But Brandon thought his company could help. And so he designed a rescue that would come to be known as Plan B. His employees worked around the clock to manufacture the necessary drilling equipment, and Brandon left for Chile.  Along with others, he began drilling a 2,000-foot hole into the ground, working 3 or 4 hour--3 or 4 days at a time without any sleep. Thirty-seven days later, Plan B succeeded and the miners were rescued. But because he didn't want all of the attention, Brandon wasn't there when the miners emerged. He'd already gone back home, back to work on his next project.  And later, one of his employees said of the rescue, \"We proved that Center Rock is a little company, but we do big things.\"  We do big things.  From the earliest days of our founding, America has been the story of ordinary people who dare to dream. That's how we win the future.  We're a nation that says, \"I might not have a lot of money, but I have this great idea for a new company.\" \"I might not come from a family of college graduates, but I will be the first to get my degree.\" \"I might not know those people in trouble, but I think I can help them, and I need to try.\" \"I'm not sure how we'll reach that better place beyond the horizon, but I know we'll get there. I know we will.\"  We do big things.  The idea of America endures. Our destiny remains our choice. And tonight, more than two centuries later, it's because of our people that our future is hopeful, our journey goes forward, and the state of our Union is strong.  Thank you. God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America. "

obama_clean <- clean(obama)  #run cleaning genie on obama
obama_corpus <- corpus(obama_clean)
obama_dfm <- dfm(obama_corpus)
print(obama_dfm)

## Document-feature matrix of: 1 document, 1,377 features (0.0% sparse).
##        features
## docs    mr speaker vice president members congress distinguished guests fellow
##   text1  2       3    1         2       2       10             1      1      1
##        features
## docs    americans
##   text1        12
## [ reached max_nfeat ... 1,367 more features ]

topic models quanteda

lda seeded from seededlda package 2011

obama_mod <- textmodel_lda(obama_dfm, k = 4)
terms(obama_mod, 15)  #prints the 15 most frequent terms associated with each topic

##       topic1           topic2       topic3        topic4       
##  [1,] "spending"       "america"    "make"        "work"       
##  [2,] "success"        "people"     "world"       "country"    
##  [3,] "students"       "years"      "jobs"        "jobs"       
##  [4,] "innovation"     "government" "education"   "research"   
##  [5,] "race"           "tonight"    "tax"         "dream"      
##  [6,] "economy"        "american"   "people"      "democrats"  
##  [7,] "percent"        "year"       "republicans" "place"      
##  [8,] "health"         "future"     "win"         "technology" 
##  [9,] "things"         "time"       "businesses"  "support"    
## [10,] "school"         "nation"     "children"    "company"    
## [11,] "men"            "americans"  "hard"        "money"      
## [12,] "responsibility" "high"       "back"        "industry"   
## [13,] "made"           "congress"   "deficit"     "progress"   
## [14,] "generation"     "good"       "life"        "science"    
## [15,] "live"           "business"   "ago"         "information"

Topic Model Obama 2 SOTU

convert to dfm

use the TM package - data need to be one token per row per document. We only have one document – 2016 Obama’s SOTU

obama16 <- readLines(sp[236])
obama16 <- paste(obama, collapse = " ")
head(obama16)

