Every president wants to associate himself with Abraham Lincoln -- especially now that he’s a film star. At Sunday night’s Golden Globe Awards, Bill Clinton introduced a clip from the movie Lincoln. And next month, President Obama will deliver his State of the Union address on Feb. 12 -- Lincoln’s birthday.
The idea actually originated with House Speaker John Boehner. Every year, the speaker invites the president to address a joint session of Congress.
Boehner sent this message to Obama:
“Our nation continues to face immense challenges, and the American people expect us to work together in the new year to find meaningful solutions,” House speaker John Boehner writes in a letter to Obama, inviting him to deliver the address. “This will require a willingness to seek common ground as well as presidential leadership. For that reason, the Congress and the Nation would welcome an opportunity to hear your plan and specific solutions for addressing America’s great challenges. Therefore, it is my privilege to invite you to speak before a Joint Session of Congress on February 12, 2013 in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol Building."
It’s a late date for the State of the Union, which typically takes place in January. Obama delivered his first three addresses on January 27, 24 and 25.
