The First State of the Union Address

"The President shall from time to time give to Congress information of the State of the Union and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient." Article II, Sec. 3, U.S. Constitution

On this day, 216 years ago, George Washington delivered the first State of the Union Address at Federal Hall in New York City.

Interestingly, Washington delivered his address in person but the 3rd President, Thomas Jefferson simply wrote out his message and had copies delivered to each member of both houses of Congress. (I wonder if this was because Jefferson was not much of a public speaker and was reportedly rather shy in front of crowds.) Jefferson's precedent of a written message trumped Washington's precedent of a speech delivered in person for 112 years. From the White House web site:

The first President to revive Washington's spoken precedent was Woodrow Wilson in 1913. Although controversial at the time, Wilson delivered his first annual message in person to both houses of Congress and outlined his legislative priorities.

This is the format we know today (with the addition of the speech being "broadcast" over radio and TV live today).

You can find a copy of Washington's first State of the Union Address here.