George W. Bush's address to joint session of Congress (September 20, 2001)
Bush Administration Presidential Addresses  |
On Sept. 20, 2001, President George W. Bush delivered an address to a joint session of Congress at 9:00 p.m. EST. Bush used the address to respond to the events of Sept. 11, 2001.[1]
The president can deliver a joint address before both the House of Representatives and Senate upon invitation from both chambers. This is typically done by presidents in order to speak on specific topics.
Joint sessions require both chambers to pass concurrent resolutions to conduct formal business.[2] House Concurrent Resolution 231 was agreed to in the House with no objection and in the Senate with unanimous consent on Sept. 19, 2001 [3]
Bush’s address to a joint session of Congress
Video
|
Transcript
The following text is a transcript of Bush's address, as prepared for delivery:
| “ |
Mr. Speaker, Mr. President Pro Tempore, members of Congress, and fellow Americans: In the normal course of events, Presidents come to this chamber to report on the state of the Union. Tonight, no such report is needed. It has already been delivered by the American people. In a historic address to the nation and joint session of Congress Sept. 20, President Bush pledges to defend America's freedom against the fear of terrorism. White House by Eric Draper.We have seen it in the courage of passengers, who rushed terrorists to save others on the ground -- passengers like an exceptional man named Todd Beamer. And would you please help me to welcome his wife, Lisa Beamer, here tonight. (Applause.) We have seen the state of our Union in the endurance of rescuers, working past exhaustion. We have seen the unfurling of flags, the lighting of candles, the giving of blood, the saying of prayers -- in English, Hebrew, and Arabic. We have seen the decency of a loving and giving people who have made the grief of strangers their own. My fellow citizens, for the last nine days, the entire world has seen for itself the state of our Union -- and it is strong. (Applause.) Tonight we are a country awakened to danger and called to defend freedom. Our grief has turned to anger, and anger to resolution. Whether we bring our enemies to justice, or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done. (Applause.) I thank the Congress for its leadership at such an important time. All of America was touched on the evening of the tragedy to see Republicans and Democrats joined together on the steps of this Capitol, singing "God Bless America." And you did more than sing; you acted, by delivering $40 billion to rebuild our communities and meet the needs of our military. Speaker Hastert, Minority Leader Gephardt, Majority Leader Daschle and Senator Lott, I thank you for your friendship, for your leadership and for your service to our country. (Applause.) And on behalf of the American people, I thank the world for its outpouring of support. America will never forget the sounds of our National Anthem playing at Buckingham Palace, on the streets of Paris, and at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate. We will not forget South Korean children gathering to pray outside our embassy in Seoul, or the prayers of sympathy offered at a mosque in Cairo. We will not forget moments of silence and days of mourning in Australia and Africa and Latin America.British Prime Minister Tony Blair (center, left) Mrs. Laura Bush attends a joint session of Congress in which President Bush praised the efforts of New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (far right) and named Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge (far left) to a newly created cabinet-level position in which he will oversee the homeland defense initiatives. White House photo by Paul Morse. Nor will we forget the citizens of 80 other nations who died with our own: dozens of Pakistanis; more than 130 Israelis; more than 250 citizens of India; men and women from El Salvador, Iran, Mexico and Japan; and hundreds of British citizens. America has no truer friend than Great Britain. (Applause.) Once again, we are joined together in a great cause -- so honored the British Prime Minister has crossed an ocean to show his unity of purpose with America. Thank you for coming, friend. (Applause.) On September the 11th, enemies of freedom committed an act of war against our country. Americans have known wars -- but for the past 136 years, they have been wars on foreign soil, except for one Sunday in 1941. Americans have known the casualties of war -- but not at the center of a great city on a peaceful morning. Americans have known surprise attacks -- but never before on thousands of civilians. All of this was brought upon us in a single day -- and night fell on a different world, a world where freedom itself is under attack. Americans have many questions tonight. Americans are asking: Who attacked our country? The evidence we have gathered all points to a collection of loosely affiliated terrorist organizations known as al Qaeda. They are the same murderers indicted for bombing American embassies in Tanzania and Kenya, and