The Language of Data: Analyzing the State of the Union

January 28, 2019 

Each president’s State of the Union address is an attempt to set the tone for his term in office — what are the administration’s goals, plans and promises? Those questions dominate the 24-hour news cycle around this yearly address to Congress.

Nearly 50 million people tuned in to watch President Obama’s first State of the Union address in 2010. President Trump’s speech last year generated more than 4.5 million tweets, the most ever for a presidential address.

It’s been more than a century since President Woodrow Wilson’s first State of the Union address, and while the language presidents use to communicate has evolved, many of the words, phrases, and ideas have stood the test of time. 

Comparing those words, over time, is one way to hold presidencies up against each other, to assess the ways in which presidential communication has changed. How can we objectively compare one State of the Union address to another? Data analysis can be used to transform otherwise dry, static information into comparable statistics that show trends across words, presidents, and years.

Reading Levels

One way to compare speeches is to assess their reading levels using the Flesch-Kincaid grade level test. The Flesch-Kincaid readability tests are designed to indicate how difficult a passage is to understand.

  • datascience@berkeley collected the reading level of each president’s first State of the Union address using the Flesch-Kincaid readability test. The test’s scale of 0-18 correlates to grade level. For example, Trump’s score of 8.1 places his speech at an 8th grade reading level; Wilson’s score of 15.6 places his speech at a collegiate reading level.

    PresidentPartyYearFlesch-Kincaid Grade Level
    Donald J. Trump
    Republican
    2018
    8.1
    Barack Obama
    Democrat
    2010
    8.7
    George W. Bush
    Republican
    2002
    9.8
    Bill Clinton
    Democrat
    1994
    8.9
    George Bush Sr.
    Republican
    1990
    9.0
    Ronald Reagan
    Republican
    1982
    11.1
    James Carter, Jr.
    Democrat
    1978
    9.8
    Gerald Ford
    Republican
    1975
    10.9
    Richard Nixon
    Republican
    1970
    10.8
    Lyndon B. Johnson
    Democrat
    1964
    11.4
    John F. Kennedy
    Democrat
    1961
    12.8
    Dwight D. Eisenhower
    Republican
    1953
    12.4
    Harry S. Truman
    Democrat
    1946
    12.7
    Franklin D. Roosevelt
    Democrat
    1934
    15.5
    Herbert Hoover
    Republican
    1929
    14.5
    Calvin Coolidge
    Republican
    1923
    10.9
    Warren Harding
    Republican
    1921
    14.7
    Woodrow Wilson
    Democrat
    1913
    15.6

    Transcripts: https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/presidential-documents-archive-guidebook/annual-messages-congress-the-state-the-union

State of the Union Word Analysis

The data from speeches can be used to compare more than just overall values like reading level. For example, it’s easy to predict that the economy will come up in a State of the Union address. But data shows that presidents tend to talk about taxes more than jobs, and jobs more than banks. Also, among presidents since Wilson, Harry Truman talked about the economy the most — 2.9 percent of his speech was made up of words like “business,” “debt,” and “dollar.”

  • datascience@berkeley looked at each president’s first State of the Union address — from Woodrow Wilson to Donald J. Trump — to find out how often they mentioned the economy.

    Donald J. Trump

    Party: Republican
    Year: 2018
    Total Word Count: 5,799

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Business
    6
    0.08622176237
    Income
    2
    0.03448870495
    Jobs
    13
    0.1207104673
    Poverty
    1
    0.01724435247
    Recession
    1
    0.01724435247
    Taxes
    16
    0.2586652871
    Unemployment
    3
    0.05173305742
    Dollar
    3
    0.05173305742
    Economy
    4
    0.05173305742

    Barack Obama

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 2010
    Total Word Count: 7,304

