The worst speech in politics is now a BFD

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Ask any White House speechwriter what they think about the State of the Union address and you’ll get the same answer back: It sucks.

“Very few, if any, go down in history, let’s put it that way,” said TERRY SZUPLAT, BARACK OBAMA’s senior director of speechwriting at the National Security Council.

But on Tuesday when JOE BIDEN delivers his first State of the Union speech, it could prove to be the exception to a worn out Washington truism.

“People often say a State of the Union is just a laundry list,” DAVID LITT, one of Obama’s key second term speechwriters, told West Wing Playbook. “It’s not this year because there’s serious stuff going on.”

There’s rarely been a time in modern history when a State of the Union address has happened in a news vacuum, and there have been many highly-anticipated addresses. RICHARD NIXON gave his last SOTU speech under the worsening cloud of the Watergate scandal, and during the next address, his successor GERALD FORD bluntly declared that the state of the union was pretty bad. In 1999, President BILL CLINTON walked out to give his speech just weeks after being impeached for lying about his affair with White House intern MONICA LEWINSKY.

But the shocking and bloody Russian invasion of Ukraine has presented an urgency for the SOTU speech unlike any in recent memory. The conflict represents the biggest foreign policy crisis in Europe in years, if not decades, and has added extra scrutiny to Biden’s every comment.

Szuplat, who helped Obama’s head speechwriters CODY KEENAN and JON FAVREAU on several addresses, argued that although the president has a long list of items to address including inflation, energy prices, and the Covid-19 pandemic, his biggest challenge is to explain why Ukraine matters for America.

“That’s probably the challenge I suspect the president and his speechwriters are going through in recent days,” he said. “To show how and why what’s happening in Ukraine is connected to the larger economic and political challenges that we’re facing in the world.”

The invasion of Ukraine upended a speech that was already weeks in the making. Biden and his team have spent hours revising a speech that was originally supposed to focus on the country’s economic gains and challenges. As of yesterday, it still wasn’t done.

While it’s likely that viewership for this year’s address could be higher than expected (the Ukraine crisis has briefly returned cable ratings to their Trump-era levels), there are obvious reasons why the State of the Union normally lands with a thud.

Szuplat said he had some incredible moments working on past speeches. But he also noted that the formulaic nature of the address made it a challenge to speechwriters every year, no matter the administration.

“Every president, every speechwriter laments having to go through this process,” he said. “If there were an easy way to do it differently, to do it better, it would’ve been years ago. The venue is locked, the format is locked, so it lacks the spontaneity, it lacks so much of what makes great speeches great.”

The world of presidential speechwriters is small, and the pool of Democratic former writers is even smaller. Many speechwriters from the previous three Democratic administrations keep in contact with one another and the current administration’s speechwriting team to share war stories. A few have privately offered general advice and kind words to Biden head speechwriter VINAY REDDY over the past year.

And while few, if any, of them cite the State of the Union speech as their favorite, they recognize that the changing nature of media has the potential to make the speech more useful and relevant. Litt noted that Biden’s team is likely crafting an address that focuses more on moments that can be clipped and shared virally online, versus treating the speech as a massive political meal to be consumed all at once.

“Fewer Americans than ever watch big speeches so the real test isn’t just TV ratings but also how many clippable moments are in the speech that then get shared online,” Litt said. “You’re also thinking what is the 90-second or even 20-second bit that someone’s going to see because their uncle shares on Facebook and that makes a huge difference. That could mean the impact of the speech is greater now than five years ago.”

TEXT US — Are you VINAY REDDY, Biden’s likely very tired speechwriter? Get some rest and then we want to hear from you (we’ll keep you anonymous). 

Or if you think we missed something in today’s edition, let us know and we may include it tomorrow.  Email us at [email protected]“,”link”:{“target”:”NEW”,”attributes”:[],”url”:”mailto:[email protected]”,”_id”:”0000017f-4846-d0ea-a9ff-fc468840000b”,”_type”:”33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df”},”_id”:”0000017f-4846-d0ea-a9ff-fc468840000c”,”_type”:”02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266″}”>[email protected] or you can text/Signal/Wickr Alex at 8183240098 or Max at 7143455427.