responsible for bombing the USS Cole. Al Qaeda is to terror what the mafia is to crime. But its goal is not making money; its goal is remaking the world -- and imposing its radical beliefs on people everywhere. The terrorists practice a fringe form of Islamic extremism that has been rejected by Muslim scholars and the vast majority of Muslim clerics -- a fringe movement that perverts the peaceful teachings of Islam. The terrorists' directive commands them to kill Christians and Jews, to kill all Americans, and make no distinction among military and civilians, including women and children. This group and its leader -- a person named Osama bin Laden -- are linked to many other organizations in different countries, including the Egyptian Islamic Jihad and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. There are thousands of these terrorists in more than 60 countries. They are recruited from their own nations and neighborhoods and brought to camps in places like Afghanistan, where they are trained in the tactics of terror. They are sent back to their homes or sent to hide in countries around the world to plot evil and destruction. The leadership of al Qaeda has great influence in Afghanistan and supports the Taliban regime in controlling most of that country. In Afghanistan, we see al Qaeda's vision for the world. Afghanistan's people have been brutalized -- many are starving and many have fled. Women are not allowed to attend school. You can be jailed for owning a television. Religion can be practiced only as their leaders dictate. A man can be jailed in Afghanistan if his beard is not long enough. The United States respects the people of Afghanistan -- after all, we are currently its largest source of humanitarian aid -- but we condemn the Taliban regime. (Applause.) It is not only repressing its own people, it is threatening people everywhere by sponsoring and sheltering and supplying terrorists. By aiding and abetting murder, the Taliban regime is committing murder. And tonight, the United States of America makes the following demands on the Taliban: Deliver to United States authorities all the leaders of al Qaeda who hide in your land. (Applause.) Release all foreign nationals, including American citizens, you have unjustly imprisoned. Protect foreign journalists, diplomats and aid workers in your country. Close immediately and permanently every terrorist training camp in Afghanistan, and hand over every terrorist, and every person in their support structure, to appropriate authorities. (Applause.) Give the United States full access to terrorist training camps, so we can make sure they are no longer operating. These demands are not open to negotiation or discussion. (Applause.) The Taliban must act, and act immediately. They will hand over the terrorists, or they will share in their fate. I also want to speak tonight directly to Muslims throughout the world. We respect your faith. It's practiced freely by many millions of Americans, and by millions more in countries that America counts as friends. Its teachings are good and peaceful, and those who commit evil in the name of Allah blaspheme the name of Allah. (Applause.) The terrorists are traitors to their own faith, trying, in effect, to hijack Islam itself. The enemy of America is not our many Muslim friends; it is not our many Arab friends. Our enemy is a radical network of terrorists, and every government that supports them. (Applause.) Our war on terror begins with al Qaeda, but it does not end there. It will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped and defeated. (Applause.) Americans are asking, why do they hate us? They hate what we see right here in this chamber -- a democratically elected government. Their leaders are self-appointed. They hate our freedoms -- our freedom of religion, our freedom of speech, our freedom to vote and assemble and disagree with each other. They want to overthrow existing governments in many Muslim countries, such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. They want to drive Israel out of the Middle East. They want to drive Christians and Jews out of vast regions of Asia and Africa. These terrorists kill not merely to end lives, but to disrupt and end a way of life. With every atrocity, they hope that America grows fearful, retreating from the world and forsaking our friends. They stand against us, because we stand in their way. We are not deceived by their pretenses to piety. We have seen their kind before. They are the heirs of all the murderous ideologies of the 20th century. By sacrificing human life to serve their radical visions -- by abandoning every value except the will to power -- they follow in the path of fascism, and Nazism, and totalitarianism. And they will follow that path all the way, to where it ends: in history's unmarked grave of discarded lies. (Applause.) Americans are asking: How will we fight and win this war? We will direct every resource at our command -- every means of diplomacy, every tool of intelligence, every instrument of law enforcement, every financial influence, and every necessary weapon of war -- to the