The Writers of the “State of the Union” Address… A Grueling Task for the President’s “Mirror”

5th March 2025

3 minutes read

The Writers of the “State of the Union” Address… A Grueling Task for the President’s “Mirror”

Writing a speech for a head of state means being their mirror. But how do speechwriters delve into the minds of those they serve?

This Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump will present his vision for the United States and the world before Congress, following the turbulence he has stirred on the political and international stage at the start of his second term.

A little over a month after his inauguration, Trump will deliver his first address to Congress since returning to the White House at 9:00 PM (02:00 GMT Wednesday).

Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville said he expects Trump to “highlight the victories his administration has achieved so far” and present a “plan for the next four years.”

A Reflection of the Speaker

The State of the Union address is regarded as one of the most significant and influential presidential speeches, but it also represents a “grueling task” for the White House’s speechwriting team.

Speechwriters prepare extensively for such moments, especially when the president is known for his tendency to improvise.

On this topic, Jeff Shesol, a former speechwriter for Bill Clinton, told the Associated Press, “What you really learn, and what you need to understand, is not just how he sounds, but how he thinks.”

Shesol recalled that Clinton’s speechwriters would draft relatively concise notes, allowing him the freedom to veer off course as he pleased.

According to Michael Waldman, another former speechwriter for Clinton, the former president “likened it to playing a jazz solo and then returning to the sheet music.”

Speechwriters would craft a clear structure in the speech, enabling Clinton to easily return to his prepared remarks once his improvisation ended.

Pressure and Challenges

Throughout U.S. history, these aides have absorbed the personalities, quirks, and speech patterns of the most powerful leader on Earth, translating their thoughts into various public addresses, ranging from the mundane to the historic and highly consequential.

According to former White House speechwriters, this process takes months and involves constant pressure and input from numerous federal agencies and external stakeholders, all vying to have their proposals included in the speech.

The Associated Press notes that speechwriters face the unenviable task of distilling dozens of ideas into a coherent narrative that articulates the president’s vision for the year ahead.

Beyond the formal constraints of the State of the Union address, there is also the execution—how the president delivers the speech—especially with opponents scrutinizing every word, eager to seize upon any misstep to sow doubt among the public.

Dan Cluchey, a speechwriter for former President Joe Biden, emphasized that Biden was deeply involved in the drafting process, down to individual lines and words.

A Dream… and a Burden

For Terry Szuplat, the primary writer of many speeches for former President Barack Obama, the State of the Union address was “the speech we dreamed of writing, but after doing it, we hoped never to have to write it again.”

A speech broadcast in prime time “rarely changes the dynamics of a presidential term,” Szuplat stated.

Sarada Peri, another former speechwriter under Obama, noted that the process of gathering ideas from departments and agencies, including budget figures, begins as early as October or November.

She added that a first draft is typically written before Christmas, but that “the real work begins after returning from the holiday break,” with the ultimate goal being to “weave a cohesive narrative.”