"The state of our union is strong," President Clinton told Americans last Tuesday. In his annual State of the Union speech before Congress, he assured the nation that the U.S. is stronger, safer and wealthier than ever before: "Our future is limitless."
But the President said nothing about his own future, even though he spoke on the very day and in the very building where his lawyers had begun defending him in an impeachment trial.
The U.S. Constitution requires the President to report regularly to Congress. The State of the Union speech gives the President a chance to set forth his goals for the nation. Clinton tried to use this year's speech to convince the country--and his jurors in the Senate--that he deserves to remain in office. His rousing 77-minute speech was interrupted by applause nearly 100 times.
Clinton announced many goals. He asked Congress to give schools more money to hire new teachers. He proposed that the U.S. spend $1 billion to protect natural resources. And he offered a plan to help Americans save for their retirement.
Following the speech, Representative Jennifer Dunn of Washington gave the Republican response. "Our country is not in crisis," she told Americans. "No matter what the outcome of the President's situation, life in America will go on."