disruption and to the defeat of the global terror network. This war will not be like the war against Iraq a decade ago, with a decisive liberation of territory and a swift conclusion. It will not look like the air war above Kosovo two years ago, where no ground troops were used and not a single American was lost in combat. Our response involves far more than instant retaliation and isolated strikes. Americans should not expect one battle, but a lengthy campaign, unlike any other we have ever seen. It may include dramatic strikes, visible on TV, and covert operations, secret even in success. We will starve terrorists of funding, turn them one against another, drive them from place to place, until there is no refuge or no rest. And we will pursue nations that provide aid or safe haven to terrorism. Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists. (Applause.) From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime. Our nation has been put on notice: We are not immune from attack. We will take defensive measures against terrorism to protect Americans. Today, dozens of federal departments and agencies, as well as state and local governments, have responsibilities affecting homeland security. These efforts must be coordinated at the highest level. So tonight I announce the creation of a Cabinet-level position reporting directly to me -- the Office of Homeland Security. And tonight I also announce a distinguished American to lead this effort, to strengthen American security: a military veteran, an effective governor, a true patriot, a trusted friend -- Pennsylvania's Tom Ridge. (Applause.) He will lead, oversee and coordinate a comprehensive national strategy to safeguard our country against terrorism, and respond to any attacks that may come. These measures are essential. But the only way to defeat terrorism as a threat to our way of life is to stop it, eliminate it, and destroy it where it grows. (Applause.) Many will be involved in this effort, from FBI agents to intelligence operatives to the reservists we have called to active duty. All deserve our thanks, and all have our prayers. And tonight, a few miles from the damaged Pentagon, I have a message for our military: Be ready. I've called the Armed Forces to alert, and there is a reason. The hour is coming when America will act, and you will make us proud. (Applause.) This is not, however, just America's fight. And what is at stake is not just America's freedom. This is the world's fight. This is civilization's fight. This is the fight of all who believe in progress and pluralism, tolerance and freedom. We ask every nation to join us. We will ask, and we will need, the help of police forces, intelligence services, and banking systems around the world. The United States is grateful that many nations and many international organizations have already responded -- with sympathy and with support. Nations from Latin America, to Asia, to Africa, to Europe, to the Islamic world. Perhaps the NATO Charter reflects best the attitude of the world: An attack on one is an attack on all. The civilized world is rallying to America's side. They understand that if this terror goes unpunished, their own cities, their own citizens may be next. Terror, unanswered, can not only bring down buildings, it can threaten the stability of legitimate governments. And you know what -- we're not going to allow it. (Applause.) Americans are asking: What is expected of us? I ask you to live your lives, and hug your children. I know many citizens have fears tonight, and I ask you to be calm and resolute, even in the face of a continuing threat. I ask you to uphold the values of America, and remember why so many have come here. We are in a fight for our principles, and our first responsibility is to live by them. No one should be singled out for unfair treatment or unkind words because of their ethnic background or religious faith. (Applause.) I ask you to continue to support the victims of this tragedy with your contributions. Those who want to give can go to a central source of information, libertyunites.org, to find the names of groups providing direct help in New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The thousands of FBI agents who are now at work in this investigation may need your cooperation, and I ask you to give it. I ask for your patience, with the delays and inconveniences that may accompany tighter security; and for your patience in what will be a long struggle. I ask your continued participation and confidence in the American economy. Terrorists attacked a symbol of American prosperity. They did not touch its source. America is successful because of the hard work, and creativity, and enterprise of our people. These were the true strengths of our economy before September 11th, and they are our strengths today. (Applause.) And, finally, please continue praying for the victims of terror and their families, for those in uniform, and for our great country. Prayer has comforted us in sorrow, and will help strengthen us for the journey ahead. Tonight I thank my fellow Americans for what you have already done