The first official, televised opposition response to a president's annual message came in 1966, when Senate Minority Leader Everett Dirksen (R-IL) and House Minority Leader Gerald R. Ford (R-MI) offered a critique of President Lyndon Johnson's annual message. The practice continued sporadically over the next decade and varied in format. Since 1982, members of the opposition party have provided a response to the annual message, usually in a televised format, that directly follows the president's speech.
| Year | Speaker and Note |
|---|---|
| 1966 | On January 17 Senate Minority Leader Everett Dirksen (R-IL) and House Minority Leader Gerald R. Ford (R-MI) responded to President Lyndon Johnson's State of the Union address (which had taken place on January 12) in the Old Senate Chamber. Their speeches were recorded and broadcast later that evening by several networks, becoming the first organized and televised response to the annual message. |
| 1967 | On January 10, following President Lyndon Johnson's State of the Union address, Senate Minority Leader Everett Dirksen (R-IL) and House Minority Leader Gerald R. Ford (R-MI) responded in a televised news conference. |
| 1968 | On January 23, from the auditorium of the New Senate Office Building (Dirksen Building), eight Republican senators and nine Republican representatives responded to President Lyndon Johnson's State of the Union address (which had taken place on January 17) in a televised program. |
| 1969 | No response. President Lyndon Johnson delivered his final State of the Union address on January 14. Richard Nixon was inaugurated on January 20, 1969. |
| 1970 | On February 8 Democratic members of Congress responded to President Richard Nixon's State of the Union address (which had taken place on January 22) with a 45-minute televised program that included comments from Senators William Proxmire (D-WI), Mike Mansfield (D-MT), Henry "Scoop" Jackson (D-WA), Edmund Muskie (D-ME), Albert Gore (D-TN), Ralph Yarborough (D-TX), and Philip Hart (D-MI), and Representatives Donald Fraser (D-MN), Patsy Mink (D-HI), Carl Albert (D-OK), and John McCormack (D-MA), and informal discussions by senators and representatives with voters in various sections of the country. |
| 1971 | On January 26 Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield (D-MT) responded to President Richard Nixon's State of the Union address (which had taken place on January 22) in an interview-style format, with four network correspondents asking questions. |
| 1972 | On January 21 Democratic members of Congress responded to President Richard Nixon's annual State of the Union address (which had taken place on January 20) with a 53-minute television program that included a panel of senators and representatives (Senators William Proxmire (D-WI), Frank Church (D-ID), Thomas Eagleton (D-MO), and Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX), and Representatives Leonor Sullivan (D-MO), John Melcher (D-MT), John Brademas (D-IN), Martha Griffiths (D-MI), Ralph Metcalfe (D-IL), Carl Albert (D-OK), and Hale Boggs (D-LA)) answering phone calls from the public asking unrehearsed questions. |
| 1973 | Beginning on February 2, President Richard Nixon presented the State of the Union report to Congress in writing as a series of messages, rather than in person. There was no opposition response. |
| 1974 | On February 1 Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield (D-MT) delivered a nationally televised response to President Richard Nixon's State of the Union address (which took place on January 30) from his desk in his office. |
| 1975 | Senator Hubert Humphrey (D-MN) and Representative Carl Albert (D-OK) responded to President Gerald R. Ford's State of the Union address (which took place on January 15) in two separate televised speeches. Albert's speech aired on Monday, January 20, and Tuesday, January 21, and Humphrey's speech aired Wednesday, January 22. |
| 1976 | On January 21 Senator Edmund Muskie (D-ME) responded to President Gerald R. Ford's State of the Union address (which took place on January 19) in a televised speech recorded in Majority Leader Mike Mansfield's office. |
| 1977 | No response. President Gerald R. Ford delivered his final State of the Union address on January 12, 1977. Jimmy Carter was inaugurated on January 20, 1977. |
| 1978 | On January 26 Senate Minority Leader Howard Baker, Jr., (R-TN) and House Minority Leader John Rhodes (R-AZ) responded to President Jimmy Carter's State of the Union address (which took place on January 19) in a televised 30-minute question-and-answer program. |
| 1979 | On January 24 Senate Minority Leader Howard Baker, Jr., (R-TN) and House Minority Leader John Rhodes (R-AZ) responded to President Jimmy Carter's State of the Union address (which took place on January 23) in a televised news conference from Representative Rhodes's office. Later that evening, Baker and Rhodes, together with Senator Robert Dole (R-KS) and Representative Barber B. Conable, Jr., (R-NY) were interviewed for half an hour on NBC television. |
| 1980 | On January 28 Acting Senate Minority Leader Ted Stevens (R-AK) and House Minority Leader John Rhodes (R-AZ) responded to President Jimmy Carter's final State of the Union address (which took place on January 23) in a prerecorded, 30-minute program that aired on ABC at 10:30 p.m. eastern time. |