## [1] "Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans: Tonight I want to begin by congratulating the men and women of the 112th Congress, as well as your new Speaker, John Boehner. And as we mark this occasion, we're also mindful of the empty chair in this Chamber, and we pray for the health of our colleague and our friend Gabby Giffords.  It's no secret that those of us here tonight have had our differences over the last 2 years. The debates have been contentious; we have fought fiercely for our beliefs. And that's a good thing. That's what a robust democracy demands. That's what helps set us apart as a nation.  But there's a reason the tragedy in Tucson gave us pause. Amid all the noise and passion and rancor of our public debate, Tucson reminded us that no matter who we are or where we come from, each of us is a part of something greater, something more consequential than party or political preference.  We are part of the American family. We believe that in a country where every race and faith and point of view can be found, we are still bound together as one people, that we share common hopes and a common creed, that the dreams of a little girl in Tucson are not so different than those of our own children, that they all deserve the chance to be fulfilled. That too is what sets us apart as a nation.  Now, by itself, this simple recognition won't usher in a new era of cooperation. What comes of this moment is up to us. What comes of this moment will be determined not by whether we can sit together tonight, but whether we can work together tomorrow.  I believe we can, and I believe we must. That's what the people who sent us here expect of us. With their votes, they've determined that governing will now be a shared responsibility between parties. New laws will only pass with support from Democrats and Republicans. We will move forward together or not at all, for the challenges we face are bigger than party and bigger than politics.  At stake right now is not who wins the next election. After all, we just had an election. At stake is whether new jobs and industries take root in this country or somewhere else. It's whether the hard work and industry of our people is rewarded. It's whether we sustain the leadership that has made America not just a place on a map, but the light to the world.  We are poised for progress. Two years after the worst recession most of us have ever known, the stock market has come roaring back, corporate profits are up, the economy is growing again.  But we have never measured progress by these yardsticks alone. We measure progress by the success of our people, by the jobs they can find and the quality of life those jobs offer, by the prospects of a small-business owner who dreams of turning a good idea into a thriving enterprise, by the opportunities for a better life that we pass on to our children.  That's the project the American people want us to work on--together.  Now, we did that in December. Thanks to the tax cuts we passed, Americans' paychecks are a little bigger today. Every business can write off the full cost of new investments that they make this year. And these steps, taken by Democrats and Republicans, will grow the economy and add to the more than 1 million private sector jobs created last year.  But we have to do more. These steps we've taken over the last 2 years may have broken the back of this recession, but to win the future, we'll need to take on challenges that have been decades in the making.  Many people watching tonight can probably remember a time when finding a good job meant showing up at a nearby factory or a business downtown. You didn't always need a degree, and your competition was pretty much limited to your neighbors. If you worked hard, chances are you'd have a job for life, with a decent paycheck and good benefits and the occasional promotion. Maybe you'd even have the pride of seeing your kids work at the same company.  That world has changed. And for many, the change has been painful. I've seen it in the shuttered windows of once booming factories and the vacant storefronts on once busy Main Streets. I've heard it in the frustrations of Americans who've seen their paychecks dwindle or their jobs disappear, proud men and women who feel like the rules have been changed in the middle of the game.  They're right. The rules have changed. In a single generation, revolutions in technology have transformed the way we live, work, and do business. Steel mills that once needed 1,000 workers can now do the same work with 100. Today, just about any company can set up shop, hire workers, and sell their products wherever there's an Internet connection.  Meanwhile, nations like China and India realized that with some changes of their own, they could compete in this new world. And so they started educating their children earlier and longer, with greater emphasis on math and science. They're investing in research and new technologies. Just recently, China became the home to the world's largest private solar research facility and the world's fastest computer.  So yes, the world is changed. The competition for jobs is real. But this shouldn't discourage us. It should challenge us. Remember, for all the hits we've taken these last few years, for all the naysayers predicting our decline, America still has the largest, most prosperous economy in the world. No workers are more productive than ours. No country has more successful companies or grants more patents to inventors and entrepreneurs. We're the home to the world's best colleges and universities, where more students come to study than any place on Earth.  What's more, we are the first nation to be founded for the sake of an idea: the idea that each of us deserves the chance to shape our own destiny. That's why centuries of pioneers and immigrants have risked everything to come here. It's why our students don't just memorize equations, but answer questions like: \"What do you think of that idea? What would you change about the world? What do you want to be when you grow up?\"  The future is ours to win. But to get there, we can't just stand still. As Robert Kennedy told us: \"The future is not a gift. It is an achievement.\" Sustaining the American Dream has never been about standing pat. It has required each generation to sacrifice and struggle and meet the demands of a new age.  And now it's our turn. We know what it takes to compete for the jobs and industries of our time. We need to outinnovate, outeducate, and outbuild the rest of the world. We have to make America the best place on Earth to do business. We need to take responsibility for our deficit and reform our Government. That's how our people will prosper. That's how we'll win the future. And tonight I'd like to talk about how we get there.  The first step in winning the future is encouraging American innovation. None of us can predict with certainty what the next big industry will be or where the new jobs will come from. Thirty years ago, we couldn't know that something called the Internet would lead to an economic revolution. What we can do--what America does better than anyone else--is spark the creativity and imagination of our people. We're the nation that put cars in driveways and computers in offices; the nation of Edison and the Wright brothers, of Google and Facebook. In America, innovation doesn't just change our lives. It is how we make our living.  Our free enterprise system is what drives innovation. But because it's not always profitable for companies to invest in basic research, throughout our history, our Government has provided cutting-edge scientists and inventors with the support that they need. That's what planted the seeds for the Internet. That's what helped make possible things like computer chips and GPS. Just think of all the good jobs--from manufacturing to retail--that have come from these breakthroughs.  Half a century ago, when the Soviets beat us into space with the launch of a satellite called Sputnik, we had no idea how we would beat them to the Moon. The science wasn't even there yet. NASA didn't exist. But after investing in better research and education, we didn't just surpass the Soviets, we unleashed a wave of innovation that created new industries and millions of new jobs.  This is our generation's Sputnik moment. Two years ago, I said that we needed to reach a level of research and development we haven't seen since the height of the space race. And in a few weeks, I will be sending a budget to Congress that helps us meet that goal. We'll invest in biomedical research, information technology, and especially clean energy technology, an investment that will strengthen our security, protect our planet, and create countless new jobs for our people.  Already, we're seeing the promise of renewable energy. Robert and Gary Allen are brothers who run a small Michigan roofing company. After September 11, they volunteered their best roofers to help repair the Pentagon. But half of their factory went unused, and the recession hit them hard. Today, with the help of a Government loan, that empty space is being used to manufacture solar shingles that are being sold all across the country. In Robert's words, \"We reinvented ourselves.\"  That's what Americans have done for over 200 years: reinvented ourselves. And to spur on more success stories like the Allen Brothers, we've begun to reinvent our energy policy. We're not just handing out money. We're issuing a challenge. We're telling America's scientists and engineers that if they assemble teams of the best minds in their fields and focus on the hardest problems in clean energy, we'll fund the Apollo projects of our time.  At the California Institute of Technology, they're developing a way to turn sunlight and water into fuel for our cars. At Oak Ridge National Laboratory, they're using supercomputers to get a lot more power out of our nuclear facilities. With more research and incentives, we can break our dependence on oil with biofuels and become the first country to have a million electric vehicles on the road by 2015.  We need to get behind this innovation. And to help pay for it, I'm asking Congress to eliminate the billions in taxpayer dollars we currently give to oil companies. I don't know if you've noticed, but they're doing just fine on their own. [Laughter] So instead of subsidizing yesterday's energy, let's invest in tomorrow's.  Now, clean energy breakthroughs will only translate into clean energy jobs if businesses know there will be a market for what they're selling. So tonight I challenge you to join me in setting a new goal: By 2035, 80 percent of America's electricity will come from clean energy sources.  Some folks want wind and solar. Others want nuclear, clean coal, and natural gas. To meet this goal, we will need them all, and I urge Democrats and Republicans to work together to make it happen.  Maintaining our leadership in research and technology is crucial to America's success. But if we want to win the future, if we want innovation to produce jobs in America and not overseas, then we also have to win the race to educate our kids.  Think about it. Over the next 10 years, nearly half of all new jobs will require education that goes beyond a high school education. And yet as many as a quarter of our students aren't even finishing high school. The quality of our math and science education lags behind many other nations. America has fallen to ninth in the proportion of young people with a college degree. And so the question is whether all of us, as citizens and as parents, are willing to do what's necessary to give every child a chance to succeed.  That responsibility begins not in our classrooms, but in our homes and communities. It's family that first instills the love of learning in a child. Only parents can make sure the TV is turned off and homework gets done. We need to teach our kids that it's not just the winner of the Super Bowl who deserves to be celebrated, but the winner of the science fair. We need to teach them that success is not a function of fame or PR, but of hard work and discipline.  Our schools share this responsibility. When a child walks into a classroom, it should be a place of high expectations and high performance. But too many schools don't meet this test. That's why instead of just pouring money into a system that's not working, we launched a competition called Race to the Top. To all 50 States, we said, \"If you show us the most innovative plans to improve teacher quality and student achievement, we'll show you the money.\"  Race to the Top is the most meaningful reform of our public schools in a generation. For less than 1 percent of what we spend on education each year, it has led over 40 States to raise their standards for teaching and learning. And these standards were developed, by the way, not by Washington, but by Republican and Democratic Governors throughout the country. And Race to the Top should be the approach we follow this year as we replace No Child Left Behind with a law that's more flexible and focused on what's best for our kids.  You see, we know what's possible from our children when reform isn't just a top-down mandate, but the work of local teachers and principals, school boards and communities. Take a school like Bruce Randolph in Denver. Three years ago, it was rated one of the worst schools in Colorado, located on turf between two rival gangs. But last May, 97 percent of the seniors received their diploma. Most will be the first in their families to go to college. And after the first year of the school's transformation, the principal who made it possible wiped away tears when a student said, \"Thank you, Ms. Waters, for showing that we are smart and we can make it.\" That's what good schools can do, and we want good schools all across the country.  Let's also remember that after parents, the biggest impact on a child's success comes from the man or woman at the front of the classroom. In South Korea, teachers are known as nation builders. Here in America, it's time we treated the people who educate our children with the same level of respect. We want to reward good teachers and stop making excuses for bad ones. And over the next 10 years, with so many baby boomers retiring from our classrooms, we want to prepare 100,000 new teachers in the fields of science and technology and engineering and math.  In fact, to every young person listening tonight who's contemplating their career choice: If you want to make a difference in the life of our Nation, if you want to make a difference in the life of a child, become a teacher. Your country needs you.  Of course, the education race doesn't end with a high school diploma. To compete, higher education must be within the reach of every American. That's why we've ended the unwarranted taxpayer subsidies that went to banks and used the savings to make college affordable for millions of students. And this year, I ask Congress to go further and make permanent our tuition tax credit, worth $10,000 for 4 years of college. It's the right thing to do.  Because people need to be able to train for new jobs and careers in today's fast-changing economy, we're also revitalizing America's community colleges. Last month, I saw the promise of these schools at Forsyth Tech in North Carolina. Many of the students there used to work in the surrounding factories that have since left town. One mother of two, a woman named Kathy Proctor, had worked in the furniture industry since she was 18 years old. And she told me she's earning her degree in biotechnology now, at 55 years old, not just because the furniture jobs are gone, but because she wants to inspire her children to pursue their dreams too. As Kathy said, \"I hope it tells them to never give up.\"  If we take these steps, if we raise expectations for every child and give them the best possible chance at an education, from the day they are born until the last job they take, we will reach the goal that I set 2 years ago: By the end of the decade, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.  One last point about education: Today, there are hundreds of thousands of students excelling in our schools who are not American citizens. Some are the children of undocumented workers, who had nothing to do with the actions of their parents. They grew up as Americans and pledge allegiance to our flag, and yet they live every day with the threat of deportation. Others come here from abroad to study in our colleges and universities. But as soon as they obtain advanced degrees, we send them back home to compete against us. It makes no sense.  Now, I strongly believe that we should take on, once and for all, the issue of illegal immigration. And I am prepared to work with Republicans and Democrats to protect our borders, enforce our laws, and address the millions of undocumented workers who are now living in the shadows. I know that debate will be difficult. I know it will take time. But tonight, let's agree to make that effort. And let's stop expelling talented, responsible young people who could be staffing our research labs or starting a new business, who could be further enriching this Nation.  The third step in winning the future is rebuilding America. To attract new businesses to our shores, we need the fastest, most reliable ways to move people, goods, and information, from high-speed rail to high-speed Internet.  Our infrastructure used to be the best, but our lead has slipped. South Korean homes now have greater Internet access than we do. Countries in Europe and Russia invest more in their roads and railways than we do. China is building faster trains and newer airports. Meanwhile, when our own engineers graded our Nation's infrastructure, they gave us a D.  We have to do better. America is the nation that built the transcontinental railroad, brought electricity to rural communities, constructed the Interstate Highway System. The jobs created by these projects didn't just come from laying down track or pavement. They came from businesses that opened near a town's new train station or the new off-ramp.  So over the last 2 years, we've begun rebuilding for the 21st century, a project that has meant thousands of good jobs for the hard-hit construction industry. And tonight I'm proposing that we redouble those efforts.  We'll put more Americans to work repairing crumbling roads and bridges. We'll make sure this is fully paid for, attract private investment, and pick projects based [on]* what's best for the economy, not politicians.   Within 25 years, our goal is to give 80 percent of Americans access to high-speed rail. This could allow you to go places in half the time it takes to travel by car. For some trips, it will be faster than flying, without the pat-down. [Laughter] As we speak, routes in California and the Midwest are already underway.  Within the next 5 years, we'll make it possible for businesses to deploy the next generation of high-speed wireless coverage to 98 percent of all Americans. This isn't just about--this isn't about faster Internet or fewer dropped calls. It's about connecting every part of America to the digital age. It's about a rural community in Iowa or Alabama where farmers and small-business owners will be able to sell their products all over the world. It's about a firefighter who can download the design of a burning building onto a handheld device, a student who can take classes with a digital textbook, or a patient who can have face-to-face video chats with her doctor.  All these investments--in innovation, education, and infrastructure--will make America a better place to do business and create jobs. But to help our companies compete, we also have to knock down barriers that stand in the way of their success.  For example, over the years, a parade of lobbyists has rigged the Tax Code to benefit particular companies and industries. Those with accountants or lawyers to work the system can end up paying no taxes at all. But all the rest are hit with one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world. It makes no sense, and it has to change.  So tonight I'm asking Democrats and Republicans to simplify the system, get rid of the loopholes, level the playing field, and use the savings to lower the corporate tax rate for the first time in 25 years without adding to our deficit. It can be done.  To help businesses sell more products abroad, we set a goal of doubling our exports by 2014. Because the more we export, the more jobs we create here at home. Already, our exports are up. Recently, we signed agreements with India and China that will support more than 250,000 jobs here in the United States. And last month, we finalized a trade agreement with South Korea that will support at least 70,000 American jobs. This agreement has unprecedented support from business and labor, Democrats and Republicans, and I ask this Congress to pass it as soon as possible.  Now, before I took office, I made it clear that we would enforce our trade agreements and that I would only sign deals that keep faith with American workers and promote American jobs. That's what we did with Korea, and that's what I intend to do as we pursue agreements with Panama and Colombia and continue our Asia-Pacific and global trade talks.  To reduce barriers to growth and investment, I've ordered a review of Government regulations. When we find rules that put an unnecessary burden on businesses, we will fix them. But I will not hesitate to create or enforce commonsense safeguards to protect the American people. That's what we've done in this country for more than a century. It's why our food is safe to eat, our water is safe to drink, and our air is safe to breathe. It's why we have speed limits and child labor laws. It's why last year, we put in place consumer protections against hidden fees and penalties by credit card companies and new rules to prevent another financial crisis. And it's why we passed reform that finally prevents the health insurance industry from exploiting patients.  Now, I have heard rumors that a few of you still have concerns about our new health care law. [Laughter] So let me be the first to say that anything can be improved. If you have ideas about how to improve this law by making care better or more affordable, I am eager to work with you. We can start right now by correcting a flaw in the legislation that has placed an unnecessary bookkeeping burden on small businesses.  What I'm not willing to do--what I'm not willing to do--is go back to the days when insurance companies could deny someone coverage because of a preexisting condition.  I'm not willing to tell James Howard, a brain cancer patient from Texas, that his treatment might not be covered. I'm not willing to tell Jim Houser, a small-businessman from Oregon, that he has to go back to paying $5,000 more to cover his employees. As we speak, this law is making prescription drugs cheaper for seniors and giving uninsured students a chance to stay on their patients'--parents' coverage.  So I say to this Chamber tonight: Instead of refighting the battles of the last 2 years, let's fix what needs fixing, and let's move forward.  Now, the final critical step in winning the future is to make sure we aren't buried under a mountain of debt.  We are living with a legacy of deficit spending that began almost a decade ago. And in the wake of the financial crisis, some of that was necessary to keep credit flowing, save jobs, and put money in people's pockets.  But now that the worst of the recession is over, we have to confront the fact that our Government spends more than it takes in. That is not sustainable. Every day, families sacrifice to live within their means. They deserve a Government that does the same.  So tonight I am proposing that starting this year, we freeze annual domestic spending for the next 5 years. Now, this would reduce the deficit by more than $400 billion over the next decade and will bring discretionary spending to the lowest share of our economy since Dwight Eisenhower was President.  This freeze will require painful cuts. Already, we've frozen the salaries of hard-working Federal employees for the next 2 years. I've proposed cuts to things I care deeply about, like community action programs. The Secretary of Defense has also agreed to cut tens of billions of dollars in spending that he and his generals believe our military can do without.  Now, I recognize that some in this Chamber have already proposed deeper cuts, and I'm willing to eliminate whatever we can honestly afford to do without. But let's make sure that we're not doing it on the backs of our most vulnerable citizens. And let's make sure that what we're cutting is really excess weight. Cutting the deficit by gutting our investments in innovation and education is like lightening an overloaded airplane by removing its engine. It may make you feel like you're flying high at first, but it won't take long before you feel the impact. [Laughter]  Now, most of the cuts and savings I've proposed only address annual domestic spending, which represents a little more than 12 percent of our budget. To make further progress, we have to stop pretending that cutting this kind of spending alone will be enough. It won't.  The bipartisan fiscal commission I created last year made this crystal clear. I don't agree with all their proposals, but they made important progress. And their conclusion is that the only way to tackle our deficit is to cut excessive spending wherever we find it, in domestic spending, defense spending, health care spending, and spending through tax breaks and loopholes.  This means further reducing health care costs, including programs like Medicare and Medicaid, which are the single biggest contributor to our long-term deficit. The health insurance law we passed last year will slow these rising costs, which is part of the reason that nonpartisan economists have said that repealing the health care law would add a quarter of a trillion dollars to our deficit. Still, I'm willing to look at other ideas to bring down costs, including one that Republicans suggested last year: medical malpractice reform to rein in frivolous lawsuits.  To put us on solid ground, we should also find a bipartisan solution to strengthen Social Security for future generations. We must do it without putting at risk current retirees, the most vulnerable, or people with disabilities, without slashing benefits for future generations, and without subjecting Americans' guaranteed retirement income to the whims of the stock market.  And if we truly care about our deficit, we simply can't afford a permanent extension of the tax cuts for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans. Before we take money away from our schools or scholarships away from our students, we should ask millionaires to give up their tax break. It's not a matter of punishing their success, it's about promoting America's success.  In fact, the best thing we could do on taxes for all Americans is to simplify the individual Tax Code. This will be a tough job, but members of both parties have expressed an interest in doing this, and I am prepared to join them.  So now is the time to act. Now is the time for both sides and both Houses of Congress, Democrats and Republicans, to forge a principled compromise that gets the job done. If we make the hard choices now to rein in our deficits, we can make the investments we need to win the future.  Let me take this one step further. We shouldn't just give our people a Government that's more affordable, we should give them a Government that's more competent and more efficient. We can't win the future with a Government of the past.  We live and do business in the Information Age, but the last major reorganization of the Government happened in the age of black-and-white TV. There are 12 different agencies that deal with exports. There are at least five different agencies that deal with housing policy. Then there's my favorite example: The Interior Department is in charge of salmon while they're in fresh water, but the Commerce Department handles them when they're in saltwater. [Laughter] I hear it gets even more complicated once they're smoked. [Laughter]  Now, we've made great strides over the last 2 years in using technology and getting rid of waste. Veterans can now download their electronic medical records with a click of the mouse. We're selling acres of Federal office space that hasn't been used in years, and we'll cut through redtape to get rid of more. But we need to think bigger. In the coming months, my administration will develop a proposal to merge, consolidate, and reorganize the Federal Government in a way that best serves the goal of a more competitive America. I will submit that proposal to Congress for a vote, and we will push to get it passed.  In the coming year, we'll also work to rebuild people's faith in the institution of Government. Because you deserve to know exactly how and where your tax dollars are being spent, you'll be able to go to a web site and get that information for the very first time in history. Because you deserve to know when your elected officials are meeting with lobbyists, I ask Congress to do what the White House has already done: put that information online. And because the American people deserve to know that special interests aren't larding up legislation with pet projects, both parties in Congress should know this: If a bill comes to my desk with earmarks inside, I will veto it. I will veto it.  The 21st-century Government that's open and competent, a government that lives within its means, an economy that's driven by new skills and new ideas--our success in this new and changing world will require reform, responsibility, and innovation. It will also require us to approach that world with a new level of engagement in our foreign affairs.  Just as jobs and businesses can now race across borders, so can new threats and new challenges. No single wall separates East and West. No one rival superpower is aligned against us.  And so we must defeat determined enemies, wherever they are, and build coalitions that cut across lines of region and race and religion. And America's moral example must always shine for all who yearn for freedom and justice and dignity. And because we've begun this work, tonight we can say that American leadership has been renewed and America's standing has been restored.  Look to Iraq, where nearly 100,000 of our brave men and women have left with their heads held high. American combat patrols have ended, violence is down, and a new Government has been formed. This year, our civilians will forge a lasting partnership with the Iraqi people, while we finish the job of bringing our troops out of Iraq. America's commitment has been kept. The Iraq war is coming to an end.  Of course, as we speak, Al Qaida and their affiliates continue to plan attacks against us. Thanks to our intelligence and law enforcement professionals, we're disrupting plots and securing our cities and skies. And as extremists try to inspire acts of violence within our borders, we are responding with the strength of our communities, with respect for the rule of law, and with the conviction that American Muslims are a part of our American family.  We've also taken the fight to Al Qaida and their allies abroad. In Afghanistan, our troops have taken Taliban strongholds and trained Afghan security forces. Our purpose is clear: By preventing the Taliban from reestablishing a stranglehold over the Afghan people, we will deny Al Qaida the safe haven that served as a launching pad for 9/11.  Thanks to our heroic troops and civilians, fewer Afghans are under the control of the insurgency. There will be tough fighting ahead, and the Afghan Government will need to deliver better governance. But we are strengthening the capacity of the Afghan people and building an enduring partnership with them. This year, we will work with nearly 50 countries to begin a transition to an Afghan lead, and this July, we will begin to bring our troops home.  In Pakistan, Al Qaida's leadership is under more pressure than at any point since 2001. Their leaders and operatives are being removed from the battlefield. Their safe havens are shrinking. And we've sent a message from the Afghan border to the Arabian Peninsula to all parts of the globe: We will not relent, we will not waver, and we will defeat you.  American leadership can also be seen in the effort to secure the worst weapons of war. Because Republicans and Democrats approved the new START Treaty, far fewer nuclear weapons and launchers will be deployed. Because we rallied the world, nuclear materials are being locked down on every continent so they never fall into the hands of terrorists.  Because of a diplomatic effort to insist that Iran meet its obligations, the Iranian Government now faces tougher sanctions, tighter sanctions than ever before. And on the Korean Peninsula, we stand with our ally South Korea and insist that North Korea keeps its commitment to abandon nuclear weapons.  This is just a part of how we're shaping a world that favors peace and prosperity. With our European allies, we revitalized NATO and increased our cooperation on everything from counterterrorism to missile defense. We've reset our relationship with Russia, strengthened Asian alliances, built new partnerships with nations like India.  This March, I will travel to Brazil, Chile, and El Salvador to forge new alliances across the Americas. Around the globe, we're standing with those who take responsibility, helping farmers grow more food, supporting doctors who care for the sick, and combating the corruption that can rot a society and rob people of opportunity.  Recent events have shown us that what sets us apart must not just be our power; it must also be the purpose behind it. In south Sudan--with our assistance--the people were finally able to vote for independence after years of war. Thousands lined up before dawn. People danced in the streets. One man who lost four of his brothers at war summed up the scene around him. \"This was a battlefield for most of my life,\" he said. \"Now we want to be free.\"  And we saw that same desire to be free in Tunisia, where the will of the people proved more powerful than the writ of a dictator. And tonight let us be clear: The United States of America stands with the people of Tunisia and supports the democratic aspirations of all people.  We must never forget that the things we've struggled for and fought for live in the hearts of people everywhere. And we must always remember that the Americans who have borne the greatest burden in this struggle are the men and women who serve our country.  Tonight let us speak with one voice in reaffirming that our Nation is united in support of our troops and their families. Let us serve them as well as they've served us, by giving them the equipment they need, by providing them with the care and benefits that they have earned, and by enlisting our veterans in the great task of building our own Nation.  Our troops come from every corner of this country. They're Black, White, Latino, Asian, Native American. They are Christian and Hindu, Jewish and Muslim. And yes, we know that some of them are gay. Starting this year, no American will be forbidden from serving the country they love because of who they love. And with that change, I call on all our college campuses to open their doors to our military recruiters and ROTC. It is time to leave behind the divisive battles of the past. It is time to move forward as one Nation.  We should have no illusions about the work ahead of us. Reforming our schools, changing the way we use energy, reducing our deficit, none of this will be easy. All of it will take time. And it will be harder because we will argue about everything: the costs, the details, the letter of every law.  Of course, some countries don't have this problem. If the central government wants a railroad, they build a railroad, no matter how many homes get bulldozed. If they don't want a bad story in the newspaper, it doesn't get written.  And yet, as contentious and frustrating and messy as our democracy can sometimes be, I know there isn't a person here who would trade places with any other nation on Earth.  We may have differences in policy, but we all believe in the rights enshrined in our Constitution. We may have different opinions, but we believe in the same promise that says this is a place where you can make it if you try. We may have different backgrounds, but we believe in the same dream that says this is a country where anything is possible, no matter who you are, no matter where you come from.  That dream is why I can stand here before you tonight. That dream is why a working class kid from Scranton can sit behind me. [Laughter] That dream is why someone who began by sweeping the floors of his father's Cincinnati bar can preside as Speaker of the House in the greatest nation on Earth.  That dream--that American Dream--is what drove the Allen Brothers to reinvent their roofing company for a new era. It's what drove those students at Forsyth Tech to learn a new skill and work towards the future. And that dream is the story of a small-business owner named Brandon Fisher.  Brandon started a company in Berlin, Pennsylvania, that specializes in a new kind of drilling technology. And one day last summer, he saw the news that halfway across the world, 33 men were trapped in a Chilean mine, and no one knew how to save them.  But Brandon thought his company could help. And so he designed a rescue that would come to be known as Plan B. His employees worked around the clock to manufacture the necessary drilling equipment, and Brandon left for Chile.  Along with others, he began drilling a 2,000-foot hole into the ground, working 3 or 4 hour--3 or 4 days at a time without any sleep. Thirty-seven days later, Plan B succeeded and the miners were rescued. But because he didn't want all of the attention, Brandon wasn't there when the miners emerged. He'd already gone back home, back to work on his next project.  And later, one of his employees said of the rescue, \"We proved that Center Rock is a little company, but we do big things.\"  We do big things.  From the earliest days of our founding, America has been the story of ordinary people who dare to dream. That's how we win the future.  We're a nation that says, \"I might not have a lot of money, but I have this great idea for a new company.\" \"I might not come from a family of college graduates, but I will be the first to get my degree.\" \"I might not know those people in trouble, but I think I can help them, and I need to try.\" \"I'm not sure how we'll reach that better place beyond the horizon, but I know we'll get there. I know we will.\"  We do big things.  The idea of America endures. Our destiny remains our choice. And tonight, more than two centuries later, it's because of our people that our future is hopeful, our journey goes forward, and the state of our Union is strong.  Thank you. God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America. "

obama16_clean <- clean(obama16)  #run cleaning genie on obama
obama16_corpus <- corpus(obama16_clean)
obama16_dfm <- dfm(obama16_corpus)
print(obama16_dfm)

## Document-feature matrix of: 1 document, 1,377 features (0.0% sparse).
##        features
## docs    mr speaker vice president members congress distinguished guests fellow
##   text1  2       3    1         2       2       10             1      1      1
##        features
## docs    americans
##   text1        12
## [ reached max_nfeat ... 1,367 more features ]

obama16_mod <- textmodel_lda(obama16_dfm, k = 4)
terms(obama16_mod, 15)

##       topic1           topic2       topic3        topic4       
##  [1,] "spending"       "america"    "make"        "work"       
##  [2,] "success"        "people"     "world"       "country"    
##  [3,] "students"       "years"      "jobs"        "jobs"       
##  [4,] "innovation"     "government" "education"   "research"   
##  [5,] "race"           "tonight"    "tax"         "dream"      
##  [6,] "economy"        "american"   "people"      "democrats"  
##  [7,] "percent"        "year"       "republicans" "place"      
##  [8,] "health"         "future"     "win"         "technology" 
##  [9,] "things"         "time"       "businesses"  "support"    
## [10,] "school"         "nation"     "children"    "company"    
## [11,] "men"            "americans"  "hard"        "money"      
## [12,] "responsibility" "high"       "back"        "industry"   
## [13,] "made"           "congress"   "deficit"     "progress"   
## [14,] "generation"     "good"       "life"        "science"    
## [15,] "live"           "business"   "ago"         "information"