and for what you will do. And ladies and gentlemen of the Congress, I thank you, their representatives, for what you have already done and for what we will do together. Tonight, we face new and sudden national challenges. We will come together to improve air safety, to dramatically expand the number of air marshals on domestic flights, and take new measures to prevent hijacking. We will come together to promote stability and keep our airlines flying, with direct assistance during this emergency. (Applause.) We will come together to give law enforcement the additional tools it needs to track down terror here at home. (Applause.) We will come together to strengthen our intelligence capabilities to know the plans of terrorists before they act, and find them before they strike. (Applause.) We will come together to take active steps that strengthen America's economy, and put our people back to work. Tonight we welcome two leaders who embody the extraordinary spirit of all New Yorkers: Governor George Pataki, and Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. (Applause.) As a symbol of America's resolve, my administration will work with Congress, and these two leaders, to show the world that we will rebuild New York City. (Applause.) After all that has just passed -- all the lives taken, and all the possibilities and hopes that died with them -- it is natural to wonder if America's future is one of fear. Some speak of an age of terror. I know there are struggles ahead, and dangers to face. But this country will define our times, not be defined by them. As long as the United States of America is determined and strong, this will not be an age of terror; this will be an age of liberty, here and across the world. (Applause.) Great harm has been done to us. We have suffered great loss. And in our grief and anger we have found our mission and our moment. Freedom and fear are at war. The advance of human freedom -- the great achievement of our time, and the great hope of every time -- now depends on us. Our nation -- this generation -- will lift a dark threat of violence from our people and our future. We will rally the world to this cause by our efforts, by our courage. We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail. (Applause.) It is my hope that in the months and years ahead, life will return almost to normal. We'll go back to our lives and routines, and that is good. Even grief recedes with time and grace. But our resolve must not pass. Each of us will remember what happened that day, and to whom it happened. We'll remember the moment the news came -- where we were and what we were doing. Some will remember an image of a fire, or a story of rescue. Some will carry memories of a face and a voice gone forever. And I will carry this: It is the police shield of a man named George Howard, who died at the World Trade Center trying to save others. It was given to me by his mom, Arlene, as a proud memorial to her son. This is my reminder of lives that ended, and a task that does not end. (Applause.) I will not forget this wound to our country or those who inflicted it. I will not yield; I will not rest; I will not relent in waging this struggle for freedom and security for the American people. The course of this conflict is not known, yet its outcome is certain. Freedom and fear, justice and cruelty, have always been at war, and we know that God is not neutral between them. (Applause.) Fellow citizens, we'll meet violence with patient justice -- assured of the rightness of our cause, and confident of the victories to come. In all that lies before us, may God grant us wisdom, and may He watch over the United States of America. Thank you. [4] |
” |
| —President George W. Bush (R), Sept. 20, 2001 [1] | ||
Designated survivor
For some speeches, a member of the president's Cabinet is chosen to stay in an undisclosed location outside of Washington, D.C. to assume the presidency in case of an attack on Congress, the president, and other high-ranking officials.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson was the designated survivor.
Background
The following table provides a list of annual and other presidential addresses delivered to joint sessions of Congress between 1790 and 2026. It does not include inaugurations. Click the link in the Occasion or topic column to read more about each address. The information was compiled from the U.S. House of Representatives Office of the Historian.[5]
- President Woodrow Wilson (D), whose administration overlapped with World War I, delivered the most addresses: 23.
- President Franklin D. Roosevelt (D) followed with 19 addresses, which included a joint speech with the ambassador of France in 1934 and an address read before Congress on his behalf in 1945. World War II took place during his administration.
- President Harry S. Truman had the third-most addresses at 16. His administration covered the end of World War II and the beginning of the Cold War.
- Among presidents who served between 1981 and 2026, Presidents Ronald Reagan (R) and Barack Obama (D) delivered the most addresses with 11 and 10, respectively.