| 1981 | There was no official Democratic response following President Ronald Reagan's economic message delivered on February 18, 1981.* |
| 1982 | On January 26 Democrats responded to President Ronald Reagan's State of the Union address with a 28-minute prerecorded, documentary-style program, televised on major networks following President Reagan's address, offering a Democratic review of the speech and man-on-the-street interviews. Participants included California governor Jerry Brown, Senators Donald Riegle (D-MI), James Sasser (D-TN), Robert Byrd (D-WV), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Gary Hart (D-CO), Paul Sarbanes (D-MD), J. Bennett Johnston (D-LA), and Alan Cranston (D-CA); Speaker of the House Thomas P. O'Neill (D-MA); and Representative Albert Gore, Jr., (D-TN). |
| 1983 | On January 25 Democrats responded to President Ronald Reagan's State of the Union address with a 28-minute prerecorded program that aired on all major networks following the president's speech. Participants included Senators Robert Byrd (D-WV), Paul Tsongas (D-MA), Bill Bradley (D-NJ), and Joe Biden (D-DE); Representatives Tom Daschle (D-SD), Barbara Kennelly (D-CT), George Miller (D-CA), Les AuCoin (D-OR), Paul Simon (D-IL), Timothy Wirth (D-CO), and W. G. "Bill" Hefner (D-NC); and Speaker of the House Thomas P. O'Neill (D-MA). |
| 1984 | On January 25 Democrats responded to President Ronald Reagan's State of the Union address with a televised response, partly taped and partly live, that aired following the president's speech. Moderated by Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis, participants included: Senators Joe Biden (D-DE), David Boren (D-OK), Carl M. Levin (D-MI), Max S. Baucus (D-MT), Robert Byrd (D-WV), Clairborne Pell (D-RI), and Walter Huddleston (D-KY); Representatives Dante B. Fascell (D-FL), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), and William Gray (D-PA); and Speaker of the House Thomas P. O'Neill (D-MA). |
| 1985 | On February 6 Democrats responded to President Ronald Reagan's State of the Union address with a prerecorded program featuring interviews with randomly selected Democratic voters in four locations around the country, interspersed by remarks from party leaders. The moderator was Arkansas governor Bill Clinton. Other speakers included Florida governor Bob Graham, Speaker of the House Thomas P. O'Neill (D-MA), and Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV). NBC and CBS aired the program following President Reagan's speech. ABC aired the program two days later. |
| 1986 | On February 4 Senator George Mitchell (D-ME), Missouri lieutenant governor Harriett Woods, Virginia governor Charles Robb, Representative Tom Daschle (D-SD), and Representative William Gray (D-PA) responded to President Ronald Reagan's State of the Union address in a program that was aired by all the major networks following the address. (The address was originally supposed to have taken place on January 28 but was delayed due to the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.) |
| 1987 | On January 27 Senate Majority Leader Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) and Speaker of the House Jim Wright (D-TX) responded to President Ronald Reagan's State of the Union address in separate speeches that were broadcast live immediately following the speech. |
| 1988 | On January 25 Senate Majority Leader Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) and Speaker of the House Jim Wright (D-TX) responded to President Ronald Reagan's final State of the Union address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech. |
| 1989 | On February 9 Speaker of the House Jim Wright (D-TX) and Senator Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX) responded to President George Bush's address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech.* |
| 1990 | On January 31 Speaker of the House Tom Foley (D-WA) responded to President George Bush's first State of the Union address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech. |
| 1991 | On January 29 Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell (D-ME) responded to President George Bush's State of the Union address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech. |
| 1992 | On January 28 Speaker of the House Tom Foley (D-WA) responded to President George Bush's final State of the Union address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech. |
| 1993 | On February 17 House Minority Leader Bob Michel (R-IL) responded to President Bill Clinton's address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech.* |
| 1994 | On January 25 Senate Minority Leader Robert Dole (R-KS) responded to President Bill Clinton's first State of the Union address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech. |
| 1995 | On January 24 New Jersey governor Christine Todd Whitman responded to President Bill Clinton's State of the Union address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech. |
| 1996 | On January 30 Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole (R-KS) responded to President Bill Clinton's State of the Union address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech. |