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Banks
    8
    0.1095290252
    Budget
    6
    0.08214676889
    Business
    30
    0.4107338445
    Debt
    5
    0.06845564074
    Dollar
    2
    0.0273822563
    Economy
    18
    0.2464403067
    Employer
    1
    0.01369112815
    Employment
    2
    0.0273822563
    Finance
    12
    0.1642935378
    Income
    5
    0.06845564074
    Jobs
    23
    0.3148959474
    Money
    4
    0.0547645126
    Poverty
    1
    0.01369112815
    Recession
    6
    0.08214676889
    Stimulus
    1
    0.01369112815
    Taxes
    23
    0.3148959474
    Unemployment
    4
    0.0547645126

    George W. Bush

    Party: Republican
    Year: 2002
    Total Word Count: 3,878

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Budget
    7
    0.1805054152
    Business
    1
    0.02578648788
    Debt
    1
    0.02578648788
    Dollar
    1
    0.02578648788
    Economy
    7
    0.1805054152
    Employee
    2
    0.05157297576
    Finance
    1
    0.02578648788
    Jobs
    11
    0.2836513667
    Money
    1
    0.02578648788
    Poverty
    1
    0.02578648788
    Recession
    3
    0.07735946364
    Stimulus
    1
    0.02578648788
    Taxes
    7
    0.1805054152
    Unemployment
    2
    0.05157297576

    Bill Clinton

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1994
    Total Word Count: 7,432

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Bankruptcy
    2
    0.02691065662
    Banks
    2
    0.02691065662
    Budget
    7
    0.09418729817
    Business
    10
    0.1345532831
    Debt
    1
    0.01345532831
    Dollar
    1
    0.01345532831
    Economy
    13
    0.174919268
    Employee
    2
    0.02691065662
    Empoloyer
    4
    0.05382131324
    Finance
    4
    0.05382131324
    Income
    8
    0.1076426265
    Jobs
    20
    0.2691065662
    Money
    5
    0.06727664155
    Poverty
    3
    0.04036598493
    Taxes
    13
    0.174919268
    Unemployment
    4
    0.05382131324

    George Bush Sr.

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1990
    Total Word Count: 3,777

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Budget
    8
    0.2118083135
    Business
    1
    0.02647603918
    Debt
    1
    0.02647603918
    Dollar
    1
    0.02647603918
    Economy
    4
    0.1059041567
    Jobs
    2
    0.05295207837
    Money
    4
    0.1059041567
    Taxes
    2
    0.05295207837

    Ronald Reagan

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1982
    Total Word Count: 5,154

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Budget
    8
    0.1552192472
    Business
    7
    0.1358168413
    Debt
    1
    0.0194024059
    Dollar
    7
    0.1358168413
    Economy
    20
    0.388048118
    Employee
    2
    0.0388048118
    Expenditures
    1
    0.0194024059
    Finance
    3
    0.05820721769
    Income
    1
    0.0194024059
    Jobs
    7
    0.1358168413
    Money
    6
    0.1164144354
    Recession
    6
    0.1164144354
    Taxes
    29
    0.5626697711
    Unemployment
    9
    0.1746216531

    James Carter, Jr.

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1978
    Total Word Count: 4,580

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Budget
    7
    0.1528384279
    Business
    8
    0.1746724891
    Dollar
    4
    0.08733624454
    Economy
    26
    0.5676855895
    Employment
    2
    0.04366812227
    Income
    3
    0.06550218341
    Jobs
    10
    0.2183406114
    Poverty
    1
    0.02183406114
    Taxes
    18
    0.3930131004
    Unemployment
    7
    0.1528384279

    Gerald Ford

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1975
    Total Word Count: 4,126

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Budget
    7
    0.169655841
    Business
    6
    0.1454192923
    Debt
    1
    0.02423654872
    Dollar
    3
    0.07270964615
    Economy
    18
    0.4362578769
    Expenditures
    4
    0.09694619486
    Finance
    1
    0.02423654872
    Income
    10
    0.2423654872
    Jobs
    5
    0.1211827436
    Money
    3
    0.07270964615
    Recession
    1
    0.02423654872
    Tariff
    1
    0.02423654872
    Taxes
    29
    0.7028599127
    Unemployment
    1
    0.02423654872