Now let’s examine a lot more SOTUs

Isolate all SOTU speeches after 1950

these are contained in a dataframe with each speech as a character vector along with metadata in other columns

modern <- both %>% filter(year > 1950) %>% mutate(my_text = clean(sotu_text))
recent <- modern %>% select(2, 3, 5, 7, 8)
head(recent)

president	year	party	id	my_text
Harry S Truman	1951	Democratic	163	mr president mr speaker members congress congress faces grave task congress history republic actions watched world actions measure ability free people acting chosen representatives free institutions meet deadly challenge life meet challenge foolishly wisely meet timidly bravely shamefully honorably congress meet challenge worthy great heritage debates earnest responsible constructive point debates great decisions needed carry forward critical time glad country healthy condition democratic institutions sound strong men women work produce fact country produced history world confident succeed great task lies succeed part act citizens great republic meet today american soldiers fighting bitter campaign korea pay tribute courage devotion gallantry men fighting alongside united nations allies aggression korea part attempt russian communist dictatorship world step step men fighting long home fighting lives liberties fighting protect meet today govern free nation threat world conquest soviet russia endangers liberty endangers kind world free spirit man survive threat aimed peoples strive win defend freedom national independence state nation great part state friends allies world gun points points threat total threat danger common danger free nations exposed peril security lies banding nation find protection selfish search safe haven storm free nations aggressive purpose peace world peace countries threat security nation concealed plans programs hoped soviet union security assured charter united nations live live case imperialism czars replaced ambitious crafty menacing imperialism rulers soviet union imperialism powerful military forces keeping millions men arms large air force strong submarine force complete control men equipment satellites subject peoples economy state perpetual mobilization present rulers soviet union shown power destroy free nations win domination world soviet imperialists ways destructive work method subversion internal revolution method external aggression preparation methods attack stir class strife disorder encourage sabotage put poisonous propaganda deliberately prevent economic improvement efforts successful foment revolution czechoslovakia china unsuccessfully greece methods subversion blocked outright warfare resort external aggression loosed armies puppet states republic korea evil war proxy free world ready meet methods soviet action neglect free world power resources meet forms aggression resources greater soviet dictatorship skilled vigorous peoples great industrial strength abundant sources raw materials cherish liberty common ideals great part strength ideals driving force human progress free nations dignity worth man independence nations free independent nations band world order based law laid cornerstone peaceful world united nations world order spread benefits modern science industry health education food rising standards living world ideals give power vitality russian communism command free nations bound ideals real community bound ties interest preservation fall results fatal human freedom national security deeply involved free nations support equally national safety gravely prejudiced soviet union succeed harnessing war machine resources manpower free nations borders empire western europe fall soviet russia double soviet supply coal triple soviet supply steel free countries asia africa fall soviet russia lose sources vital raw materials including uranium basis atomic power soviet command manpower free nations europe asia confront military forces hope equal situation soviet union impose demands world resort conflict simply preponderance economic military power soviet union attack united states secure domination world achieve ends isolating swallowing allies craven craven abandon ideals disastrous withdraw community free nations powerful single member community special responsibility leadership meeting challenge freedom helping protect rights independent nations country practical realistic program action meeting challenge extend economic assistance effective stop subversion kremlin strike roots social injustice economic disorder people jobs homes hopes future defend underground agents kremlin programs economic aid turn back communism europe marshall plan electrifying result european recovery progressed strikes led kremlin agents italy france failed western europe communist party worse worse beatings polls countries received marshall plan aid hard work expand productive strength cases levels higher history strength completely incapable defending today ready strength helping build strong combined defense aggression continue economic aid european countries aid specifically related building defenses parts world economic assistance broadly directed economic development east africa asia people striving advance misery poverty hunger continue economic growth good neighbors hemisphere actions bring greater strength free world give people real stake future reason defend freedom increased production goods materials continue military assistance countries defend heart common defense effort north atlantic community defense europe basis defense free world included united states europe largest workshop world homeland great religious beliefs shared citizens beliefs threatened tide atheistic communism strategically economically morally defense europe part defense joined countries europe north atlantic treaty pledging work discussion recently european countries defend actions answering question north atlantic treaty partners strict systems universal military training recently increased term service measures improve quality training forces trained expanded rapidly arms equipment supplied factories north atlantic treaty partners building armies bigger north atlantic treaty countries including country real progress made worked defense plans military leaders country part working plans agreed sound capabilities put plans action europe week greatest military commanders general dwight eisenhower general eisenhower europe assume command united forces north atlantic treaty countries including forces germany people europe confidence general eisenhower ability put fighting force allies mission vital security stand give bit part job reinforce military strength european partners sending weapons equipment military production expands program military assistance extends nations east east defend freedom soviet communism make nations colonies people cannon fodder wars conquest people free men enjoy peace country stood freedom peoples asia long long ago stood freedom peoples asia history shows demonstrated philippines demonstrated relations indonesia india china hope join restoring people japan membership community free nations east arms united nations preserve principle independence free nations fighting forces communist aggression making slave state korea korea tremendous significance world means free nations acting united nations fighting aggression understand importance back history democracies stood invasion manchuria attack ethiopia seizure austria stood aggression occasions united nations korea history time principles fighting korea foundations collective security future free nations korea country undergoing torment aggression symbol stands justice world oppression slavery free world stand principles stand free world part program continue work peaceful settlements international disputes support united nations remain loyal great principles international cooperation laid charter negotiate honorable settlements soviet union engage appeasement soviet rulers made clear strength side build strength building soviet rulers face facts lay plans world hope happen bring realistic road peace main elements nation follow member community free nations things preserve security create peaceful world successful increase strength country home big jobs building stronger military forces building fast preparing full wartime mobilization continuing build strong growing economy maintain effort required long building army navy air force active strength million men women stepping training reserve forces establishing training facilities rapidly increase active forces short notice produce weapons equipment armed force make weapons allies weapons reserve supplies top build capacity turn short notice arms supplies needed full scale war fortunately good start enormous plant capacity equipment hand war combat ships returned active duty mothball fleet put service short notice large reserves arms ammunition thousands workers skilled arms production cases stocks weapons low cases hand modern made remarkable technical advances developed types jet planes powerful tanks concentrating producing newest types weapons producing fast production drive selective world war ii urgent intense big program costly give concrete examples present program calls expanding aircraft industry capacity produce modern military planes year preparing capacity produce tanks year ordering planes tanks hope turn planes producing bigger expensive planes war huge plane blockbuster carried huge load carry blockbusters belly carry times complicated build expensive costs costs million remember provide modern military equipment world fighting forces kind defense production program parts part defense production fast convert plants channel materials defense production means heavy cuts civilian copper aluminum rubber essential materials means shortages consumer goods part increase capacity produce economy strong long pull long communist aggression threaten world increasing output carry burden preparedness indefinite period future means build power plants steel mills grow cotton mine copper expand capacity ways congress legislation session affecting aspects mobilization job main subjects legislation needed appropriations military buildup extension revision selective service act military economic aid build strength free world fourth revision extension authority expand production stabilize prices wages rents improvement agricultural laws obtain kinds farm products defense effort sixth improvement labor laws provide stable labor management relations make steady production emergency seventh housing training defense workers full manpower resources eighth means increasing supply doctors nurses trained medical personnel critically needed defense effort ninth aid states meet urgent elementary secondary schools plans deferred time make children trained good citizens critical times ahead tenth major increase taxes meet cost defense effort economic report budget message discuss subjects addition send congress special messages detailed recommendations legislation needed thissession months ahead government give priority activities urgent military procurement atomic energy power development practice rigid economy nondefense activities things curtailed postponed long term defense effort neglect measures needed maintain strong economy healthy democratic society congress give continued attention measures country long pull act legislation promptly circumstances permit continue complete work rounding system social insurance improve protection unemployment age provide insurance loss earnings sickness high costs modern medical care remember fundamentals strength rest freedoms people continue efforts achieve full realization democratic ideals uphold freedom speech freedom conscience land assure equal rights equal opportunities citizens forward year defense freedom dearly nature present effort building strength concert free nations meet danger aggression turned loose world strength free nations world hope peace congress unity crucial days make mistake meaning expect unanimity end debate debate arrive decisions wise reflect desires american people dictatorship country country request unity sense responsibility part member congress debate issues man weigh words deeds sharp difference harmful criticism constructive criticism responsible individuals unified government eyes issues work things put country ahead party ahead personal interests honor member senate world war ii experience unity purpose effort congress lessening vitality party system stand americans stand men human liberty peace precious life strive strength wisdom possess precious peace freedom justice fight fight freedom prevent justice destroyed things give meaning lives acknowledge greater peace freedom justice pursue determination humility divine guidance follow god
Harry S Truman	1952	Democratic	164	mr president mr speaker members congress honor report congress state union outset speak necessity putting things work year good country united states free world passing period grave danger action congress action president measured test helps meet danger presidential election year year politics plays large part lives larger part usual perfectly proper greater responsibility conduct political fights manner harm national interest find plenty things differ destroying free institutions abandoning bipartisan foreign policy peace republicans democrats alike americans sink swim moving perilous time faced terrible threat aggression nation embarked great effort establish kind world peace secure peace goal peace price peace based freedom justice midst effort reach goal year year threw back aggression added greatly military strength improved chances peace freedom parts world year critical year defense effort free world falter lose gains made drive ahead courage vigor determination end position greater security dangerous years ahead put efforts year year hump effort build strong defenses record past year find important things credit debit side ledger made great advances time run problems overcome credit side peace depends free nations sticking making combined effort check aggression prevent war respect year great achievement korea forces united nations turned back chinese communist invasion widening area conflict action united nations korea powerful deterrent world war situation korea remains hazardous outcome armistice negotiation remains uncertain indochina malaya aid helped allies hold back communist advance signs trouble area strengthened chances peace pacific region treaties japan defense arrangements australia zealand philippines europe combined defense reality free nations created real fighting force force strong real obstacle attempt hostile forces sweep europe atlantic moved strengthen security europe agreement bring greece turkey north atlantic treaty united nations world greatest hope peace year trial stronger free nations stood blocking communist attempts tear charter present session united nations paris british french offered plan reduce control armaments foolproof inspection system concrete practical proposal disarmament happened vishinsky laughed listen sleep night sleep laughing world long time forgetting spectacle fellow laughing disarmament disarmament joke vishinsky laughter met shock anger people world result mr stalin representative received orders stop laughing start talking soviet leaders accept proposal lighten burden armaments permit resources earth devoted good mankind soviet union accepts sound disarmament proposal joins peaceful settlements choice build defenses past year added million men women armed forces total million made rapid progress field atomic weapons turned billion worth military supplies equipment times year economic conditions country good million people job wages farm incomes business profits high levels total production goods services country increased percent year normal rate growth amazing thing economic progress increasing basic capacity produce year year program double output aluminum increase electric power supply percent increase steelmaking capacity percent produce million tons steel year rest world put expansion jobs higher standards living years ahead present time means greater strength rest free world fight peace turn debit side ledger past year outstanding fact note debit side ledger soviet union continued expand military production increase excessive military power true soviets run increasing difficulties hostile policies awakened stern resistance free men world iron curtain soviet rule force created growing political economic stresses satellite nations grim fact remains soviet union increasing armed producing war planes free nations set atomic explosions world walks shadow world war home defense preparations complete make adequate progress building civil defense atomic attack major weakness plans peace inadequate civilian defense open invitation surprise attack failure provide adequate civilian defense effect adding enemy supply atomic bombs field defense production run difficulties delays designing producing latest types airplanes tanks machine tools metals extremely short supply free countries defense buildup created severe economic problems increased inflation europe endangered continued recovery allies middle east political tensions oil controversy iran keeping region turmoil east dark threat communist imperialism hangs nations briefly good side bad side picture taking good bad made real progress year road peace increased power unity free world avoided world war hand appeasement hard road follow events year show road peace expect complete job overnight free nations maintain years larger military forces needed deter aggression build steadily period years political solidarity economic progress free nations parts world task easy forward steady progress side great resources freedom ideals religion democracy aspiration people life industrial technical power free civilization advantages outweigh slave world produce thing defeat state mind lose falter middle period great national effort difficult time long hard goal distant people discouraged natural ease fight peace remind things things threat world war real pearl harbor caught guard threat communist armies real talk men back korea united states stand soviet dominated world destroy life ideals hold dear allies essential essential shoulders bear burden lighter burden things deeply relentless attack great responsibility saving basic moral spiritual values civilization started program peace unparalleled history faith profess stick job victoriously finished time courage grumbling mumbling things thing uppermost minds situation korea fight kind armistice put end aggression protect safety forces security republic korea continue work settlement korea upholds principles united nations korea knew communist aggression met firmly freedom preserved world fight save republic korea free country established united nations aims give attain continue strengthen forces freedom world hope senate early favorable action japanese peace treaty security pacts pacific countries agreement bring greece turkey north atlantic treaty negotiating agreement german federal republic play honorable equal part nations place defense western europe treaties plans skeleton defense structure sinew muscle defense forces equipment provided europe helping friends allies build military forces means send weapons large volume european allies directed weapons europe high priority economic aid supply margin difference success failure making europe strong partner joint defense long run europe freed dependence aid european allies bad steps build european unity bring european countries pooling coal steel production schuman plan work forward merger european national forces continent single army great projects realities encourage move strong united europe asia communist empire daily threat millions people peoples asia free follow life preserve culture traditions communism preserve laboring terrific handicaps poverty ill health feudal systems land ownership threat internal subversion external attack increase means military aid places indochina hardest hit communist attack means economic aid technical capital investment year made millions bushels wheat relieve famine india important long run work americans india indian farmers raise grain technicians indian farmers simple inexpensive means double crops area india farmer raised bushels wheat acre bushels average point point program work working india iran paraguay liberia countries globe technical missionaries funds speed efforts greater importance foreign policy shows stand achieve friends congress expenditure cost world war ii created developments feed world stomach communism fight fight battle win win cold war hot recently lost great public servant leading effort bring opportunity hope people half world dr henry bennett associates died line duty point mission carry great work gave lives coming year forget suffering people live iron curtain areas minorities oppressed human rights violated religions persecuted continue expose wrongs continue expand activities voice america brings message hope truth peoples peoples world opportunity discuss world problems prime minister churchill satisfactory series meetings reviewed situation europe middle east east forward steady progress peace cooperative action teamwork free nations turning foreign policies jobs home part program peace jobs move ahead full steam defense program objective equipped active defense force large concert forces allies deter aggression inflict punishing losses enemy immediately attacked active force backed adequate reserves plants tools turn tremendous quantities weapons needed war building active force adequate carry full scale war putting position mobilize rapidly year recommend increases size active force building emphasis air power means continue large scale production planes equipment longer period time originally planned planes tanks weapons military call hard goods beginning production lines volume deliveries hard goods amount billion half dollars worth month year expect rate doubled hold high rate military output year hope equipment reduce production military items substantially years peak period defense production defense lot steel aluminum copper nickel scarce materials means smaller production civilian goods cutbacks world war ii civilian production completely stopped considerably goods past years critical part defense job year inflation control inflation make minds executive side government intend hold line prices tightly law permit wage increases justified sound stabilization policies industries absorb cost increases earnings feasible authorized raise prices rate recent amendments law specifically require give price increases congress tremendous responsibility matter stabilization law shot full holes session year main tasks congress repair damage enact strong anti inflation law part program country strong determined preserve financial strength government means high taxes years taxes shared people fairly expect discuss matters economic report budget message presented congress tax laws fair make absolutely administered fairly fear favor kind end steps remedy weaknesses disclosed administration tax laws addition hope congress approve reorganization plan bureau internal revenue order make humanly taxpayer receives equal treatment law carry burden defense strong productive expanding economy home neglect things made great powerful nation today strength depends health morale freedom people burden leadership fight world peace years government people working general welfare citizens fair chance decent productive lives reason strong today government congress executive working bring fair deal american people people haven time money year measures welfare people win fight peace part job ignore give things forward slower pace concerned give things vital national strength people country agree farmers understand soil conservation rural electrification agricultural research frills luxuries real necessities order boost farm production workers understand decent housing good working conditions luxuries necessities working men women country continue produce rest world businessmen scientific research transportation services steel mills power projects luxuries necessities business industry forefront industrial progress social insurance schools health services frills necessities helping americans productive citizens contribute full share national effort protect advance life times choose things contribute defense continue make progress strong nation years ahead give examples ahead urgently needed work develop natural resources conserve soil prevent floods produce essential power build lines transmit farms factories encourage exploration mineral deposits building essential highways taking steps assure nation adequate transportation system land sea air move ahead year defense workers soldiers families decent housing rents afford pay begin long deferred program federal aid education states meet present crisis operation schools construction schools areas critically needed defense effort urgently train doctors health personnel aid medical education urgently expand basic public health services home communities defense areas congress ahead measures immediately set impartial commission make study nation health things commission bring cost modern medical care reach people repeatedly recommended national health insurance answers hope commission find thing year make number urgently needed improvements social security law thing benefits age survivors insurance raised month present average thing states special aid increase public assistance payments things ease pressure living costs people depend fixed payments make cost living adjustments receiving veterans compensation death disability incurred service country addition time start program readjustment benefits veterans service fighting broke korea thing congress session strengthen system farm price supports meet defense emergency sliding scale price support law allowed penalize farmers increasing production meet defense find costly method supporting perishable commodities law act promptly improve labor law taft hartley act reaching defects experience demonstrated sponsors act admit changed fair law fair management labor indispensable sound labor relations full uninterrupted production intend working fair law build strength defend freedom world extend benefits freedom widely people action wider enjoyment civil rights freedom birthright american executive branch making real progress full equality treatment opportunity armed forces civil service private firms working government advances require action congress hope means provided give members senate house chance vote glad hear home rule district columbia item business senate hope statehood hawaii alaska adopted promptly measures talking measures advance people demonstrate world forward movement free society demonstration free men govern powerful influence people world sides iron curtain trick slogans pie sky promises communists shortcomings progress watched abroad shortcoming speak plainly kind government tolerate dishonesty public servants dishonest people worm human organization shocking make government based principle justice unworthy public servants weeded intend federal employees guilty misconduct punished intend honest hard working great majority federal employees protected partisan slander malicious attack made recommendations congress accomplish purposes intend submit recommendations end wholehearted cooperation congress effort congress great deal strengthen confidence institutions applying rigorous standards moral integrity operations finding effective control campaign expenditures protecting rights individuals congressional investigations meet crisis hangs world kinds strength military economic political moral convinced moral strength vital courage character nation individuals decide meet challenge engaged great undertaking home abroad greatest fact nation privileged embark working night day bring peace world spread democratic ideals justice government people accomplishments remarkable full pride full confidence hope outcome nation greater resources greater energy nobler traditions inspire day day long procession timid fearful men wring hands cry lost bound fail give struggle peace war terrible statement heard made forget great objective preventing world war objective soldiers fighting hills korea worthy soldiers field true ideals fighting reject counsels defeat despair determination complete great work men laid lives remember stand americans forefathers greater obstacles poorer chances success lose heart turn goals darkest winters american history valley forge george washington great contest expect meet sunshine spirit won fight freedom faith vision great contest engaged today expect fair weather contest important country men desperate struggle george washington fought victory prove sunshine patriots summer soldiers forward trusting god peace win goals seek