| Date | Session of Congress | Occasion or topic | President and other speaking dignitaries |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 24, 2026 | 119th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Donald J. Trump |
| March 4, 2025 | 119th Congress | Address | President Donald J. Trump |
| March 7, 2024 | 118th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. |
| February 7, 2023 | 118th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. |
| March 1, 2022 | 117th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. |
| April 28, 2021 | 117th Congress | Address | President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. |
| Feb. 4, 2020 | 116th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Donald J. Trump |
| Feb. 5, 2019 | 116th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Donald J. Trump |
| Jan. 30, 2018 | 115th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Donald J. Trump |
| Feb. 28, 2017 | 115th Congress | Address | President Donald J. Trump |
| Jan. 12, 2016 | 114th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Barack H. Obama |
| Jan. 20, 2015 | 114th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Barack H. Obama |
| Jan. 28, 2014 | 113th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Barack H. Obama |
| Feb. 12, 2013 | 113th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Barack H. Obama |
| Jan. 24, 2012 | 112th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Barack H. Obama |
| Sept. 8, 2011 | 112th Congress | Address on American Jobs Act | President Barack H. Obama |
| Jan. 25, 2011 | 112th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Barack H. Obama |
| Jan. 27, 2010 | 111th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Barack H. Obama |
| Sept. 8, 2009 | 111th Congress | Address on Health Care Reform | President Barack H. Obama |
| Feb. 24, 2009 | 111th Congress | Address | President Barack H. Obama |
| Jan. 28, 2008 | 110th Congress | State of the Union Address | President George W. Bush |
| Jan. 23, 2007 | 110th Congress | State of the Union Address | President George W. Bush |
| Jan. 31, 2006 | 109th Congress | State of the Union Address | President George W. Bush |
| Feb. 2, 2005 | 109th Congress | State of the Union Address | President George W. Bush |
| Jan. 20, 2004 | 108th Congress | State of the Union Address | President George W. Bush. |
| Jan. 28, 2003 | 108th Congress | State of the Union Address | President George W. Bush. |
| Jan. 29, 2002 | 107th Congress | State of the Union Address | President George W. Bush. |
| Sept. 20, 2001 | 107th Congress | Address on the War on Terrorism | President George W. Bush. |
| Feb. 27, 2001 | 107th Congress | Budget Message | President George W. Bush. |
| Jan. 27, 2000 | 106th Congress | State of the Union Address | President William J. Clinton. |
| Jan. 19, 1999 | 106th Congress | State of the Union Address | President William J. Clinton. |
| Jan. 27, 1998 | 105th Congress | State of the Union Address | President William J. Clinton. |
| Feb. 4, 1997 | 105th Congress | State of the Union Address | President William J. Clinton. |
| Jan. 23, 1996 | 104th Congress | State of the Union Address | President William J. Clinton. |
| Jan. 24, 1995 | 104th Congress | State of the Union Address | President William J. Clinton. |
| Jan. 25, 1994 | 103rd Congress | State of the Union Address | President William J. Clinton. |
| Sept. 22, 1993 | 103rd Congress | Address on Health Care Reform | President William J. Clinton. |
| Feb. 17, 1993 | 103rd Congress | Economic Address | President William J. Clinton. |
| Jan. 28, 1992 | 102nd Congress | State of the Union Address | President George Bush. |
| Mar. 6, 1991 | 102nd Congress | Conclusion of Persian Gulf War | President George Bush. |
| Jan. 29, 1991 | 102nd Congress | State of the Union Address | President George Bush. |
| Sept. 11, 1990 | 101st Congress | Invasion of Kuwait by Iraq | President George Bush. |
| Jan. 31, 1990 | 101st Congress | State of the Union Address | President George Bush. |
| Feb. 9, 1989 | 101st Congress | Address on Building a Better America | President George Bush. |
| Jan. 25, 1988 | 100th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Ronald Reagan. |
| Jan. 27, 1987 | 100th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Ronald Reagan. |
| Feb. 4, 1986 | 99th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Ronald Reagan. |
| Nov. 21, 1985 | 99th Congress | Address on Geneva Summit | President Ronald Reagan. |
| Feb. 6, 1985 | 99th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Ronald Reagan. |
