State of the Union is always strong... almost...
Donald Trump
2019: … strong.
2018: … strong.
2017 … strong.* (This was an economic message before a Joint Session of Congress. Exact words: “All the nations of the world … will find that America is strong, America is proud, America is free.”)
Barack Obama
2016: … strong.
2015: … strong.
2014: … strong.
2013: … stronger.
2012: … getting stronger.
2011: … strong.
2010: … strong.
2009: … a concern.* (This was an economic message before a Joint Session of Congress. Exact words: “The state of our economy is a concern.”)
George W. Bush
2008: … will remain strong.
2007: … strong.
2006: … strong.
2005: … confident and strong.
2004: … confident and strong.
2003: … strong.
2002: … has never been stronger.
2001: … n/a. (New president’s economic message before a Joint Session of Congress)
Bill Clinton
2000: … the strongest it has ever been.
1999: … strong.
1998: … strong.
1997: … strong.
1996: … strong.
1995: … stronger. (Exact words: “Our country is stronger than it was two years ago.”)
1994: … growing stronger.
1993: … n/a. (New president’s economic message before a Joint Session of Congress)
George H.W. Bush
1992:— *
1991: … the union of each of us, one to the other — the sum of our friendships, marriages, families and communities.
1990: … depends on each and every one of us.
1989: … n/a. (New president’s economic message before a Joint Session of Congress)
Ronald Reagan
1988: … strong, prosperous, at peace, and we are free.
1987: —
1986: … stronger than a year ago and growing stronger each day.
1985:—
1984: … much improved. (Exact words: “America is much improved.”)
1983: … strong, but the economy is troubled.
1982:… will be better. (Exact words: “In the near future the state of the Union and the economy will be better—much better—if we summon the strength to continue on the course that we’ve charted.”)
1981 — n/a. (New president’s economic message before a Joint Session of Congress)
Jimmy Carter
1980: … depends on the state of the world.
1979: … sound.
1978: … sound.
1977 — no speech given
Gerald Ford
1977: … good.
1976: … better.
1975: … not good.
2019: … strong.
2018: … strong.
2017 … strong.* (This was an economic message before a Joint Session of Congress. Exact words: “All the nations of the world … will find that America is strong, America is proud, America is free.”)
Barack Obama
2016: … strong.
2015: … strong.
2014: … strong.
2013: … stronger.
2012: … getting stronger.
2011: … strong.
2010: … strong.
2009: … a concern.* (This was an economic message before a Joint Session of Congress. Exact words: “The state of our economy is a concern.”)
George W. Bush
2008: … will remain strong.
2007: … strong.
2006: … strong.
2005: … confident and strong.
2004: … confident and strong.
2003: … strong.
2002: … has never been stronger.
2001: … n/a. (New president’s economic message before a Joint Session of Congress)
Bill Clinton
2000: … the strongest it has ever been.
1999: … strong.
1998: … strong.
1997: … strong.
1996: … strong.
1995: … stronger. (Exact words: “Our country is stronger than it was two years ago.”)
1994: … growing stronger.
1993: … n/a. (New president’s economic message before a Joint Session of Congress)
George H.W. Bush
1992:— *
1991: … the union of each of us, one to the other — the sum of our friendships, marriages, families and communities.
1990: … depends on each and every one of us.
1989: … n/a. (New president’s economic message before a Joint Session of Congress)
Ronald Reagan
1988: … strong, prosperous, at peace, and we are free.
1987: —
1986: … stronger than a year ago and growing stronger each day.
1985:—
1984: … much improved. (Exact words: “America is much improved.”)
1983: … strong, but the economy is troubled.
1982:… will be better. (Exact words: “In the near future the state of the Union and the economy will be better—much better—if we summon the strength to continue on the course that we’ve charted.”)
1981 — n/a. (New president’s economic message before a Joint Session of Congress)
Jimmy Carter
1980: … depends on the state of the world.
1979: … sound.
1978: … sound.
1977 — no speech given
Gerald Ford
1977: … good.
1976: … better.
1975: … not good.