Dwight D. Eisenhower	1953	Republican	165	mr president mr speaker members eighty congress honor appearing deliver message congress manifestly joint purpose congressional leadership administration justify summons governmental responsibility issued november american people grand labors leadership involve application america influence world affairs fortitude foresight deter aggression eventually secure peace establishment national administration integrity efficiency honor home ensure respect abroad encouragement incentives inspire creative initiative economy productivity fortify freedom dedication citizens attainment equality opportunity nation act strength unity task called purpose message suggest lines joint efforts immediately directed realization ruling purposes time administration office permit preparation detailed comprehensive program recommended action cover phases responsibilities devolve country leaders program filled weeks ahead study submit additional recommendations consideration today provide substantial beginning ii country painful period trial disillusionment victory anticipated world peace cooperation calculated pressures aggressive communism forced live world turmoil costly experience learned clear lesson learned free world indefinitely remain posture paralyzed tension leaving forever aggressor choice time place means greatest hurt cost administration begun definition positive foreign policy policy governed fixed ideas foreign policy clear consistent confident means product genuine continuous cooperation executive legislative branches government developed directed spirit true bipartisanship policy embrace coherent global policy freedom cherish defend europe americas freedom imperiled asia policy dedicated making free world secure envision peaceful methods devices breaking faith friends acquiesce enslavement people order purchase fancied gain congress date join resolution making clear government recognizes kind commitment contained secret understandings past foreign governments permit kind enslavement policy pursue recognize truth single country powerful defend liberty nations threatened communist aggression subversion mutual security means effective mutual cooperation united states means matter common sense national interest give nations measure strive earnestly full share common task wealth aid compensate poverty spirit heart free nation honestly dedicated preserving independence security policy designed foster advent practical unity western europe nations region contributed notably effort sustaining security free world jungles indochina malaya northern shores europe vastly improved defensive strength called made costly bitter sacrifices hold line freedom problem security demands closer cooperation nations europe date closely integrated economic political system provide greatly increased economic strength needed maintain military readiness respectable living standards europe enlightened leaders long aware facts devoted work schuman plan european army strasbourg conference testified vision determination achievements remarkable realize marked victory france germany alike divisions past brought tragedy great nations world needed unity western europe manifestly manufactured created encourage europe leaders informing high place earnestness efforts goal real progress conclusive evidence american people material sacrifices collective security matched essential political economic military accomplishments western europe foreign policy recognize importance profitable equitable world trade substantial beginning made friends europe marked checkered areas labor surplus labor shortage agricultural areas needing machines industrial areas needing food hope friends initiative creating broader markets dependable currencies greater exchange goods services action lines create economic environment invite vital includes revising customs regulations remove procedural obstacles profitable trade recommend congress reciprocal trade agreements act study extend legislation objective ignore legitimate safeguarding domestic industries agriculture labor standards executive study recommendations problem labor management farmers alike earnestly consulted government properly encourage flow private american investment abroad involves explicit purpose foreign policy encouragement hospitable climate investment foreign nations availing facilities overseas economical production manufactured articles needed mutual defense competitive normal peacetime production fourth receiving rest world equitable exchange supply greater amounts important raw materials possess adequate quantities iii general discussion foreign policy make special mention war korea war americans painful phase communist aggression world part calculated assault aggressor simultaneously pressing indochina malaya strategic situation manifestly embraces island formosa chinese nationalist forces working military solution korean war inevitably affect areas administration giving increased attention development additional republic korea forces citizens country proved capacity fighting men eagerness greater share defense homeland organization equipment training increased assistance korea purpose conforms fully global policies june aggressive attack republic korea united states seventh fleet instructed prevent attack formosa insure formosa base operations chinese communist mainland meant effect united states navy required serve defensive arm communist china situation date order chinese communists invaded korea attack united nations forces consistently rejected proposals united nations command armistice recently joined soviet russia rejecting armistice proposal sponsored united nations government india proposal accepted united states nations longer logic sense condition required united states navy assume defensive responsibilities behalf chinese communists permitting communists greater impunity kill soldiers united nations allies korea issuing instructions seventh fleet longer employed shield communist china order implies aggressive intent part obligation protect nation fighting korea iv labor peace korea world imperatively demands maintenance united states strong fighting service ready contingency problem achieve adequate military strength limits endurable strain economy amass military power regard economic capacity defend kind disaster inviting military economic objectives demand single national military policy proper coordination armed services effective consolidation logistics activities eliminate waste duplication effort armed services realize size sufficient biggest force necessarily traditions habits past stand developing efficient military force members forces mindful serve single flag single effectively integrate armament programs plan careful relation industrial facilities assure manpower materials complex technical nature military organization security reasons involved secretary defense initiative assume responsibility developing plans give nation maximum safety minimum cost secretary defense civilian military associates future recommend present laws affecting defense activities clarify responsibilities improve total effectiveness defense effort effort conform policies laid national security council statutory function national security council assist president formulation coordination significant domestic foreign military policies required security nation days tension essential central body vitality perform effectively statutory role propose careful formulation policies clear understanding peoples related make effective activities government related international information recently appointed committee representative informed citizens survey subject make recommendations future legislative administrative action unified dynamic effort field essential security united states peoples community free nations avoid total war win cold war retaliatory power strong deterrent aggressor powerful deterrent defensive power enemy attempt attack foredoomed failure building completely impenetrable defense attack total defensive strength include civil defense preparedness incontrovertible evidence soviet russia possesses atomic weapons kind protection sheer necessity civil defense responsibilities primarily belong state local governments recruiting training organizing volunteers meet emergency job federal government provide leadership supply technical guidance continue strengthen civil defense stockpile medical engineering related supplies equipment work forward lag referred inescapable economic health strength maintain adequate military power exert influential leadership peace world task chart fiscal economic policy reduce planned deficits balance budget means things reducing federal expenditures safe minimum meet huge costs defense properly handle burden inheritance debt obligations check menace inflation work earliest reduction tax burden make constructive plans encourage initiative citizens important understand administration begin task clean slate written record power quickly erase amend record includes inherited burden indebtedness obligations deficits current year budget carries billion dollar deficit budget presented administration office budgetary deficit billion fiscal year ending june national debt billion dollars addition accumulated obligational authority federal government future payment totals billion dollars amount exclusive large contingent liabilities numerous extensive description bills payment billion dollars obligations presented years bills added current costs government meet make formidable burden present authorized government debt limit billion dollars forecast presented outgoing administration fiscal year budget end fiscal year peak demand payments year total government debt approach exceed limit budgeted deficits checked momentum past programs force increase statutory debt limit permit understatement meet correct situation easy permit assurance department head determined resolve order business elimination annual deficit achieved exhortation demands concerted action responsible positions government earnest cooperation congress begun examination appropriations expenditures departments effort find significant items decreased canceled damage essential requirements control budget requires state local governments interested groups citizens restrain demands congress federal treasury spend money types projects balanced budget essential measure checking depreciation buying power dollar critical steps bring end planned inflation purpose manage government finances hinder family balancing budget reduction taxes justified show succeed bringing budget control budget balanced inflation checked tax burden today stifles initiative eased determine extent expenditures reduced wise reduce revenues tax structure demands review secretary treasury undertaking study immediately develop system taxation impose obstacle dynamic growth country includes real opportunity growth small businesses readjustments existing taxes serve objectives remove existing inequities clarification simplification tax laws regulations undertaken entire area fiscal policy aspects treated recommendations congress coming weeks stated basic facts principles axiomatic economy highly complex sensitive mechanism hasty ill considered action kind upset subtle equation encompasses debts obligations expenditures defense demands deficits taxes general economic health nation goals clear start action gradual clear great part national debt due short time department treasury undertake suitable times program extending part debt longer periods gradually placing greater amounts hands longer term investors past differences policy treasury federal reserve board helped encourage inflation henceforth expect single purpose serve nation policies designed stabilize economy encourage free play people genius individual initiative encouraging initiative single item current problems received thoughtful consideration associates individuals called counsels matter price wage control law great economic strength democracy developed atmosphere freedom character people resists artificial arbitrary controls kind direct controls credit deal real inflation symptoms times national emergency kind control role play system based assumption combat wide fluctuations price structure relying largely effective sound fiscal monetary policy natural workings economic law american labor american business resolve wage problems bargaining table government refrain sitting extreme cases public welfare requires protection living international situation emergency demanding full mobilization peace long condition persist forced learn things clinging works discarding current discussions related facts weight evidence controls present forms proved largely unsatisfactory unworkable prevented inflation cost living dissatisfaction wholly justified convinced long run free competitive prices serve interests people meet changing growing economy intend renewal present wage price controls april present legislation expires meantime steps eliminate controls orderly manner terminate special agencies longer needed purpose expected removal controls result individual price maximum freedom market prices collective bargaining characteristic free people material product controls ended respect defense priorities scarce critical items essential defense recommend congress legislation enacted continue authority remaining controls type expiration existing statute june recommend continuance authority federal control rents communities housing shortages exist chiefly called defense areas areas federal government withdraw control rents practicable removed legislature full opportunity state responsibility function idle pretend problems field prices solve mere federal withdrawal direct controls watch trends closely freer functioning economic system indirect controls appropriately employed prove insufficient period strain tension promptly congress enact legislation required facing problems wages prices production tax rates fiscal policy deficits remain constantly mindful time sacrifice ended concerned encouragement competitive enterprise individual initiative precisely nation abiding sources strength vi vast world responsibility accents urgency people elemental government clear qualities loyalty security efficiency economy integrity safety america trust people alike demand personnel federal government loyal motives reliable discharge duties combination loyalty reliability promises genuine security state principle easy apply difficult security principal appointees departments agencies investigated request federal bureau investigation confident understanding cooperation primary responsibility keeping disloyal dangerous rests squarely executive branch branch conducts require policing branch government invites disorder confusion determined meet responsibility executive heads executive departments agencies instructed initiate effective programs security respect personnel attorney general advise guide departments agencies shaping programs designed govern employment personnel review speedily derogatory information incumbent personnel carry programs powers executive branch existing law sufficient prove inadequate legislation requested programs fair rights individual effective safety nation care justice apply basic principle public employment privilege measures clear purposes purpose make nation security jeopardized false servants purpose clear atmosphere unreasoned suspicion accepts rumor gossip substitutes evidence people deserve demand federal government security personnel demand efficient logical organization true constitutional principles established committee government organization committee point departure reports hoover commission subsequent studies independent agencies achieve greater efficiency economy committee analyses show congress extend present government reorganization act period months years expiration date april involved realigning wheels smoothing gears administrative machinery congress rightfully expects executive initiative discovering removing outmoded functions eliminating duplication agency head promised early vigorous action provide greater efficiency post office oldest institutions federal government service employees merit receive high regard esteem citizens nation today areas postal service waste incompetence corrected cooperation congress taking advantage accumulated experience postal affairs postmaster general institute program directed improving service time reducing costs decreasing deficits departments dedication basic precepts security efficiency integrity economy produce administration deserving trust people people demanded good efficient government vii vitally important water minerals public lands standing timber forage mid life country fast growing population vast future resources match substantial achievements half century president theodore roosevelt awakened nation problem conservation calls strong federal program field resource development major projects timed assist leveling peaks valleys economic life soundly planned projects initiated carried planned future natural resources program america result exclusive dependence federal bureaucracy involve partnership states local communities private citizens federal government working combined effort advance development great river valleys nation power generate likewise partnership effective expansion nation upstream storage sound public lands wise conservation minerals sustained yield forests criticism apparently justified confusion resulting overlapping federal activities entire field resource conservation matter exhaustively studied reorganization plans developed resource problems pertain department interior major concerns country island possessions matter deserves attention platforms political parties promised statehood hawaii people territory earned status statehood granted promptly election scheduled viii difficult problems face administration slow irregular decline farm prices decline years occurred time nonfarm prices farm costs production extraordinarily high present agricultural legislation mandatory support prices basic farm commodities percent parity secretary agriculture associates execute present act faithfully seek mitigate consequences downturn farm income price support legislation expire end begin farm legislation develop aim economic stability full parity income american farmers seek goal ways minimize governmental interference farmers affairs permit desirable shifts production encourage farmers initiative meeting changing economic conditions continuing study reveals emphatically complicated nature subject things shows prosperity agriculture depends directly prosperity country purchasing power american consumers depends opportunity ship abroad large surpluses commodities sound economic relationships united states foreign countries involves research scientific investigation conducted extensive scale involves special credit mechanisms marketing rural electrification soil conservation programs complex agricultural programs policies studied special agricultural advisory commission committees congress nonpartisan group respected authorities field agriculture appointed interim advisory group needed agricultural programs largely budgetary administrative nature policies programs await completion reaching studies launched ix determination labor policy governed vagaries political expediency firmest principles convictions slanted partisan appeals american workers spoken group necessitating special language treatment affront fullness dignity american citizens truth matters labor policy obscured controversy meaning economic freedom affects labor confused misunderstanding provided climate opinion favoring growth governmental paternalism labor relations tendency left uncorrected end producing bureaucratic despotism economic freedom fact requisite greater prosperity american earns living field labor legislation law merits respect support labor management reduce loss wages production strikes stoppages add total economic strength nation years experience labor management act commonly taft hartley act experience shown corrective action promptly proceed amend act congress proceeding renewed studies subject department labor beginning work devise specific recommendations consideration careful working legislation give thoughtful consideration executive branch views labor management general public process human bring forward arguments interest conduct arguments overpowering light national interest enlightened interest answers profoundly hope citizen country follow understanding progress work welfare involved remember institutions trade unionism collective bargaining monuments freedom prevail industrial life century honorable achievement faith proven firm final government great deal aid settlement labor disputes allowing employed ally side proper role industrial strife encourage processes mediation conciliation processes successfully directed government free taint suspicion partial punitive administration intends strengthen improve services department labor render worker national community department created years ago serve entire nation aid employers employees alike improving training programs develop skilled competent workers enjoy confidence respect labor industry order play significant role planning america economic future end authorizing department labor establish promptly tripartite advisory committee consisting representatives employers labor public civil social rights form central part heritage striving defend fronts strength heart vigilant guarding rights sacred obligation binding citizen true freedom essence honor respect freedom cardinal ideal heritage cherish equality rights citizens race color creed discrimination minorities persists allegiance ideal discrimination confined section nation outward testimony persistence distrust fear hearts men fact makes vital fighting wrongs individual station life deed answer lies power fact fully publicized persuasion honestly pressed conscience justly aroused methods familiar life tested proven wise propose authority exists office president end segregation district columbia including federal government segregation armed forces district columbia attention proposal develop authorize legislation system provide effective voice local government consideration proceeds recommend increase number district commissioners broaden representation elements local population step insuring capital provide honored communities nation manner leadership office president exercised friendly conferences authority states cities expect make true rapid progress civil rights equality employment opportunity sphere civil rights inevitably involved federal legislation sphere immigration manifest government limit number immigrants nation absorb manifest government set reasonable requirements character numbers people share land freedom remind occasionally equally manifest fact immigrants sons daughters immigrants existing legislation injustices fact discriminate informed members congress realized time enactment future study basis determining quotas requesting congress review legislation enact statute time guard legitimate national interests faithful basic ideas freedom fairness related area social rights application ideas freedom administration profoundly aware great born living complex industrial economy individual citizen safeguards personal disaster inflicted forces control welfare people demands effective economical performance government indispensable social services light responsibility general purposes concrete measures plainly urgent greater effectiveness programs public private offering safeguards privations unemployment age illness accident provisions age survivors insurance law promptly extended cover millions citizens left social security system important encouragement privately sponsored pension plans important renewed effort check inflation destroys social security payments school system demands prompt effective years million children swelled elementary secondary school population country generally school population proportionately higher states low capita income situation calls careful congressional study action share conviction firm conditions federal aid proved proved lack local income phase school problem demands special action school population districts greatly creased swift growth defense activities activities added tax resources communities affected legislation aiding construction schools districts expires june law renewed likewise partial payments current operating expenses school districts made including deficiency requirement current fiscal year public interest similarly demands prompt specific action protection general consumer food drug administration authorized continue established program factory inspections invalidation inspections supreme court december based solely fact present law contained inconsistent unclear provisions promptly corrected aware measures remains health housing people call intelligently planned programs involved solvency security system guarding exploitation irresponsible bring clear purpose orderly procedure field anticipate study proper relationship federal state local programs shortly send specific recommendations establishing commission reorganization plan defining administrative status federal activities health education social security repeat important subjects make mention today great growing body veterans america traditionally generous caring disabled widow orphan fallen millions remain close hearts proper care uniformed citizens appreciation past service veterans part accepted governmental responsibilities xi surveyed briefly problems people portion tasks hope freedom depends real measure strength heart wisdom strong arms strong source armament productivity workers farmers foremen financiers technicians builders produce produce produce strong spiritual resources depends devoted heart values defend values virtues applies equal force ends earth relations neighbor door freedom expresses equal eloquence workers strike nearby factory yearnings sufferings peoples eastern europe heart summons strength wisdom direct world affairs steady assertion strength truculent confession helplessness cowardly affairs home middle untrammeled freedom individual demands welfare nation avoid government bureaucracy carefully avoids neglect helpless area political action free men expect win spirit live labor confident strength compassionate heart clear mind spirit turn great tasks dwight eisenhower