| Jan. 25, 1984 | 98th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Ronald Reagan. |
| Apr. 27, 1983 | 98th Congress | Address on Central America | President Ronald Reagan. |
| Jan. 25, 1983 | 98th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Ronald Reagan. |
| Jan. 26, 1982 | 97th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Ronald Reagan. |
| Apr. 28, 1981 | 97th Congress | Address on Economic Recovery--inflation | President Ronald Reagan. |
| Feb. 18, 1981 | 97th Congress | Address on Economic Recovery | President Ronald Reagan. |
| Jan. 23, 1980 | 96th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Jimmy Carter. |
| June 18, 1979 | 96th Congress | Address on Salt II agreements | President Jimmy Carter. |
| Jan. 23, 1979 | 96th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Jimmy Carter. |
| Sept. 18, 1978 | 95th Congress | Address on Middle East Peace agreements | President Jimmy Carter; Joint session attended by Anwar El Sadat, President of Egypt, and by Menachem Begin, Prime Minister of Israel. |
| Jan. 19, 1978 | 95th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Jimmy Carter. |
| Apr. 20, 1977 | 95th Congress | Address on Energy | President Jimmy Carter. |
| Jan. 12, 1977 | 95th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Gerald R. Ford. |
| Jan. 19, 1976 | 94th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Gerald R. Ford. |
| Apr. 10, 1975 | 94th Congress | Address on State of the World | President Gerald R. Ford. |
| Jan. 15, 1975 | 94th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Gerald R. Ford. |
| Oct. 8, 1974 | 93rd Congress | Address on the Economy | President Gerald R. Ford. |
| Aug. 12, 1974 | 93rd Congress | Assumption of office | President Gerald R. Ford. |
| Jan. 30 1974 | 93rd Congress | State of the Union Address | President Richard M. Nixon. |
| June 1, 1972 | 92nd Congress | Address on Europe trip | President Richard M. Nixon. |
| Jan. 20, 1972 | 92nd Congress | State of the Union Address | President Richard M. Nixon. |
| Sept. 9, 1971 | 92nd Congress | Address on Economic policy | President Richard M. Nixon. |
| Jan. 22, 1971 | 92nd Congress | State of the Union Address | President Richard M. Nixon. |
| Jan. 22, 1970 | 91st Congress | State of the Union Address | President Richard M. Nixon. |
| Jan. 14, 1969 | 91st Congress | State of the Union Address | President Lyndon B. Johnson. |
| Jan. 17, 1968 | 90th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Lyndon B. Johnson. |
| Jan. 10, 1967 | 90th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Lyndon B. Johnson. |
| Jan. 12, 1966 | 89th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Lyndon B. Johnson. |
| Mar. 15, 1965 | 89th Congress | Voting rights | President Lyndon B. Johnson. |
| Jan. 4, 1965 | 89th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Lyndon B. Johnson. |
| Jan. 8, 1964 | 88th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Lyndon B. Johnson. |
| Nov. 27, 1963 | 88th Congress | Assumption of office | President Lyndon B. Johnson. |
| Jan. 14, 1963 | 88th Congress | State of the Union Address | President John F. Kennedy. |
| Jan. 11, 1962 | 87th Congress | State of the Union Address | President John F. Kennedy. |
| May 25, 1961 | 87th Congress | Urgent national needs: foreign aid, defense, civil defense, and outer space | President John F. Kennedy. |
| Jan. 30, 1961 | 87th Congress | State of the Union Address | President John F. Kennedy. |
| Jan. 7, 1960 | 86th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Dwight D. Eisenhower. |
| Jan. 9, 1959 | 86th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Dwight D. Eisenhower. |
| Jan. 9, 1958 | 85th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Dwight D. Eisenhower. |
| Jan. 10, 1957 | 85th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Dwight D. Eisenhower. |
| Jan. 5, 1957 | 85th Congress | Address on the Middle East | President Dwight D. Eisenhower. |
| Jan. 6, 1955 | 84th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Dwight D. Eisenhower. |
| Jan. 7, 1954 | 83rd Congress | State of the Union Address | President Dwight D. Eisenhower. |
| Feb. 2, 1953 | 83rd Congress | State of the Union Address | President Dwight D. Eisenhower. |
| June 10, 1952 | 82nd Congress | Address on Steel Strike | President Harry S. Truman. |
| Jan. 9, 1952 | 82nd Congress | State of the Union Address | President Harry S. Truman. |
| Jan. 8, 1951 | 82nd Congress | State of the Union Address | President Harry S. Truman. |
| Jan. 4, 1950 | 81st Congress | State of the Union Address | President Harry S. Truman. |