From the University of Virginia’s Miller Center“,”link”:{“target”:”NEW”,”attributes”:[],”url”:”https://millercenter.org/”,”_id”:”0000017f-4846-d0ea-a9ff-fc4688440000″,”_type”:”33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df”},”_id”:”0000017f-4846-d0ea-a9ff-fc4688440001″,”_type”:”02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266″}”>the University of Virginia’s Miller Center 

Which president first adopted the “Good Neighbor” policy with Central and South America?

(Answer at the bottom.)

ANCHORS WHO LUNCH — Biden held an off-the-record lunch with top on-air personalities from the cable and television news networks today in advance of his State of the Union address. In attendance were CBS News’ NORAH O’DONNELL, NBC News’ LESTER HOLT, ABC News’ DAVID MUIR, PBS’ JUDY WOODRUFF, and Fox News’ BRET BAIER. The White House also brought back JAKE TAPPER of CNN, which did not get an invite“,”link”:{“target”:”NEW”,”attributes”:[],”url”:”https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/03/media/donald-trump-state-of-the-union-lunch-cnn/index.html”,”_id”:”0000017f-4846-d0ea-a9ff-fc4688460002″,”_type”:”33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df”},”_id”:”0000017f-4846-d0ea-a9ff-fc4688460003″,”_type”:”02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266″}”>which did not get an invite during the final year of the Trump administration amid the then-president’s beef with the network.

As part of the White House’s effort to include networks reaching more diverse audiences that have been ignored by other administrations, the Biden team also invited The Grio’s APRIL RYAN, Telemundo’s JULIO VAQUEIRO, and Univision’s ILIA CALDERON. Baier reported on Fox News that Biden was in “good spirits,” and according to multiple sources familiar, each anchor was afforded the opportunity to ask the president questions.

BLINKEN BRAIN: JONATHAN LEMIRE reports that Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN “above all others, has emerged as the president’s top confidant“,”link”:{“target”:”NEW”,”attributes”:[],”url”:”https://www.politico.com/news/2022/03/01/biden-white-house-russia-putin-00″,”_id”:”0000017f-4846-d0ea-a9ff-fc4688460004″,”_type”:”33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df”},”_id”:”0000017f-4846-d0ea-a9ff-fc4688460005″,”_type”:”02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266″}”>has emerged as the president’s top confidant, used as a sounding board and consigliere on how to shape U.S. policy and rally global pressure against Russia in light of its invasion. Biden has also leaned on those with vast Russian experience, including BILL BURNS, the CIA director who once served as the nation’s ambassador to Moscow, and VICTORIA NULAND, the under secretary of State who was a top liaison to Ukraine under President Barack Obama.” Follow Jonathan here.“,”link”:{“target”:”NEW”,”attributes”:[],”url”:”https://twitter.com/JonLemire”,”_id”:”0000017f-4846-d0ea-a9ff-fc4688460006″,”_type”:”33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df”},”_id”:”0000017f-4846-d0ea-a9ff-fc4688460007″,”_type”:”02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266″}”>Follow Jonathan here.

CATCH UP ON UKRAINE–RUSSIA: Read the latest edition of NatSec Daily by ALEXANDER WARD. 

FAMILY MATTERS: Biden’s sister VALERIE BIDEN OWENS will join the first lady and second gentleman in the viewing box tonight, along with Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.S., OKSANA MARKAROVA. 

OTHER GUESTS: The White House’s other guests — which are meant to send a message and be woven into the speech — include a member of United Steelworkers union; a diabetes advocate; a nurse; the CEO of Intel; a community college student-parent; an education official with the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe who has become an advocate for youth mental health; Facebook whistleblower FRANCES HAUGEN; and the surviving spouse of a soldier who has become an advocate of “burn pits” legislation.

SPEECH EXCERPTS — The White House blasted out early excerpts from Biden’s speech tonight. Among the topics they highlighted:

Russia: “Throughout our history we’ve learned this lesson — when dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos.”

Inflation: “We have a choice. One way to fight inflation is to drive down wages and make Americans poorer. I have a better plan to fight inflation. Lower your costs, not your wages. Make more cars and semiconductors in America. More infrastructure and innovation in America…And, instead of relying on foreign supply chains — let’s make it in America. Economists call it ‘increasing the productive capacity of our economy.’ I call it building a better America.”

EXIT: Second Gentleman DOUG EMHOFF’s comms assistant, MEGHA BHATTACHARYA,is transitioning over to the West Wing to be a wrangler.