Harry S Truman	1953	Democratic	166	congress united states honor report congress state union eighth report president privileged present country previous occasions custom set proposals legislative action coming year purpose today presentation legislative program falls properly successor infringe responsibility chart forward speak past years position arrived weeks general eisenhower inaugurated president united states resume gladly place private citizen republic presidency changed hands years ago coming april tragic time time grieving president roosevelt great gallant human time unrelieved anxiety successor thrust suddenly complexities burdens presidential office time time normal transition democratic system president conclusion term steps back private life successor chosen people begins tenure office presidency united states continues function moment break election assure transfer administration smooth orderly general eisenhower associates friendly understanding collaboration endeavor sought thrust sought responsibility mine twelve clock noon january twentieth hope found means incoming president obtain full detailed information assume responsibility moment takes oath office president elect greatest burdens compelling responsibilities man americans success undertaking tasks tasks president chief state elected representative people national spokesman commander chief armed forces charged conduct foreign relations chief executive nation largest civilian organization select nominate top officials executive branch federal judges legislative side obligation opportunity recommend approve veto legislation great political party turns naturally leadership provide president bundle burdens unique face earth task full time job tremendous undertaking easiest times times easy hard hard complex history president carry tasks democracy grow flourish people prosper lead free world overcoming communist menace shadow atomic bomb huge challenge human occupies presidential office challenge reality meet challenge runs administration congress country ultimately president master responsibilities save fellow citizens people comprehend challenge times move meet privilege hold presidential office years great pride personal pride pride people nation pride political system form government balky mechanically deficient ways enormously alive vigorous years republic rising great occasions accomplishing essentials meeting basic challenge times misunderstandings controversies past years president united states measure support understanding man sustain burdens presidential office hope discharge responsibilities profoundly grateful grateful associates executive branch partisan civil servants grateful disagreements members congress sides aisle grateful american people citizens republic governors close recent controversies find hard understand accomplishments past years accomplishments real great president congress achievements country people remind things assumed duties president united states oath office april year nazis surrendered july great white flash light man made alamogordo heralded swift final victory world war ii opened doorway atomic age great questions posed sudden total victory world war ii nation responded american economy collapse war question depression repetition free world feared dreaded communists hoped built policies hope answered question answered resounding economy grown tremendously free enterprise flourished fore sixty million people gainfully employed compared million years ago private businessmen farmers invested billion dollars plant equipment end world war ii prices risen incomes large risen real living standards considerably higher years ago aided sound government policies expanding economy shown strength flexibility swift painless reconversion war peace quick reaction recovery korea beginnings recession live vital economy shown remarkable capacity sustain great mobilization program defense vast outpouring aid friends allies world produce goods services peaceful home answer feared hoped depression country handled national finances question arising war end administration government problem takes president time year year fashioning budget related problem managing public debt financing world war ii left tremendous public debt reached billion dollars peak february beginning july war reconversion financing ended held closely sound standard times high employment high national income federal budget balanced debt reduced fiscal years july june net surplus billion dollars surplus treasury excess cash reserves debt reduced substantially reaching low point billion dollars june ending billion dollars june july began rapid rearmament years held close pay policy current fiscal year rising expenditures defense substantially outrun receipts pose problem congress turn question faced war end carry forward great projects social welfare badly needed long overdue deal introduced national life government continue heart people progress deal halted aftermath war decisively progress woodrow wilson freedom halted world war question answered answered doubling age insurance benefits extending coverage ten million people answered increasing minimum wage answered million privately constructed homes federal government helped finance war thousand units low rent public housing construction answered thousand hospital beds provided joint efforts federal government local communities answered helping million veterans world war ii obtain advanced education thousand start business thousand buy farms answered continuing farmers obtain electric power today cent farms power line electric service ways demonstrated democracy forgotten powers government promote people welfare security big post war questions nation natural resources soils water forests grasslands continue strong conservation movement world war slip back practices monopoly exploitation waste answer plain country soil conservation movement spread aided government programs enriching private public lands preserving destruction improving future river basins invested billion dollars public funds years invested projects control floods irrigate farmlands produce low cost power housewives farmers businessmen vigilant protecting people property lands forests oil minerals fight hard resources private greed met setbacks delay work defense priorities proud record protecting natural heritage resources public good question face war close continue peace war promote equality opportunity citizens seeking ways means guarantee full enjoyment civil rights war achieved great economic social gains millions fellow citizens held back prejudice prepared peacetime moving full realization democratic promise submerged wiped post war riots reaction world war answered questions series forward steps level government spheres private life armed forces civil service universities railway trains residential districts cities stores factories nation polling booths barriers coming happening part mandate courts part insistence federal state local governments part enlightened action private groups persons region walk life great awakening american conscience issues civil rights progress complete continuing answer questioned intention live promises equal freedom question posed war end equally concerned future democracy machinery government politics republic changed improved adapted rapidly carry responsibly vast complicated undertakings called time answered question answered tackling urgent specific problems war experience brought sharp focus reorganization congress unification armed services beginning closer integration foreign military policy national security council created year executive reorganizations hoover acheson commission report landmarks continuing endeavor make government effective instrument service people vital question greatest concerns built world durable structure security lasting peace nations drift world war terrible disaster disaster time holocaust atomic war overriding question time answer finally long time day night past years building peace searching leads surely security freedom justice world mankind task republic end world war ii accomplishment give real pride americans total war averted day hour succeeded establishing conditions kind war happening ahead man world war radically changed power relationships world nations great left shattered weak channels communication routes trade political economic ties kinds ripped changed disrupted chaotic situation united states soviet union emerged strongest powers world tremendous human natural resources actual potential scale unmatched nation make plainer world present state pass understanding diametrically opposite principles policies great powers war ruined world part republic free men heirs american revolution dedicated truths declaration independence men created equal endowed creator unalienable rights secure rights governments instituted men deriving powers consent governed post war objective keeping great idea united states sought pre eminent position power nations recover damage dislocation war held helping hand enable restore national lives regain positions independent supporting members great family nations attempt part dominate control nation satellites partners soviet union opposite rulers weakened condition world obligation assist great work reconstruction opportunity exploit misery suffering extension power brought subjugation extinguished blotted national independence countries military operations world war ii left grasp difference stares map europe today west line tragically divides europe nations continuing act live light traditions principles side dead uniformity tyrannical system imposed rulers soviet union point global struggle free world communists struggle recorded history freedom versus tyranny dominant idea soviet regime terrible conception men rights live mercy state inevitably idea consequences flowing collided efforts free nations build peaceful world cold war communists free world soviet attempt checkmate defeat peaceful purposes furtherance dread objective seek struggle god forbid utmost avoid world war ii russians fought side side turn attacked forced combat aggressors war hoped wartime collaboration maintained frightful experience nazi invasion devastation heart russia turned soviet rulers proclaimed allegiance world revolution communist dominion violated solemn agreements made wartime sought rights privileges obtained united nations frustrate purposes cut powers effective agent world progress keeper world peace outcome efforts made peaceful collaboration source present strength demonstrated believed proclaimed sought honest agreements peace moral position leadership free world today fortified fact world divided fault failure soviet design began cold war free world happen men made effort soviet rulers spurned free nations accepted leadership republic meeting mastering soviet offensive important clear thinking nature threat faced face long time measures devised meet shape pattern understand soviet union occupies territory million square miles borders east west million square miles satellite states virtually incorporated soviet union china close partner vast land mass enormous store natural resources sufficient support economic development comparable stalinist world world great natural diversity geography climate distribution resources population language living standards economic cultural development world people convinced communists means world history national traditions borderlands tend separation unification run counter enforced combination made areas today world great man made uniformities world bleeds population white build huge military forces world police authority unlimited world terror slavery deliberately administered instruments government means production world effective social power state monopoly state creature communist tyrants soviet union satellites china held tight grip communist party chieftains party dominates social political institutions party regulates centrally directs economy moscow sphere peiping history philosophy morality law centrally established rigid dogmas incessantly drummed population subject interpretation change party circle people learn ways life communists walled world deliberately uniformly rest human society communist base operation cold war addition command hundreds thousands dedicated foreign communists people free country serve moscow ends masters kremlin provided deluded followers free world manipulate cynically ruthlessly serve purposes soviet state vast internal base operations agents foreign lands communist rulers inside homeland communists maintain modernize huge military forces simultaneously endeavoring weld vast area population completely contained advanced industrial society aim day equal production levels western europe north america combined shifting balance world economic power war potential side long prepared levy living generations sacrifice helps strengthen armed power speed industrial development externally communist rulers expand boundaries world expansion pursued steadfastly close world war ii means soviet army present countries eastern europe gradually squeezed free institutions death post war chaos existed industrialized nations western europe local stalinists gain power political processes politically inspired strikes means subverting free institutions evil ends conditions permitted soviet rulers stimulated aided armed insurrection communist led revolutionary forces greece indo china philippines china outright aggression satellites korea forces nationalism independence economic change work great sweep asia africa communists identify progress picture friends freedom advancement surely cynical efforts history offers record free world communists seek fish troubled waters seize countries enslave millions human souls ready ally group extreme left extreme offers opportunity advance ends geography central position european asian power borders touching sensitive vital areas free world situated armies economic power set simultaneously series threats inducements widely dispersed places western germany iran japan pressures attractions sustained quickly shifted place place communist rulers moving implacable create greater strength vast empire create weakness division free world preparing time false creed teaches time world sway torn strife contradictions ripe communist plucking heart distorted marxist interpretation history glass moscow peiping world glass rest history side boost history opportunity set nature communist menace confronting republic free world measure challenge faced world war ii challenge partly military partly economic partly moral partly intellectual confronting level human endeavor world free world purpose organize defenses aggression subversion build structure resistance salvation community nations iron curtain addition give expression opportunity forces growth progress free world organize unify cooperative community free men crumble grow stronger years soviet empire free world eventually change ways fall program action carry purpose directed meet requirements security pioneers settled great continent carry musket peaceful business realized allies military strength meet growing soviet military threat opportunity carry forward efforts build peaceful world law order environment free institutions survive flourish drop concentrate armies weapons side side urgent military requirement continue create conditions economic social progress world work carried forward alongside order meet military aspects communist drive power creative effort human progress essential bring kind world free men live requirements military security human progress closely related action recognize military security depends strong economic underpinning stable hopeful political order conversely confidence makes economic political progress thrive areas vulnerable military conquest requirements related depend unity action free nations world foundation effort drawing free people world condition essential progress survival free people conviction underlies steps taking strengthen unify free nations past years steps meeting requirement providing security world wide challenge starting point occasions remains united nations prepared nations free world place reliance machinery united nations safeguard peace united nations give full expression concept international security embodied charter essential permanent members security council honor solemn pledge cooperate end soviet union outline dreary record soviet obstruction veto unceasing efforts soviet representatives sabotage united nations important distinguish principle collective security embodied charter mechanisms united nations give principle effect frankly recognize soviet union instances stall machinery collective security impair principle collective security free nations world retained allegiance idea found means act soviet veto united nations application principle regional security arrangements fully harmony charter give expression purposes free world refused resign collective suicide technicality soviet veto principle collective measures forestall aggression found expression treaty rio de janeiro north atlantic treaty extended include greece turkey treaties concluded reinforce security pacific area free nations time fallen prey dangerous illusion treaties stop aggressor series vigorous actions varied nature threat free nations successfully thwarted aggression threat aggression parts world country led supported collective measures aid people determined act defense freedom spelled difference success failure review detail steps major step milepost developing unity strength resolute free nations determined successful effort made united nations safeguard integrity independence iran aid support embattled greece enabled defeat forces threatening national independence turkey cooperative action resulted building bulwark military strength area vital defenses entire free world began furnishing military aid partners north atlantic community number free countries soviet union threats germany japan neighbors west east successfully withstood free germany member peaceful community nations partner common defense soviet effort capture berlin blockade thwarted courageous allied airlift independent democratic japan brought back community free nations east tactics communist imperialism reached heights violence unmatched problem concerted action free nations acute difficult spite aid support free government china succumbed communist assault aid enabled free chinese rebuild strengthen forces island formosa areas east indo china malaya philippines assistance helped sustain staunch resistance communist insurrectionary attacks supreme test point determination free nations korea communist forces invaded republic korea state special sense protection united nations response resolute military leadership free nations time arms collectively repel aggression aggression repelled driven back punished time communist strategy fit prolong conflict spite honest efforts united nations reach honorable truce months deadlock demonstrated communists achieve persistence diplomatic trickery failed achieve sneak attack korea demonstrated free world endurance match communist effort overthrow international order local aggression bitter struggle cost brave lives human suffering made plain free nations fight side side succumb aggression intimidation final analysis halt communist drive world power heart free world defense military strength united states united states sole possessor atomic bomb great deterrent protection soviets produced atomic explosion bound time broaden basis strength endeavor lead atomic weapons strengthen armed forces generally enlarge productive capacity mobilization base historically soviet atomic explosion fall months aggression korea stimulated planning program defense mobilization needed central force strike back aggression needed strength outer edges free world defenses allies strength hold line attack retaliate made great progress task building strong defenses half years doubled defenses helped increase protection free nations measures collective security resistance aggression building defenses constitute requirement survival progress free world pointed interwoven necessity taking steps create maintain economic social progress free nations military strength economic capacity back freedom economic chaos social collapse reasons national policy included wide range economic measures europe grand design marshall plan permitted people britain france italy half dozen countries united states lift stagnation find path rising production rising incomes rising standards living situation changed overnight marshall plan people europe renewed hope vitality carry share military defense free world impossible years ago countries europe moving rapidly political economic unity changing map europe hopeful ways changed years customs unions european economic institutions schuman plan movement european political integration european defense community signs practical effective growth greater common strength unity countries western europe including free republic germany working free world gainer history steps meet necessity serve ultimate purpose greater apparent time meaning europe threat aggression free nations drawing defense free institutions laid foundations unity endure major creative force exigencies period history close range dimly aware creative surge movement represents historic importance benefits survive long communist tyranny unhappy memory asia africa economic social problems urgent hundreds millions people ferment exploding twentieth century thrusting equality independence improvement hard conditions lives politically economically socially things stay pre war mold africa asia change coming fast years president free nations million people independent burma indonesia philippines korea israel libya india pakistan ceylon states indo china members french union names testimony sweep great force changing face half world working relationships peoples free world easy times communist drive expansion hard complex problems transition social forms political arrangements economic institutions century demands problems guiding change constructive channels helping nations grow strong stable soviet rulers striving exploit ferment purposes task harder urgent terribly urgent situation meaning importance point iv program share store capital people develop economies reshape societies iranians raise grain indians reduce incidence malaria liberians educate children helping answer desires people advancement demonstrating superiority freedom communism quick solution difficulties nations asia africa solution press forward full energy countries grow flourish freedom cooperation rest free world measures economic policy tremendous effect events years ago kremlin thought post war collapse western europe japan economic dislocation america give signal advance demonstrated wrong wait hope economic recovery free world set stage violent disastrous rivalry economically developed nations struggling markets greater share trade test meet master years immediately ahead great ingenuity effort time prove kremlin wrong true economic recovery presents problems economic decline problems order problems distributing abundance fairly solved process international cooperation brought measures continue path follow working free associates building international structure military defense economic social political progress prepared war war thrust stakes search peace immensely higher entered atomic age war undergone technological change makes thing war today soviet empire free nations dig grave stalinist opponents society world transformation brought pass years alamogordo eniwetok years force atomic energy turned world kind place science technology worked fast war meaning grasped peoples victims rulers kremlin president united states years responsible decisions brought science engineering present place development means future government realized successful atomic explosion force spelled terrible danger mankind brought international control promptly advanced proposals united nations source energy arena national rivalries make impossible weapon war proposals pregnant benefit humanity rebuffed rulers soviet union language science universal movement science forward unknown assume soviet union develop weapon precautions terrible means destruction lying unexplored field atomic energy alternative press probe secrets atomic power uttermost capacity maintain initial superiority atomic field time sought persistently avenue formula reaching agreement soviet rulers place form power effective restraints guarantee nation war recount proposals made steps united nations striving open ultimate agreement hope continue make efforts long slightest possibility progress civilized nations agreed urgency problem shown willingness agree effective measures control save soviet union satellites rejected reasonable proposal progress scientific experiment outrun expectations atomic science full tide development unfolding innermost secrets matter uninterrupted irresistible alamogordo developed atomic weapons times explosive force early models produced substantial quantities recently thermonuclear tests eniwetok entered stage world shaking development atomic energy man moves era destructive power capable creating explosions order magnitude dwarfing mushroom clouds hiroshima nagasaki reason stage reached release atomic energy speed scientific technical progress years shows signs abating hurried forward mastery atom discovery unforeseeable peaks destructive power inevitably reach international agreement path follow realize advance make unattainable advantage race temporary war future man extinguish millions lives blow demolish great cities world wipe cultural achievements past destroy structure civilization slowly painfully built hundreds generations war policy rational men dare assume yield temptation science placing hands mind stalin claim belief lenin prophecy stage development communist society war world lenin pre atomic man viewed society history pre atomic eyes profound happened wrote war changed shape dimension stage development save ruin regime homeland time elapse communist rulers bring recognize truth find eager reach understandings protect world danger faces today people succeeded splitting atom atomic power force nature evil properly instrumentality human betterment source power tool scientific inquiry untold possibilities making good progress constructive atomic power free concentrate peaceful exclusively atomic power days lives legislate existence ignore dangers benefits offers man harness forces atom work improvement lot human beings goal nation people understand problem handle force wisely democratic processes strive earnestness good faith bring effective international control require wisdom patience firmness awe inspiring responsibility field falls administration congress give port citizens constructive steps make newest man discoveries source good ultimate destruction attitude soviet rulers change long show willingness negotiate effective control atomic energy honorable settlements world problems measure deep rooted kremlin illusions rulers communist world change basic objectives lightly communist rulers sense time things wholly unlike tend divide future short spans year life congress years presidential term plan terms generations easy short run make plans prevail means ahead long hard test strength stamina free world communist domain politics economy science technology liberty slavery voluntary concert free nations forced amalgam people republics strategy strategy nerve nerve test steadiness people united states challenge history republic called rise occasion people required easy learn live world live pleasant safe simple confidently hoped sacrifice number accustomed ways working living nervous energy material resources human life thing future sacrifice lies ahead grow discouraged weaken slack structure built past years fall matter stringent means free world regain ground time sheer momentum lost move improvements programs meet situations serve desert spirit basic policies step back surely start free world slide darkness communists prophesied moment watch wait freedom life safe meet challenge accept implications stick guns carry policies set basic conditions working world nature basic policies future answer continue confound soviet expectations world grows stronger united attractive men sides iron curtain inevitably time change communist world change deliberate decision kremlin coup etat revolution defection satellites unforeseen combination factors communist rulers understand win war frustrate attempts win subversion expect world change character moderate aims realistic implacable recede cold war began deceived strong face monolithic power communist dictators wear world remember power basis consent remember afraid free world ideas ways life dare people massive effort put stop campaign truth reaching people message freedom masters kremlin live fear power position collapse people acquire knowledge information comprehension free society world elements strength fatal flaw weakness represented iron curtain police state surely social order insecure fearful ultimately lose competition free society provided thing urge carefully provided free world retains confidence determination outmatch adversary accomplish demonstrate uncertain millions sides iron curtain superiority free life test free nations republic resources equal task industry skills basic economic strength vigor free men free society liberties retain democratic faith ultimate advantage hard competition lies communists things shift advantage side things defeat fear fear task face fear adjusting fear breeds fear sapping faith corroding liberties turning citizen citizen ally ally fear snatch values striving defend danger signals corrosive process bas begun diminution tolerance act enforced conformity idle accusation demonstration hysteria restrictive law sign lose battle fear communists deprive liberties fear communists stamp faith human dignity fear fear enemy root destroy life anxious protect beat back fear hold fast heritage free men renew confidence tolerance sense neighbors fellow citizens stand bill rights inquisition star chamber place free society ultimate strength lies arms sense moral values moral truths give meaning vitality purposes free people values faith inspiration source strength indomitable determination face hard tasks great dangers americans faced hardships uncertainty adjusted changing circumstances history steady training work lose heart task lose faith free ways stops remember began sought accomplished americans lived long time happen country experience back country grew country scarcely fifteen years americans rejected hand wise counsel aggressors quarantined concept collective security foundation stone actions strange doctrine shunned set talk adapting talk adjusting talk responding people challenge changed times circumstances spectacular great change america outlook world pause back carefully meaning national experience draw comfort faith confidence future americans nation business finished basic questions dealing years past present anew society circumstances change current questions forms complications year year underneath great issues remain prosperity welfare human rights effective democracy peace turn inaugural president great work called support united people confident people firm faith common pledge support citizen republic give fellow citizens godspeed god bless country harry truman
