The Corner

State of the Union Addresses, by Length

From 1996 through today, from the American Presidency Project. Let’s hope Obama doesn’t mirror President Clinton’s address that followed his 1994 electoral setbacks (the second-longest on record at a whopping 1:24:58; Clinton also owns the record for the longest — 2000’s swan song came in at 1:28:49).

Perhaps it is too much to hope that Obama will feel more comfortable in Jimmy Carter territory? Carter delivered the shortest SotU on record, just 0:32:04, in 1980.

UPDATE: CNN reports the president’s speech is coming in at about 70–75 minutes, with applause. But judging from what we know about all the Democratic infighting, maybe 60–65 minutes is a better guess.

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