When the Vice President and Speaker of the House are from different parties, it is customary for the Speaker to cut one each time the opposing party stands up to applaud.
George Washington had slaves specifically for “punching up” his addresses to Congress.
FDR curiously repeated the phrase “it’s like croquet” 21 times in a poorly written 1937 address.
James Madison argued for a constitutional requirement that the annual address be sung by the president in rhyming Quatrains, but he was opposed. Newt Gingrich has promised to follow Madison’s wishes if he is elected president.
Teddy Roosevelt departed from prepared remarks to bare-naked wrestle Democrats who were stymieing his agenda in 1904.
Ronald Reagan gave the same State of the Union address three times and no one noticed!
In 1860, James Buchanan’s address was simply a 15 minute list of redecoration suggestions for the chamber.
In 1879, the sobriety of Rutherford B. Hayes was questioned when he delivered different parts of his address in patterns mocking the speech of various minorities including Jews, Chinese, Blacks, Mexicans, and Irish.
Benjamin Harrison once delivered the address with his dog Dash beside him. After every sentence, Harrison would say to his dog “Isn’t that right, boy? Isn’t that right? Yes it is. Yes it is. He’s a good boy.” The address took seven hours.
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