Dwight D. Eisenhower	1954	Republican	167	mr president mr speaker members eighty congress high honor present congress views state union recommend measures advance security prosperity american people branches government venture great parties support general objective recommendations make today objective building stronger america nation citizen good reason bold hope effort rewarded prosperity shared freedom expands peace secure stronger america objective real momentum developed administration year office continue momentum increase build future nation thankful happened past year deeply grateful sons longer die distant mountains korea called homes military service longer called field battle nation completed prosperous year history damaging effect inflation wages pensions salaries savings brought control taxes begun cost government reduced work proceeds fewer employees discouraging trend modern governments limitless expansion case reversed cost armaments oppressive defense goals militarily stronger day year creation cabinet department health education welfare symbolized government permanent concern human problems citizens segregation armed forces federal activities made progress elimination district columbia steps continuing effort eliminate inter racial difficulty developments shores equally encouraging communist aggression halted korea continues meet indo china vigorous resistance france states assisted timely aid country west germany iran areas world heartening political victories won forces stability freedom slowly surely free world gathers strength iron curtain signs tyranny trouble reminders structure brittle surface hard fact great strategic change world past year precious intangible initiative policy limited mere reaction crises provoked free develop lines choice abroad home major theme american policy coming year joint determination hold initiative initiative promote broad purposes protect freedom people maintain strong growing economy concern human problems individual citizen active concern purposes forward road stronger america recommendations today furtherance purposes foreign affairs american freedom threatened long world communist conspiracy exists present scope power hostility closely american freedom interlocked freedom people unity free world lies chance reduce communist threat war task maintaining unity strengthening parts greatest responsibility falls naturally retain freedom strength continue advance freedom foreign fronts east retain vital interest korea negotiated republic korea mutual security pact develops security system pacific promptly submit senate consent ratification prepared meet renewal armed aggression korea maintain indefinitely bases okinawa congress authorize continued material assistance hasten successful conclusion struggle indo china assistance bring closer day states enjoy independence assured france continue military economic aid nationalist government china south asia profound taking place free nations demonstrating ability progress democratic methods provide inspiring contrast dictatorial methods backward events communist china continuing efforts free peoples south asia assured support united states middle east tensions problems exist show sympathetic impartial friendship western europe policy rests firmly north atlantic treaty remain based ahead organization building united european community including france germany vital free reliant europe promoted european defense community offers assurance european security coming unity western europe assistance nation render security europe free world multiplied effectiveness western hemisphere continue develop harmonious mutually beneficial cooperation neighbors solid friendship american neighbors cornerstone entire policy world united nations admittedly state evolution means united states uniquely valuable services places violence threatened real world forum opportunity international presentation rebuttal place nations world collective action peace justice place guilt squarely assigned fail steps peace united nations deserves continued firm support foreign assistance trade practical application foreign policy enter field foreign assistance trade military assistance continued technical assistance maintained economic assistance reduced economic programs korea critical places world important congress continue fiscal year forthcoming budget message propose maintenance presidential power transferability assistance funds authority merge funds regular defense funds propose secretary defense primary responsibility administration foreign military assistance accordance policy guidance secretary state fact reduce foreign economic assistance areas gratifying evidence objectives achieved continuing surpass prewar levels economic activity western europe gains reliance relationship enters phase bring results beneficial taxpayers allies alike step step creation healthier freer system trade payments free world system allies earn economy continue flourish free world longer afford kinds arbitrary restraints trade continued war problem submit congress detailed recommendations joint commission foreign economic policy made report atomic energy proposal maintain military strength coming year draw closer bonds allies improved position discuss outstanding issues soviet union glad reasonable prospect constructive results spirit atomic energy proposals united states recently presented united nations general assembly constructive soviet reaction make start era peace fatal road atomic war defense hope peace owe world candid explanation military measures taking make peace secure enter year military power continues grow power defense deter aggression aggressors allies maintain massive capability strike back considerations defense planning determined atomic power serve usages peace full account great growing number nuclear weapons effective means aggressor needed preserve freedom defense stronger security safeguards share allies knowledge tactical nuclear weapons urge congress provide needed authority usefulness weapons creates relationships men materials relationships permit economies men build forces suited situation world today budget message january airpower navy air force receiving heavy emphasis armed forces regain maximum mobility action strategic reserves centrally readily deployable meet sudden aggression allies fourth defense rest trained manpower economical mobile professional corps heart security organization necessarily teacher leader serve temporarily discharge obligation defend republic pay retain career service armed forces numbers long term personnel strongly urge generous benefits important service morale adequate living quarters family housing units medical care dependents studies military manpower completed national security training commission committee appointed director office defense mobilization evident weaknesses exist state readiness organization reserve forces measures correct weaknesses submitted congress ability convert swiftly partial mobilization imperative security time mobilization officials requirements major items needed military data related civilian requirements supply potential show gaps mobilization base realistic plant expansion stockpiling goals speed attainment nation date mobilization base foundation sound defense program part foundation continental transport system vital heavy materials increasingly canada relations canada happily close involve unbreakable ties strategic interdependence nations st lawrence seaway security economic reasons urge congress promptly approve participation construction sixth military military measures continental defense strengthened current fiscal year allocating purposes increasing portion effort fiscal year spend billion dollars indispensable part continental security civil defense effort succeed complete cooperation state governors mayors voluntary citizen groups advance cooperative program attack save lives lessen destruction defense program recommended budget consistent considerations discussed based military program unanimously recommended joint chiefs staff approved consideration national security council program make america strong age peril bar attainment international defense policies outlined enable negotiate position strength hold resolute peaceful world turn matters characterized domestic realizing abroad affects problem home amount taxes state mind internal security standards established employee security program employees separated federal government national security demands investigation employees evaluation derogatory information respecting present employees expedited concluded earliest date recommend congress provide additional funds speed important procedures special employment standards federal government turn matter relating american citizenship subversive character communist party united states demonstrated ways including court proceedings recognize law fact plain thoughtful citizens dealing actions akin treason citizen knowingly participates communist conspiracy longer holds allegiance united states recommend congress enact legislation provide citizen united states convicted courts conspiring advocate overthrow government force violence treated act renounced allegiance united states forfeited united states citizenship addition attorney general committees present recommendations needed additional legal weapons combat subversion country deal question claimed immunity ii strong economy turn great purpose government protection freedom maintenance strong growing economy american economy wonders world undergirds international position military security standard living citizen administration determined economy strong growing moment transition wartime peacetime economy confident complete transition interruption economic growth leave vital matter chance economic preparedness fully important nation military preparedness subsequent special messages economic report january set plans administration recommendations congressional action include flexible credit debt management policies tax measures stimulate consumer business spending suitable lending guaranteeing insuring grant aid activities strengthened age unemployment insurance measures improved agricultural programs public works plans laid advance enlarged opportunities international trade investment mere enumeration subjects implies vast amount study coordination planning authorizing legislation altogether make economic preparedness complete conditions arise require additional administrative legislative action administration ready government ready timed vigorous action business community plan boldly confidence develop climate assuring steady economic growth budget submit congress january budget prepared administration period july june budget adequate current government recognizes federal budget stabilizing factor economy tax expenditure programs foster individual initiative economic growth pending transmittal budget message mention points budgetary situation initial acts revise cooperation congress budget prepared administration office requests appropriations greatly reduced addition spending level provided budget current fiscal year reduced fiscal year estimate reduction expenditures reduce spending level fiscal years reducing requests appropriations substantial loss revenue coming fiscal year resulting tax reductions effect tax adjustments propose reduced spending move budget closer balance keeping appropriation requests estimated revenues continue reduce tremendous accumulation unfinanced obligations incurred government past appropriations fourth claims government revenues reduced growth public debt stopped government bills paid month tax money pay great unevenness fiscal year flexibility manage enormous debt find renew request increase statutory debt limit taxes budget lower level taxation prevailed preceding years days ago individual income taxes reduced excess profits tax expired tax reductions justified substantial reductions made making governmental expenditures additional reductions expenditures brought gradually surely sight reductions taxes made budget savings sound governmental financing assured tax burdens reduced taxpayers spend money moving lower levels taxation revise tax system groundwork revision laid committee ways means house representatives close consultation department treasury remove glaring tax inequities small taxpayers reduce restraints growth small business make encourage initiative enterprise production twenty recommendations ends contained budget message attempting summarize manifold reforms illustrate tendency propose liberal tax treatment dependent children work widows widowers dependent children medical expenses business expand modernize plant propose liberalized tax treatment depreciation research development expenses retained earnings present revenue corporation income tax current rate year excise taxes scheduled reduced april including liquor tobacco gasoline automobiles continued present rates extension renegotiation act needed eliminate excessive profits prevent waste public funds purchase defense materials agriculture million people demands stable prosperous agriculture conversely farmer prosper america prospers seek promote increases standard living farmer fairly shares increase farm program promoting stability prosperity elements agriculture urgently needed agricultural laws effect successfully accomplished wartime purpose encouraging maximum production crops today production crops levels exceeds present demand laws encouraging production effect storage facilities commodity credit corporation bulge surplus stocks dairy products wheat cotton corn vegetable oils corporation presently authorized borrowing authority exhausted products priced domestic markets priced world markets piled government hands world millions people hungry destruction food unconscionable surplus stocks continue threaten market spite acreage controls authorized present law surpluses continue accumulate confront alternatives impose greater acreage reductions crops apply rigid federal controls diverted acres regiment production basic agricultural crop place producer crops domination control federal government washington alternative contrary fundamental interests farmer nation real solution problem facing alternative permit market price agricultural products gradually greater influence planning production farmers continuing assistance government sound approach make effective surpluses existing program begins insulated normal channels trade special include school lunch programs disaster relief emergency assistance foreign friends importance stockpiling reserves national emergency building agricultural laws establish price support program flexibility attract production needed supplies essential commodities stimulate consumption commodities flooding american markets transition modernized parity accomplished gradually case abrupt downward change dollar level percentage level price supports monday transmit congress detailed recommendations embodying approach developed cooperation innumerable individuals vitally interested agriculture special message monday briefly describe consultative advisory processes program subjected past ten months chosen farm program build markets protect consumers food supply move food consumption storage program remove threat farmer overhanging surpluses program stimulate production commodity scarce encourage consumption nature bountiful promote individual freedom responsibility initiative distinguish american agriculture helping agriculture achieve full parity market promises farmers higher steadier financial return years alternative plan conservation part nation precious heritage natural resources common responsibility federal state local governments improve develop working closest harmony partnership federal conservation resource development projects reappraised sound projects continued projects federal government part economically sound local sharing cost feasible fiscal year work started twenty projects meet standards federal government continue construct operate economically sound flood control power irrigation water supply projects projects capacity local initiative public private consistent nation conservation program account important role played farmers protecting soil resources recommend enactment legislation strengthen agricultural conservation upstream flood prevention work achieve balance major flood control structures stream areas recommendations made time time adoption uniform consistent water resources policy revised public lands policy sound program safeguarding domestic production critical strategic metals minerals addition continue protect improve national forests parks monuments natural historic sites fishery wildlife resources hope pending legislation improve conservation management publicly owned grazing lands national forests approved congress national highways protect vital interest citizen safe adequate highway system federal government continuing central role federal aid highway program maximum progress made overcome present inadequacies interstate highway system continue federal gasoline tax cents gallon require cancellation decrease effective april maintain revenues expanded highway program undertaken commission intergovernmental relations completes study present system financing highway construction promptly submit consideration congress governors states post office apparent substantial savings made made post office department eliminate postal deficit recommend congress approve bill pending house representatives providing adjustment postal rates handle long term aspects recommend congress create permanent commission establish fair reasonable postal rates time time future iii human problems protection freedom maintenance strong growing economy administration recognizes great purpose government concern human problems citizens modern industrial society banishment destitution cushioning shock personal disaster individual proper concerns levels government including federal government true remedy prevention alike individual capacity labor welfare problems area discuss concern members great labor force heads hearts hands produce wealth country protection hazards temporary unemployment extended millions workers including civilian federal workers lack safeguard secretary labor making states studies recommendations fields weekly benefits periods protection extension coverage economic report related matter minimum wages coverage labor management relations act basically sound law years experience revealed respects improved january forward congress suggestions designed reinforce basic objectives act basic social security program age survivors insurance system individuals contribute productive years receive benefits based previous earnings designed shield destitution year recommended extension social insurance system include additional persons extension accomplished major improvements insurance system bring substantial benefit increases broaden membership insurance system diminishing federal grants aid purposes formula proposed permitting progressive reduction grants declines federal grant aid welfare programs based widely varying formulas simplified concrete proposals fourteen suggested committees program rehabilitation disabled strengthening special vocational training program presently returns year handicapped individuals productive work disabled people saved year idleness dependence program gradually increased detailed recommendations social insurance problems mentioned congress january health flatly opposed socialization medicine great hospital medical services met initiative private plans fact medical costs rising impose severe hardships families federal government helpful things carefully avoid socialization medicine federal government encourage medical research battle mortal diseases cancer heart ailments continue states health rehabilitation programs present hospital survey construction act broadened order assist development adequate facilities chronically ill encourage construction diagnostic centers rehabilitation facilities nursing homes war disease working relationship government private initiative private profit hospital medical insurance plans field soundly based experience initiative people communities limited government reinsurance service permit private profit insurance companies offer broader protection families january forward congress special message presenting administration health program detail education youth greatest resource neglected vital respect nation preparing teachers building schools fast increase population preparation teachers control direction public education policy state local responsibility federal government stand ready assist states demonstrably provide sufficient school buildings order appraise hope year conference education held state culminating national conference conferences education level government federal government local school board gain information attack problem housing details program enlarge improve opportunities people acquire good homes presented congress special message january program include modernization home mortgage insurance program federal government redirection present system loans grants aid cities slum clearance redevelopment extension advantages insured lending private credit engaged task rehabilitating obsolete neighborhoods insurance long term mortgage loans small payment low income families alternative programs prove effective continuation public housing program adopted housing act individual community state federal governments alike apply american family decent home veterans administration internal reorganization veterans administration proceeding full approval completed afford single agency services including medical facilities adapted veterans nation owes suffrage remaining recommendations relate basic citizens represented decisions government hope states cooperate congress adopting uniform standards voting laws make citizens armed forces overseas vote district columbia time long overdue granting national suffrage citizens applying principle local government nation capital urge congress move promptly direction revise district revenue measures provide needed public works improvements people hawaii ready statehood renew request legislation order hawaii elect state officials representatives washington rest country fall years citizens ages time peril summoned fight america participate political process produces fateful summons urge congress propose states constitutional amendment permitting citizens vote reach age conclusion add final word general purport recommendations government powers wisely limited constitution limitations things government government strive striving maintain economic system doors open enterprise ambition personal qualities economic growth largely depends enterprise ambition qualities government supply fortunately american government concern score people qualities good measure government sincerely strive peace striving people make sacrifices sake peace government place peace hearts foreign rulers duty freedom remain strong ways spiritual economic military give maximum safety possibility aggressive action government inoculate people fatal materialism plagues age happily people blessed material goods people history reserved allegiance kingdom spirit true source freedom material things government sense deepest aspirations people express political action home abroad long action aspiration humbly earnestly seek favor sight almighty end america forward road obstacle surmount march lasting peace free prosperous world dwight eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower	1955	Republican	168	mr president mr speaker members congress extend cordial congress harmony good outset remind great fundamental national life common belief human divinely endowed dignity worth inalienable rights faith corollary grow flourish people free shapes interests aspirations american deep faith evolved main purposes federal government maintain justice freedom champion work effectively enduring peace economy vigorous expanding sustaining international strength assuring jobs living opportunities citizen concern human problems people american opportunity lead healthy productive rewarding life foremost broad purposes government support freedom justice peace utmost importance understand true nature struggle taking place world struggle economic theories forms government military power issue true nature man man creature psalmist lower angels crowned glory honor holding dominion works creator man soulless animated machine enslaved consumed state glorification struggle roots human spirit shadow falls long sweep man destiny prize precious fraught ultimate meaning true object contending forces world past year progress justifying hope continuing peace ultimate rule freedom justice world free nations collectively stronger time recent years nations hemisphere historic caracas rio conferences closed ranks imperialistic communism strengthened economic ties free nations forged bonds unity recent agreements turkey pakistan laid foundation increased strength middle east understanding support egypt britain yugoslavia italy britain iran resolved dangerous differences security mediterranean enhanced alliance greece turkey yugoslavia agreements western