| 1997 | On February 4 Representative J. C. Watts (R-OK) responded to President Bill Clinton's State of the Union address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech. |
| 1998 | On January 27 Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) offered the Republican response to President Bill Clinton's State of the Union address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech. |
| 1999 | On January 19 Representatives Jennifer Dunn (R-WA) and Steven Largent (R-OK) responded to President Bill Clinton's State of the Union address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech. |
| 2000 | On January 27 Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and William Frist (R-TN) responded to President Bill Clinton's final State of the Union address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech. |
| 2001 | On February 27 Senate Minority Leader Thomas Daschle (D-SD) and House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-MO) responded to President George W. Bush's address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech.* |
| 2002 | On January 29 House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-MO) responded to President George W. Bush's first State of the Union address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech. |
| 2003 | On January 28 Washington governor Gary Locke responded to President George W. Bush's State of the Union address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech. |
| 2004 | On January 20 Senate Minority Leader Thomas Daschle (D-SD) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) responded to President George W. Bush's State of the Union address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech. |
| 2005 | On February 2 Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) responded to President George W. Bush's State of the Union address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech. |
| 2006 | On January 31 Virginia governor Tim Kaine responded to President George W. Bush's State of the Union address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech. |
| 2007 | On January 23 Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) responded to President George W. Bush's State of the Union address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech. |
| 2008 | On January 28 Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius responded to President George w. Bush's final State of the Union address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech. |
| 2009 | On February 24 Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal responded to President Barack Obama's address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech.* |
| 2010 | On January 27 Virginia governor Bob McDonnell responded to President Barack Obama's first State of the Union address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech. |
| 2011 | On January 25 Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI) responded to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech. |
| 2012 | On January 24 Indiana governor Mitch Daniels responded to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech. |
| 2013 | On February 12 Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) responded to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech. |
| 2014 | On January 28 Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) responded to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech. |
| 2015 | On January 20 Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) responded to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech. |
| 2016 | On January 12 South Carolina governor Nikki Haley responded to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech. |
| 2017 | On February 28 former Kentucky governor Steve Beshear responded to President Donald J. Trump's address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech.* |
| 2018 | On January 30 Representative Joseph P. Kennedy III (D-MA) responded to President Donald J. Trump's first State of the Union address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech. |
| 2019 | On February 5 Stacey Abrams, former minority leader of the Georgia House of Representatives, responded to President Donald J. Trump's State of the Union address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech. |
| 2020 | On February 4 Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer responded to President Donald J. Trump's State of the Union address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech. Texas representative Veronica Escobar delivered the response in Spanish. |
| 2021 | On April 28 Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) responded to President Joe Biden's address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech.* |
| 2022 | On March 1 Iowa governor Kim Reynolds responded to President Joe Biden's State of the Union address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech. |
| 2023 | On February 7 Arkansas governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders responded to President Joe Biden's State of the Union address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech. |
| 2024 | On March 7 Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) responded to President Joe Biden's State of the Union address in a live broadcast that aired immediately following the speech. |