LINGERING VACANCIES — E&E’s KELSEY BRUGGER reports that progressives are urging Biden to nominate someone to lead his White House regulatory review shop“,”link”:{“target”:”NEW”,”attributes”:[],”url”:”https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eenews/2022/03/01/wheres-bidens-regulations-nominee-00012787″,”_id”:”0000017f-4846-d0ea-a9ff-fc46884c0002″,”_type”:”33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df”},”_id”:”0000017f-4846-d0ea-a9ff-fc46884c0003″,”_type”:”02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266″}”>nominate someone to lead his White House regulatory review shop — a post within the OMB that will play an instrumental role in the administration’s climate and environmental agenda.

DEFINE “NORMAL” — ADAM CANCRYN scoops that the White House plans to unveil a blueprint for the next Covid phase tomorrow. Adam reports that, “The Covid-19 strategy is expected to lay out how the nation can safely ease public health restrictions and restore some sense of normalcy as the U.S. enters what officials hope will be a less disruptive endemic stage of the virus.”

CURRENT EVENTS 101: Vice President KAMALA HARRIS chatted with “The Morning Hustle with Headkrack & Lore’l”“,”link”:{“target”:”NEW”,”attributes”:[],”url”:”https://themorninghustle.com/636368/kamala-harris-talks-possible-draft-scotus-nomination-ukraine-update/”,”_id”:”0000017f-4846-d0ea-a9ff-fc46884f0002″,”_type”:”33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df”},”_id”:”0000017f-4846-d0ea-a9ff-fc46884f0003″,”_type”:”02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266″}”>chatted with “The Morning Hustle with Headkrack & Lore’l” today.

Asked to explain “What’s going on in Ukraine?” in “layman’s terms,” Harris started with the verrrry basics: “Ukraine is a country in Europe. It exists next to another country called Russia. Russia is a bigger country. Russia is a powerful country. Russia decided to invade a smaller country called Ukraine. So basically that’s wrong.” The Republican National Committee made hay of the answer, though she was doing what the hosts asked.

AIR COVER: The pro-Biden outside group Building Back Together launched two new ads today around the State of the Union. The ads provide some insight on what the White House wants the takeaways to be from tonight.

Per the group’s press release: “The ad entitled ‘Family Business“,”link”:{“target”:”NEW”,”attributes”:[],”url”:”https://buildingbacktogether.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3ee27c3865d7d21cef418f4c4&id=eb4ed4dcda&e=8b1bdbe621″,”_id”:”0000017f-4846-d0ea-a9ff-fc46884f0004″,”_type”:”33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df”},”_id”:”0000017f-4846-d0ea-a9ff-fc46884f0005″,”_type”:”02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266″}”>Family Business’ features a restaurant owner named Ernisha from Florida who, despite experiencing ‘scary moments,’ gives President Biden credit for supporting small businesses, turning the economy around, and helping working families. In ‘Truck“,”link”:{“target”:”NEW”,”attributes”:[],”url”:”https://buildingbacktogether.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3ee27c3865d7d21cef418f4c4&id=cc2820e5ff&e=8b1bdbe621″,”_id”:”0000017f-4846-d0ea-a9ff-fc46884f0006″,”_type”:”33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df”},”_id”:”0000017f-4846-d0ea-a9ff-fc46884f0007″,”_type”:”02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266″}”>Truck,’ Gail, a type 1 diabetic, shares how the President is fighting to give Americans like herself the ‘breathing room’ to ‘afford a middle class life’ by bringing down the cost of prescription drugs, including insulin.”

Biden lets European leaders take center stage on Ukraine“,”link”:{“target”:”NEW”,”attributes”:[],”url”:”https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/03/01/biden-europeans-leadership-russia-ukraine/”,”_id”:”0000017f-4846-d0ea-a9ff-fc4688530000″,”_type”:”33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df”},”_id”:”0000017f-4846-d0ea-a9ff-fc4688530001″,”_type”:”02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266″}”>Biden lets European leaders take center stage on Ukraine (WaPo’s Matt Viser and Ashley Parker)

U.S. rushes arms to Ukraine as Russian forces escalate attacks“,”link”:{“target”:”NEW”,”attributes”:[],”url”:”https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-rushes-arms-to-ukraine-as-russian-forces-escalate-attacks-11646160746″,”_id”:”0000017f-4846-d0ea-a9ff-fc4688530002″,”_type”:”33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df”},”_id”:”0000017f-4846-d0ea-a9ff-fc4688530003″,”_type”:”02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266″}”>U.S. rushes arms to Ukraine as Russian forces escalate attacks (WSJ’s Nancy A. Youssef and Courtney McBride)