europe paved unity replace past divisions undermined europe economic military vitality defense west appears include free democratic germany participating equal councils nato asia pacific pending manila pact supplements treaties australia zealand philippines korea japan prospective treaty republic china pacts stand solemn warning future military aggression subversion free nations asia meet united response pacific charter adopted manila milestone development human freedom government pacific area auspices united nations promise progress country plan peaceful atomic energy finally today world peace secure peace humanity finds hope simple fact appreciable time active major battlefield earth fact inspires work effectively nations freedom dignity human earth developments heartening hopeful continuing progress sobering problems remain massive military machines ambitions soviet communist bloc create uneasiness world aware continuing reliance soviet communists military force power weapons present resistance realistic armament limitation continuing effort dominate intimidate free nations periphery steadily growing power includes increasing strength nuclear weapons power combined proclaimed intentions communist leaders communize world threat confronting today protect nations peoples catastrophe nuclear holocaust free nations maintain countervailing military power persuade communists futility seeking ends aggression communist rulers understand america response aggression swift decisive buy peace expense honor faith powerfully deterred launching military venture engulfing peoples disaster world stalemate stalemate exercise high duty strive honorable enduring peace military threat menace freedom security deter aggression frustrate effort communists gain goals subversion end free nations maintain reinforce cohesion internal security political economic vitality faith freedom world america dear tirelessly labor make peace durable strengthen collective defense united nations charter gird sufficient military strength productive capacity discourage resort war protect nation vital interests continue support strengthen united nations moment vote united nations general assembly secretary general communist china mission deepest concern americans seeking release forgotten american aviators united nations prisoners wrongfully detained communist regime encourage efforts made united nations limit armaments harness atom peaceful rise expand international trade investment assist friendly nations efforts insufficient provide strength essential security free world processes negotiation advance secure peace united states free nations dedicated respect matters vigorous information program peoples world truthfully advised actions purposes problem attacked vigor past months urge congress give earnest consideration great advantages accrue country successful operations program carry forward educational exchange program sharing knowledge experience citizens free countries powerful factor development maintenance true partnership free peoples advance efforts congress act session appropriations legislation treaties today mention foreign economic military programs recent economic progress free nations heartening productivity labor production goods services increasing widening areas growing improve living standards men progress important people promises allies strong reliant promises growing world market products mines factories farms steady effort hope continue progress barriers impede trade flow capital needed develop nation human material resources wise reduction barriers long term objective foreign economic policy policy evolutionary selective nature assuring broad benefits peoples gradually reduce tariff obstacles trade actions accompanied similar lowering trade barriers nations move steadily greater economic advantage simplify customs administration procedures facilitate flow capital continue technical assistance directly united nations developed countries strengthen independence raise living standards step nations free world release forces private initiative nation forces brought strength prosperity released generate rising incomes countries buy products american industry labor agriculture january special message submit specific recommendations carrying forward legislative phases foreign economic policy efforts build world include maintenance military strength vast undertaking major national security programs consume thirds entire federal budget million americans servicemen civilians rolls defense establishment past years eliminating duplication overstaffing improved procurement inventory controls concentrating essentials billions dollars saved defense activities mention fundamentals underlying vast program realistic limitation armaments enduring peace remain national goals maintain powerful military forces present alternative forces designed deterrent defensive purposes instantly strike back destructive power response attack stay alert fact undue reliance weapon preparation kind warfare simply invites enemy resort armed forces balance flexibility adequate purposes objectives armed forces abreast advances science military planning flexible utilize weapons techniques flow speedily research development programs forthcoming military budget emphasizes modern airpower air force navy marine corps increases emphasis weapons rapid destructive striking power assures maintenance effective retaliatory force principal deterrent overt aggression accelerates continental defense program build ready military reserve forces continues vigorous program stockpiling strategic critical materials strengthening mobilization base budget contemplates strategic concentration strength redeployment forces reduction forces categories expansion fit military realities time emphases defense planning made personal direction long thoughtful study judgment give nation defense accurately adjusted national fourth pending world agreement armament limitation continue improve expand supplies nuclear weapons land naval air forces time continuing encouraging progress peaceful atomic power administration costly programs demand utmost efficiency ingenuity assure people adequate protection defense carried forward year year threat aggression disappeared maintain kind armed strength improve efficiency urge enactment important measures session concerns selective service act expires june foreseeable future standing forces remain larger voluntary methods sustain extend statutory authority induct men years military service kind measure concerns rapid turnover experienced servicemen process weakens combat readiness armed forces exorbitantly expensive encourage trained servicemen remain uniform thirteenth month propose number measures increase attractions military career measures include adequate medical care dependents survivors benefits housing selective adjustments military pay allowances january present program rebuild strengthen civilian components armed forces comprehensive program designed make manpower military age assuring fair equitable participation military training service importance combat veterans keeping historic military policy republic program designed build maintain powerful civilian reserves immediately capable effective military service emergency lieu maintaining active duty forces excess nation maintenance effective defense requires continuance aggressive attack subversion home effort past years made excellent progress fbi investigations powerfully reinforced internal security division department justice security activities immigration naturalization service revitalized improved strengthened security system effect government department justice fbi armed effective legal weapons forged congress continue ferret destroy communist subversion process carefully preserve traditions basic rights citizens civil defense program key element protection country developing cooperative methods state governors mayors voluntary citizen groups federal agencies building civil defense organization significance time war obvious swift assistance disaster areas year proved importance time peace industry capable rapid expansion essential materials facilities swiftly time emergency indispensable defense urge year extension defense production act title ii war powers act cornerstones program development maintenance adequate mobilization base point make additional observation quest peace freedom necessarily presumes hold positions public trust rise section subordinate general good partisan personal pride prejudice tirelessly united purpose fortify material spiritual foundations land freedom free nations world unhesitating cooperation branches government time executive legislative branches management political parties fact places parties trial american people perilous days past division governmental responsibility great parties produced paralyzing indecision happen time avoid paralysis peace international security traditionally bipartisan areas military security foreign relations report leaders congress expressed assurances unreserved cooperation strength country requires mere maintenance military strength success foreign affairs vital matters turn dependent concerted vigorous action number supporting programs congress areas basic strength america extent insure cooperative constructive relations executive legislative branches government general good yardstick great issue time efforts defend freedom secure peace inseparable great purpose government maintain strong growing economy economy vigorous free increasing opportunities rewards effort stable prosperity widely shared past years important governmental actions helped economy adjust conditions peace actions created climate renewed economic growth controls removed wages prices materials tax revisions encouraged increased private spending employment federal expenditures sharply reduced making record tax cut actions flexible monetary debt management policies helped halt inflation stabilize dollar program cooperation partnership resource development begun social security unemployment insurance laws broadened strengthened laws started long process balancing farm production farm markets expanded shipbuilding stockpiling programs strengthened key sectors economy improving mobilization base comprehensive housing law brought impressive progress area fundamental economic strength closed loopholes laws permitting dishonest manipulation programs beginning exert main stimulating effect economy generally specific communities industries country past year prosperous years history business activity surges strength production rising employment high end year average weekly wages manufacturing higher personal income taxes record level consumer spending construction activity reaching peaks export demand goods strong state local government expenditures public works rising savings high credit readily today transition peacetime economy largely economic outlook good promising factors mentioned guarantee sustained economic expansion give strong position carry forward economic growth people act wisely ten years annual national output rise present level billion billion measured dollars stable buying power budget message january economic report month special messages set detail major programs foster growth economy protect integrity people money today discuss programs general terms government efficiency economy remain essential steady progress balanced budget ten billion dollars cut spending program proposed budget january expenditures year half billion previous year current fiscal year government spending half billion dollars fiscal year ended june spending authority held expenditures reducing government obligations accumulated years year large tax cut time seventy years basic revision federal tax laws clear defense essential government costs remain level precluding tax reductions year excise corporation income taxes continued present rates tax cuts justified lower expenditures revenue increases arising nation economic growth hopeful reductions made year foundation economic growth raw materials energy produced minerals fuels lands forests water resources respect nation adhere fundamental policies develop wisely conserve basic resources generation generation follow historic pattern developing resources primarily private citizens fair provisions law including restraints proper conservation treat resource development partnership undertaking partnership participation private citizens state local governments federal participation policy partnership cooperation producing good results immediately noticeable respect water resources encouraged local public bodies private citizens plan power sources increasing numbers applications federal power commission conduct surveys prepare plans power development notably columbia river basin evidence local response federal government local private organizations encouraged coordinate developments important federal hydroelectric developments supply small fraction nation power partnership projects priest rapids washington coosa river development alabama markham ferry oklahoma approval congress year justifiable projects similar nature administration support federal government shoulder partnership obligations undertaking projects complexity size success requires federal development keeping principle urge congress approve development upper colorado river basin conserve assure precious water essential future west addition budget recommend appropriations start reclamation thirty corps engineers projects varying size projects investigations potential resource developments continued partnership approach producing encouraging results full success requires nation wide comprehensive water resources policy firmly based law policy preparation completed submitted congress interest proper conservation development continued vigilance maintained fisheries wildlife resources national parks forests public lands continue encourage orderly development nation mineral resources modern efficient highway system essential meet growing population expanding economy national security accelerating highway improvement program rapidly existing state federal laws authorizations effort assure people adequate highway system recommendation problem carefully considered conference state governors special advisory committee national highway program composed leading private citizens received recommendations governors conference shortly receive views special advisory committee aided findings submit january detailed recommendations meet pressing national highway recognition importance transportation economic strength security administration cabinet committee examining existing federal transportation policies determine effect adequacy transportation services comprehensive review directly undertaken executive branch government modern times examining major problems facing modes transport studying closely inter relationships civilian government requirements transportation legislation recommended correct policy deficiencies find nation public works activities tremendous scope expected billion expended development land water resources control floods navigation harbor improvements construction roads schools municipal water supplies disposal domestic industrial wastes federal state local agencies responsible work separate capacities highly efficient public works activities closely inter related substantial influence growth country times threatening economic contraction valuable sustaining force ends efficient planning execution nation public works require coordination federal activities effective cooperation state local governments council economic advisers public works planning section made important advances past year effecting coordination cooperation view success initial efforts give emphasis continuity essential coordination request congress funds support office coordinator public works executive office president significant element growing economy agriculture stable prosperous free problems agriculture evolved years solved overnight governmental actions year hold great promise fostering balance production markets stable income farmers vigorous administration authority provided congress surplus farm products moving consumption february november rate increase government held surpluses reduced moving billion dollars worth government owned farm commodities amount equal percent year production farms ranches domestic consumption remains high farm exports higher year result flexibility provided agricultural act move restrictive acreage controls farm production gradually adjusting markets markets expanded stocks moving forward easing influences depressing farm prices reduced government expenditures purchase surplus products federal intrusion lives plans farm people agricultural programs redirected balance greater stability sustained prosperity headed direction urgently recommend congress continue resolutely road greater attention directed low income farm families twenty cent farm operator families net cash incomes year year request careful studies made problems farm people submit recommendations designed assure steady alleviation pressing concerns drought remains agricultural problem recommend legislation strengthen federal disaster assistance programs legislation prescribe improved appraisal adjustment programs local conditions equitable sharing costs states federal government prosperity small business enterprises indispensable element maintenance economic strength creation small business administration recently enacted tax laws facilitating small business expansion important steps encourage smaller enterprises recommend congress extend small business act due expire june great purpose government concern health productivity people citizen give full expression god talents abilities recognition respect accorded religious political traditions americans good material standard living simply accumulate possessions fulfill legitimate aspiration environment families live meaningful happy lives people committed creation preservation opportunity citizen lead rewarding life equally committed alleviation misfortune distress fellow citizens aspirations people fulfilled enterprise initiative government interference administration simple rules federal government perform essential task adequately performed performing task government impair respect freedom incentive individual long rules observed government fully meet obligation creating dependent population domineering bureaucracy past years notable advances made functions government protection age survivors insurance extended additional ten million people benefits substantially increased legislation enacted provide unemployment insurance protection million additional americans stabilization living costs halting inflation protected pensions savings broad program helps bring good homes reach great majority people states providing rehabilitation facilities clinics hospitals nursing homes patients chronic illnesses states begun great fruitful expansion restoration disabled persons employment lives areas federal responsibility made historic progress eliminating people demeaning practices based race color proud achievements past years essential federal tasks remain part efforts provide decent safe sanitary housing low income families carry forward housing program authorized congress authorize contracts firm program additional public housing units fiscal years program meet pressing obligations federal government fiscal year planning building public housing time private building industry aided housing act opportunity assume full role providing adequate housing low income families health people precious assets preventable sickness prevented knowledge combat disease disability fully people guilty neglect human suffering wasting national strength constant advances medical care citizens nation reduce impact accident disease fundamental problems confront high rising costs health services gaps shortages services special message january propose coordinated program strengthen improve existing health services program continue reject socialized medicine emphasize individual local responsibility federal government dominate direct serve helpful partner framework program broad scope recommendations include federal health reinsurance service encourage development voluntary health insurance coverage private organizations recommend measures improve medical care group citizens receive federal state public assistance proposals people meet costs health services reduce gaps services propose measures facilitate construction needed health facilities reduce shortages trained health personnel vigorous steps combat misery national loss involved mental illness improved services crippled children maternal child health consumer protection existing pure food drug laws finally strengthened programs combat increasingly pollution rivers streams growing problem air pollution measures constitute comprehensive program holding rich promise health people year expansion social security coverage program improved medical care public assistance recipients suggest modification formula federal sharing age assistance payments recommend modification formula payments future supplement benefits received age survivors insurance system inalienable person childhood access knowledge form society individual takes special meaning education citizens imperative maintenance invigoration america free institutions today face grave educational problems effective date analyses problems solutions carried forward individual state conferences white house conference completed year factors population growth additional responsibilities schools increased longer school attendance produced unprecedented classroom shortage shortage concern people positive affirmative action impairing responsibilities states localities communities families federal government serve effective catalyst dealing problem forward special message congress february presenting affirmative program dealing shortage states timely job strengthen resources preventing dealing juvenile delinquency propose federal legislation assist states promote concerted action dealing nationwide problem carry forward vigorous efforts administration improve international control traffic narcotics cooperation state local agencies combat narcotic addiction country speak additional matters importance people wage earners past year industrial readjustment economy conditions peace brought unemployment difficulties localities industries problems engaging earnest attention overwhelming majority working people past year meant good jobs earnings savings wage earners longer depreciating cooperative relations labor management fewer working days lost strikes year past decade outlook wage earners made promising legislative actions past years economic growth support increase federal minimum wage light present economic conditions recommend increase ninety cents hour recommend present excluded protection minimum wage renew recommendation year amendment labor management relations act basic objectives statute call attention congress amendments dealing economic strikers vote representation elections equalizing obligation act file disclaimers communist affiliation administration propose important measures including occupational safety workmen compensation longshoremen harbor workers hour laws applicable federal contractors legislation proposed respecting nonoccupational disability insurance unemployment compensation district columbia human federal government special responsibility citizens direct employ january propose pay adjustment plan civilian employees postal field service correct inequities increase individual pay rates recommend voluntary health insurance contributory basis federal employees dependents keeping group life insurance act passed congress protection provided group insurance principle purchased private facilities january recommend modern pay plan including pay increases postal field employees part program carry forward progress elimination large annual postal deficit renew request increase postal rates urge future fixing rates delegated impartial independent body adequate training programs equip career employees government render improved public service recommended improvements laws affecting employees serving foreign assignments needed improvements survivor disability retirement benefits federal civilian military personnel extensively considered committee retirement policy federal personnel committee proposals strengthen improve benefits career people government endorse broad objectives full contributory coverage age survivors insurance made federal personnel private industry career military personnel protection age survivors insurance system important long needed addition present unequal inadequate survivorship protection military retirement pay system remain separate unchanged adjustments present civilian personnel retirement systems needed reflect additional protection age survivors insurance systems basic part total compensation separately independently retained urge congress approve long overdue increase salaries members congress federal judiciary level commensurate heavy responsibilities concern individual country requires additional problems continue program indian citizens improve lot make full contribution national life years ago advised congress injustices existing immigration laws humane administration department justice legally alleviate hardships clearance aliens arrival initiated criminal offenders imprisonment aliens awaiting admission deportation stopped provisions law effect compelling action respect aliens inequitable instances discriminatory provisions corrected session congress complex problems alaska resolved territory expect achieve statehood meantime justification deferring admission statehood hawaii urge approval measure splendid opportunities demonstrate strength belief suffrage urge constitutional amendment submitted states reduce voting age federal elections renew request principle government extended suffrage granted citizens district columbia recommend work states preserve voting fights citizens nation service overseas determination faith past met highest call citizenship study system benefits veterans surviving dependents deceased veterans servicemen studies undertaken determine measures ease readjustment civilian life men required enter armed forces years service advancement activities make civilization endure flourish federal government give official recognition importance arts cultural activities recommend establishment federal advisory commission arts department health education welfare advise federal government ways encourage artistic endeavor appreciation propose awards merit established honor fellow citizens make great contribution advancement civilization citizen rightly expects efficient economical administration government programs outlined today strongly recommend extension reorganization act law establishing commission intergovernmental relations expire spring congress assure continuation excellent progress recently made improving government organization administration connection forward great interest reports congress commission organization executive branch government studies made chairmanship president herbert hoover assistance hundred distinguished citizens great paving efficiency economy government return point began faith people programs summarized full keeping interests aspirations obligations clear labor earnestly patiently prayerfully peace freedom justice world economy vigorous free people lead fuller happier lives advance words acts determination government citizen opportunity develop fullest capacity things future filled opportunity hope future time alive patience courage confidence tomorrow deep faith millions years past made preserved nation decade ago death desolation european battlefields courage resolution felt inspiration american youth young men felt america buoyant confidence irresistible devout america humble god heart deeply americans anxieties divided world faith surely prevail dwight eisenhower