| Jan. 5, 1949 | 81st Congress | State of the Union Address | President Harry S. Truman. |
| July 27, 1948 | 80th Congress | Address on inflation, housing, and civil rights | President Harry S. Truman. |
| Apr. 19, 1948 | 80th Congress | Address on 50th anniversary, liberation of Cuba | President Harry S. Truman; Guillermo Belt, Ambassador of Cuba. |
| Mar. 17, 1948 | 80th Congress | National security and conditions in Europe | President Harry S. Truman. |
| Jan. 7, 1948 | 80th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Harry S. Truman. |
| Nov. 17, 1947 | 80th Congress | Address on Aid to Europe | President Harry S. Truman. |
| Mar. 12, 1947 | 80th Congress | Address on Greek-Turkish aid policy | President Harry S. Truman. |
| Jan. 6, 1947 | 80th Congress | State of the Union Address | President Harry S. Truman. |
| May 25, 1946 | 79th Congress | Address on Railroad Strike | President Harry S. Truman. |
| Oct. 23, 1945 | 79th Congress | Address on Universal Military Training | President Harry S. Truman. |
| May 21, 1945 | 79th Congress | Address on Bestowal of Congressional Medal of Honor to Tech. Sgt. Jake William Lindsey | General George C. Marshall, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army; President Harry S. Truman. |
| Apr. 16, 1945 | 79th Congress | Address on Assumption of Office and War | President Harry S. Truman. |
| Mar. 1, 1945 | 79th Congress | Address on Yalta Conference | President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. |
| Jan. 6, 1945 | 79th Congress | Annual Message | President Roosevelt was not present. His message was read before the Joint Session of Congress. |
| Jan. 11, 1944 | 78th Congress | Annual Message | President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. |
| Jan. 7, 1943 | 78th Congress | Annual Message | President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. |
| Jan. 6, 1942 | 77th Congress | Annual Message | President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. |
| Dec. 8, 1941 | 77th Congress | Address on the "Day of Infamy" | President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. |
| Jan. 6, 1941 | 77th Congress | Annual Message | President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. |
| May 16, 1940 | 76th Congress | Address on National Defense | President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. |
| Jan. 3, 1940 | 76th Congress | Annual Message | President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. |
| Sept. 21, 1939 | 76th Congress | Address on Neutrality | President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. |
| Mar. 4, 1939 | 76th Congress | Address on Sesquicentennial of the 1st Congress | President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. |
| Jan. 4, 1939 | 76th Congress | Annual Message | President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. |
| Jan. 3, 1938 | 75th Congress | Annual Message | President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. |
| Jan. 6, 1937 | 75th Congress | Annual Message | President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. |
| Jan. 3, 1936 | 74th Congress | Annual Message | President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. |
| May 22, 1935 | 74th Congress | Address on Budget Bill Veto | President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. |
| Jan. 4, 1935 | 74th Congress | Annual Message | President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. |
| May 20, 1934 | 73rd Congress | Address on 100th anniversary of the death of the Marquis de Lafayette | Andre de Laboulaye, Ambassador of France; President Franklin Delano Roosevelt; ceremony attended by Count de Chambrun, great-grandson of Lafayette. |
| Jan. 3, 1934 | 73rd Congress | Annual Message | President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. |
| Feb. 22, 1932 | 72nd Congress | Address on bicentennial of George Washington's birth | President Herbert Hoover. |
| Dec. 6, 1932 | 72nd Congress | Annual Message | President Herbert Hoover. |
| Dec. 8, 1931 | 72nd Congress | Annual Message | President Herbert Hoover. |
| Dec. 2, 1930 | 71st Congress | Annual Message | President Herbert Hoover. |
| Dec. 3, 1929 | 71st Congress | Annual Message | President Herbert Hoover. |
| Dec. 4, 1928 | 70th Congress | Annual Message | President Calvin Coolidge. |
| Feb. 22, 1927 | 70th Congress | Address on upcoming George Washington birthday bicentennial | President Calvin Coolidge. |
| Dec. 6, 1927 | 70th Congress | Annual Message | President Calvin Coolidge. |
| Dec. 6, 1926 | 69th Congress | Annual Message | President Calvin Coolidge. |