Burn pit benefits, veterans care to be major themes of Biden’s State of the Union speech“,”link”:{“target”:”NEW”,”attributes”:[],”url”:”https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/2022/03/01/burn-pit-benefits-veterans-care-to-be-major-themes-of-bidens-state-of-the-union-speech/”,”_id”:”0000017f-4846-d0ea-a9ff-fc4688530004″,”_type”:”33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df”},”_id”:”0000017f-4846-d0ea-a9ff-fc4688530005″,”_type”:”02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266″}”>Burn pit benefits, veterans care to be major themes of Biden’s State of the Union speech (Military Times’ Leo Shane III)

Chief of staff RON KLAIN has a busy night. He will be on NBC Nightly News at 6:30 p.m. ET, MSNBC’s special State of the Union coverage at 8 p.m., and Twitter Spaces“,”link”:{“target”:”NEW”,”attributes”:[],”url”:”https://twitter.com/twittergov/status/1498683930337288201?s=21″,”_id”:”0000017f-4846-d0ea-a9ff-fc4688550001″,”_type”:”33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df”},”_id”:”0000017f-4846-d0ea-a9ff-fc4688550002″,”_type”:”02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266″}”>Twitter Spaces after the speech.

He received the president’s daily brief. Biden also spoke via phone with Ukrainian President VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY. According to the White House, the call lasted for a little more than 30 minutes.

Tonight at 9 p.m. ET, he will deliver the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress.

She held separate calls with European leaders from NATO’s eastern flank to discuss the war in Ukraine, including: Estonian Prime Minister KAJA KALLAS, Latvian Prime Minister KRISJANIS KARINS, Lithuanian Prime Minister INGRIDA SIMONYTE, Polish Prime Minister MATEUSZ MORAWIECKI and Romanian Prime Minister NICOLAE CIUCA.

This evening, she will attend Biden’s State of the Union address.

White House Cabinet secretary, EVAN RYAN, helped political news outlet Axios launch back in Jan. 2017, serving as their executive vice president. She told Vanity Fair in an interview at the time“,”link”:{“target”:”NEW”,”attributes”:[],”url”:”https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/01/jim-vandehei-and-mike-allen-hire-washington-insiders-to-run-axios”,”_id”:”0000017f-4846-d0ea-a9ff-fc46885d0000″,”_type”:”33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df”},”_id”:”0000017f-4846-d0ea-a9ff-fc46885d0001″,”_type”:”02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266″}”>told Vanity Fair in an interview at the time that founders MIKE ALLEN and JIM VANDEHEI corralled her into the role.

Ryan said she was excited by the opportunity to “be part of something from the ground up.”

“Fact-based media is more important than ever. It’s important that we have trusted, fact-based news that you can get quickly and easily,” she continues. “Jim and Mike and Roy have a history and great reputations in this space.”

BE SMART: Ryan made a solid choice but would have been wiser to hitch her wagon to a true journalism success story… West Wing Playbook.

MEA CULPA — In yesterday’s edition, we gave the wrong year for the American Windsurfer interview with JOHN KERRY — it happened back in 1998.

HERBERT HOOVER. While most Americans believe the “Good Neighbor” policy started during FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT‘s presidency, Hoover first spearheaded the new diplomatic initiative. After he won election in 1928, but prior to assuming the presidency, he toured Latin America for ten weeks.

Hoover delivered a total of 25 speeches and emphasized his plans to reduce American military and political interference with Latin America, promising that the U.S. would be a “good neighbor.”

For more on Hoover’s presidency, visit milltercenter.org“,”link”:{“target”:”NEW”,”attributes”:[],”url”:”https://millercenter.org/”,”_id”:”0000017f-4846-d0ea-a9ff-fc46885f0000″,”_type”:”33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df”},”_id”:”0000017f-4846-d0ea-a9ff-fc46885f0001″,”_type”:”02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266″}”>milltercenter.org.

A CALL OUT — Do you have a better trivia question? Send us your hardest trivia question on the presidents and we may feature it on Wednesdays.

Edited by Emily Cadei