# test <- aggregate(sotu_text ~ id, data=modern, FUN=paste, collapse= ' ')

read into quanteda maintaining metadata

retain ‘president’ and ‘year’ data, document id is “id”

mydocvars <- c("party", "president", "year")
sotu_corp <- corpus(recent, docid_field = "id", text_field = "my_text", docvars = mydocvars)
sotu_tok <- tokens(sotu_corp)
sotu_dfm <- dfm(sotu_corp)
topfeatures(sotu_dfm, 5)

##     year   people    world congress  america 
##     1776     1668     1632     1623     1476

textplot_wordcloud(sotu_dfm)

plot lexical dispersion

quanteda calls this an x-ray plot

textplot_xray(kwic(sotu_tok, pattern = "war"), kwic(sotu_tok, pattern = "taxes"))

textplot_xray(kwic(sotu_tok, pattern = "patriots"), kwic(sotu_tok, pattern = "unity"))

frequency

feats <- textstat_frequency(sotu_dfm, n = 50)
# Sort by reverse frequency order
feats$feature <- with(feats, reorder(feature, -frequency))
ggplot(feats, aes(x = feature, y = frequency)) + geom_point(color = "red") + theme(axis.text.x = element_text(angle = 90, 
    hjust = 1))

adjacency graph

# mod1 <- CTM(sotu_dfm, k=8, method = 'VEM', control = NULL) build_graph(mod1,
# lambda, and = TRUE)

feature co-occurence network

sotu_trim <- dfm_trim(sotu_dfm, min_termfreq = 20)  #trim dfm by frequency
topfeatures(sotu_trim)

##       year     people      world   congress    america      years government 
##       1776       1668       1632       1623       1476       1328       1296 
##   american    federal     nation 
##       1165       1148       1080

nfeat(sotu_trim)

## [1] 1969

sotu_fcm <- fcm(sotu_trim)
dim(sotu_fcm)

## [1] 1969 1969

sotu_top_names <- names(topfeatures(sotu_fcm, 50))
sotu_top50 <- fcm_select(sotu_fcm, pattern = sotu_top_names, selection = "keep")
dim(sotu_top50)

## [1] 50 50

size <- log(colSums(dfm_select(sotu_dfm, sotu_top_names, selection = "keep")))
set.seed(123)
textplot_network(sotu_top50, min_freq = 0.8, vertex_size = size/max(size) * 3)

wordfish document similarity

sotu_fish <- textmodel_wordfish(sotu_dfm, dir = c(6, 5))
summary(sotu_fish)

## 
## Call:
## textmodel_wordfish.dfm(x = sotu_dfm, dir = c(6, 5))
## 
## Estimated Document Positions:
##        theta      se
## 163 -0.41377 0.05489
## 164 -0.35845 0.04723
## 165 -1.36274 0.03705
## 166 -0.26120 0.03424
## 167 -1.36545 0.03910
## 168 -1.43744 0.03438
## 169 -1.05926 0.10887
## 170 -1.47126 0.03215
## 171 -1.20594 0.04907
## 172 -0.97521 0.04658
## 173 -1.04637 0.04589
## 174 -1.02609 0.04312
## 175 -0.73756 0.04567
## 176 -1.53849 0.03533
## 177 -0.61393 0.04069
## 178 -0.37090 0.04516
## 179 -0.24819 0.05949
## 180 -0.02553 0.04940
## 181 -0.03144 0.04447
## 182 -0.19694 0.04056
## 183 -0.32929 0.04851
## 184 -0.28599 0.05527
## 185 -0.04136 0.05036
## 186  0.05027 0.04983
## 187 -0.23640 0.05495
## 188 -1.08751 0.02487
## 189 -0.30966 0.04906
## 190 -1.62971 0.01872
## 191 -1.08959 0.05025
## 192 -0.15950 0.04571
## 193 -0.66762 0.04875
## 194 -0.36023 0.05080
## 195 -1.90559 0.02094
## 196 -0.50819 0.05762
## 197 -1.90306 0.01611
## 198 -0.78765 0.05721
## 199 -2.02685 0.01186
## 200 -0.70405 0.05125
## 201 -2.05716 0.01151
## 202 -0.02654 0.04454
## 203 -0.04286 0.04296
## 204  0.55173 0.03866
## 205  0.54037 0.04143
## 206  0.92597 0.03524
## 207  0.76763 0.04110
## 208  0.73378 0.03607
## 209  0.48857 0.04128
## 210  0.80767 0.03994
## 211  0.59725 0.04331
## 212  0.86398 0.03357
## 213  0.57262 0.03468
## 214  0.92850 0.02563
## 215  1.01531 0.02162
## 216  0.89896 0.02832
## 217  0.97555 0.02486
## 218  0.98761 0.02356
## 219  0.89010 0.02581
## 220  1.02607 0.02033
## 221  0.77232 0.03668
## 222  1.21061 0.02074
## 223  1.24441 0.01635
## 224  1.20002 0.01835
## 225  1.16421 0.02022
## 226  1.15278 0.02015
## 227  1.31833 0.01354
## 228  1.26841 0.01482
## 229  0.94253 0.02801
## 230  1.04266 0.02222
## 231  1.17726 0.01801
## 232  1.11044 0.01980
## 233  1.10051 0.02026
## 234  1.16377 0.01762
## 235  1.19784 0.01702
## 236  1.21690 0.01774
## 
## Estimated Feature Scores:
##          mr president speaker members congress   faces   grave    task history
## beta 0.3542    0.1056  0.5020  0.0847  -0.3572  0.2134 -0.3195 -0.2283   0.094
## psi  0.5701    1.6494  0.1698  1.0279   2.8327 -1.6951 -2.0508  0.3500   1.323
##      republic actions watched   world measure ability     free people   acting
## beta  -0.4902 -0.7394  0.8872 -0.0902 -0.1781 -0.5177 -0.03836 0.2333  0.09121
## psi   -0.3265  0.1394 -2.4858  2.9647 -0.2298  0.2250  1.93330 3.0142 -1.69300
##      chosen representatives institutions    meet  deadly challenge    life
## beta -0.122         -0.1528      -0.5601 -0.1945  0.4015    0.2039 0.04166
## psi  -1.398         -0.9275       0.1803  1.4979 -1.6068    1.0226 1.46382
##      foolishly  wisely timidly bravely shamefully
## beta   -0.4163 -0.1207 -0.1652  0.4514    -0.1652
## psi    -3.9070 -1.0412 -4.4587 -3.3573    -4.4587

textplot_scale1d(sotu_fish, groups = sotu_dfm$party)

topic models package

Build a 3-topic model

obama_topics <- LDA(obama_dfm, k = 3, control = list(seed = 123))  #let's try a 3-topic model
obama_topics

## A LDA_VEM topic model with 3 topics.

topic_probs <- tidy(obama_topics, matrix = "beta")
head(topic_probs, n = 20)

topic	term	beta
1	mr	0.00
2	mr	0.00
3	mr	0.00
1	speaker	0.00
2	speaker	0.00
3	speaker	0.00
1	vice	0.00
2	vice	0.00
3	vice	0.00
1	president	0.00
2	president	0.00
3	president	0.00
1	members	0.00
2	members	0.00
3	members	0.00
1	congress	0.00
2	congress	0.01
3	congress	0.00
1	distinguished	0.00
2	distinguished	0.00