| Dec. 8, 1925 | 69th Congress | Annual Message | President Calvin Coolidge. |
| Dec. 6, 1924 | 68th Congress | Annual Message | President Calvin Coolidge. |
| Dec. 3, 1923 | 68th Congress | Annual Message | President Calvin Coolidge. |
| Feb. 7, 1923 | 67th Congress | Address on British debt due to the United States | President Warren G. Harding. |
| Dec. 8, 1922 | 67th Congress | Annual Message | President Warren G. Harding. |
| Nov. 21, 1922 | 67th Congress | Address on promotion of the American Merchant Marine | President Warren G. Harding. |
| Aug. 18, 1922 | 67th Congress | Address on coal and railroad strikes | President Warren G. Harding. |
| Feb. 28, 1922 | 67th Congress | Address on maintenance of the Merchant Marine | President Warren G. Harding. |
| Dec. 6, 1921 | 67th Congress | Annual Message | President Warren G. Harding. |
| Apr. 12, 1921 | 67th Congress | Federal problem message | President Warren G. Harding. |
| Aug. 8, 1919 | 66th Congress | Cost of living message | President Woodrow Wilson. |
| Dec. 2, 1918 | 65th Congress | Annual Message | President Woodrow Wilson. |
| Nov. 11, 1918 | 65th Congress | Terms of armistice signed by Germany | President Woodrow Wilson. |
| May 27, 1918 | 65th Congress | War finance message | President Woodrow Wilson. |
| Feb. 11, 1918 | 65th Congress | Peace message | President Woodrow Wilson. |
| Jan. 8, 1918 | 65th Congress | Program for world's peace | President Woodrow Wilson. |
| Jan. 4, 1918 | 65th Congress | Federal operation of transportation systems | President Woodrow Wilson. |
| Dec. 4, 1917 | 65th Congress | Annual Message/War with Austria-Hungary | President Woodrow Wilson. |
| Apr. 2, 1917 | 65th Congress | War with Germany | President Woodrow Wilson. |
| Feb. 26, 1917 | 64th Congress | Arming of merchant ships | President Woodrow Wilson. |
| Feb. 3, 1917 | 64th Congress | Severing diplomatic relations with Germany | President Woodrow Wilson. |
| Dec. 5, 1916 | 64th Congress | Annual Message | President Woodrow Wilson. |
| Aug. 29, 1916 | 64th Congress | Railroad message (labor-management dispute) | President Woodrow Wilson. |
| Dec. 7, 1915 | 64th Congress | Annual Message | President Woodrow Wilson. |
| Dec. 8, 1914 | 63rd Congress | Annual Message | President Woodrow Wilson. |
| Sept. 4, 1914 | 63rd Congress | War tax message | President Woodrow Wilson. |
| Apr. 20, 1914 | 63rd Congress | Mexico message | President Woodrow Wilson. |
| Mar. 5, 1914 | 63rd Congress | Panama Canal tolls | President Woodrow Wilson. |
| Jan. 20, 1914 | 63rd Congress | Trusts message | President Woodrow Wilson. |
| Dec. 2, 1913 | 63rd Congress | Annual Message | President Woodrow Wilson. |
| Aug. 27, 1913 | 63rd Congress | Mexican affairs message | President Woodrow Wilson. |
| June 23, 1913 | 63rd Congress | Currency and bank reform message | President Woodrow Wilson. |
| Apr. 8, 1913 | 63rd Congress | Tariff message | President Woodrow Wilson. |
| Nov. 22, 1800 | 6th Congress | Annual Message | President John Adams. |
| Dec. 3, 1799 | 6th Congress | Annual Message | President John Adams. |
| Dec. 8, 1798 | 5th Congress | Annual Message | President John Adams. |
| Nov. 23, 1797 | 5th Congress | Annual Message | President John Adams. |
| May 16, 1797 | 5th Congress | Relations with France | President John Adams. |
| Dec. 7, 1796 | 4th Congress | Annual Message | President George Washington. |
| Dec. 8, 1795 | 4th Congress | Annual Message | President George Washington. |
| Nov. 19, 1794 | 3rd Congress | Annual Message | President George Washington. |
| Dec. 3, 1793 | 3rd Congress | Annual Message | President George Washington. |
| Nov. 6, 1792 | 2nd Congress | Annual Message | President George Washington. |
| Oct. 25, 1791 | 2nd Congress | Annual Message | President George Washington. |
| Dec. 8, 1790 | 1st Congress | Annual Message | President George Washington. |
| Jan. 8, 1790 | 1st Congress | Annual Message | President George Washington. |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 George W. Bush White House Archives, "Address to a Joint Session of Congress and the American People," Sept. 20, 2001
- ↑ History, Art & Archives of the United States House of Representatives, "Joint Meetings, Joint Sessions, & Inaugurations," accessed Feb. 28, 2022
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.Con.Res.231 - Providing for a joint session of Congress to receive a message from the President," accessed Mar. 4, 2022
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ United States House of Representatives, "Joint Meetings, Joint Sessions, & Inaugurations," accessed June 14, 2021
