The 2000 State of the Union address was given by U.S. President Bill Clinton to a joint session of the United States Congress on Thursday, January 27, 2000.
Clinton began the speech by saying, "We are fortunate to be alive at this moment in history. Never before has our nation enjoyed, at once, so much prosperity and social progress with so little internal crisis or so few external threats. Never before have we had such a blessed opportunity and, therefore, such a profound obligation to build the more perfect union of our founders' dreams." Clinton discussed many topics in the address, including education, health care, crime, the global economy, technology, and the environment.
It was Clinton's last State of the Union address. He left office on January 20, 2001. It was also the longest State of the Union address in recorded history at 1:29.
This State of the Union address is notable for being the first since Reagan's 1986 State of the Union Address that all 9 members of the Supreme Court were absent. It is speculated that their absence was due to Clinton's recent impeachment.
Famous quotes containing the words state, union and/or address:
“For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”
—Bible: New Testament St. Paul, in Philippians, 4:11.
“If in madness of delusion, anyone shall lift his parricidal hand against this blessed union ... the arms of thousands will be raised to save it, and the curse of millions will fall upon the head which may have plotted its destruction.”
—Andrew Jackson (1767–1845)
“If you would be a favourite of your king, address yourself to his weaknesses. An application to his reason will seldom prove very successful.”
—Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl Chesterfield (1694–1773)