2000 State of The Union Address

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:

    The present century has not dealt kindly with the farmer. His legends are all but obsolete, and his beliefs have been pared away by the professors at colleges of agriculture. Even the farm- bred bards who twang guitars before radio microphones prefer “I’m Headin’ for the Last Roundup” to “Turkey in the Straw” or “Father Put the Cows Away.”
    —For the State of Kansas, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)

    The only hope of socialism resides in those who have already brought about in themselves, as far as is possible in the society of today, that union between manual and intellectual labor which characterizes the society we are aiming at.
    Simone Weil (1909–1943)

    Self-confidence is apt to address itself to an imaginary dullness in others; as people who are well off speak in a cajoling tone to the poor.
    George Eliot [Mary Ann (or Marian)