    Richard Nixon

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1970
    Total Word Count: 4,457

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Budget
    7
    0.1570563159
    Business
    1
    0.02243661656
    Debt
    4
    0.08974646623
    Dollar
    1
    0.02243661656
    Economy
    7
    0.1570563159
    Employment
    1
    0.02243661656
    Finance
    1
    0.02243661656
    Income
    2
    0.04487323312
    Money
    3
    0.06730984967
    Poverty
    1
    0.02243661656
    Taxes
    1
    0.02243661656

    Lyndon B. Johnson

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1964
    Total Word Count: 3,168

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Budget
    8
    0.2525252525
    Business
    2
    0.06313131313
    Dollar
    4
    0.1262626263
    Economy
    6
    0.1893939394
    Employee
    1
    0.03156565657
    Employer
    1
    0.03156565657
    Employment
    6
    0.1893939394
    Expenditures
    2
    0.06313131313
    Finance
    2
    0.06313131313
    Income
    2
    0.06313131313
    Jobs
    5
    0.1578282828
    Money
    1
    0.03156565657
    Poverty
    9
    0.2840909091
    Taxes
    10
    0.3156565657
    Unemployment
    8
    0.2525252525

    John F. Kennedy

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1961
    Total Word Count: 5,274

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Bankruptcy
    1
    0.01896094046
    Budget
    7
    0.1327265832
    Busines
    4
    0.07584376185
    Dollar
    12
    0.2275312856
    Economy
    25
    0.4740235116
    Employment
    1
    0.01896094046
    Expenditures
    1
    0.01896094046
    Finance
    4
    0.07584376185
    Income
    3
    0.05688282139
    Jobs
    3
    0.05688282139
    Money
    4
    0.07584376185
    Recession
    4
    0.07584376185
    Taxes
    5
    0.09480470231
    Unemployment
    7
    0.1327265832

    Dwight D. Eisenhower

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1953
    Total Word Count: 6,973

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Budget
    12
    0.1720923562
    Business
    3
    0.04302308906
    Debt
    7
    0.1003872078
    Dollar
    6
    0.08604617812
    Economy
    31
    0.4445719203
    Employee
    2
    0.02868205937
    Employer
    2
    0.02868205937
    Employment
    3
    0.04302308906
    Expenditures
    4
    0.05736411874
    Finance
    2
    0.02868205937
    Income
    4
    0.05736411874
    Money
    2
    0.02868205937
    Poverty
    1
    0.01434102969
    Taxes
    10
    0.1434102969
    Unemployment
    1
    0.01434102969

    Harry S. Truman

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1946
    Total Word Count: 27,465

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Bankruptcy
    1
    0.003640997633
    Banks
    4
    0.01456399053
    Budget
    58
    0.2111778627
    Business
    68
    0.2475878391
    Debt
    30
    0.109229929
    Dollar
    212
    0.7718914983
    Economy
    88
    0.3204077917
    Employee
    11
    0.04005097397
    Employer
    3
    0.0109229929
    Employment
    43
    0.1565628982
    Expenditures
    128
    0.4660476971
    Finance
    37
    0.1347169124
    Income
    29
    0.1055889314
    Jobs
    5
    0.01820498817
    Money
    7
    0.02548698343
    Stimulus
    2
    0.007281995267
    Tariff
    2
    0.007281995267
    Taxes
    30
    0.109229929
    Unemployment
    27
    0.0983069361

    Franklin D. Roosevelt

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1934
    Total Word Count: 2,230

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Banks
    3
    0.134529148
    Business
    2
    0.08968609865
    Debt
    3
    0.134529148
    Dollar
    1
    0.04484304933
    Economy
    3
    0.134529148
    Employment
    2
    0.08968609865
    Finance
    3
    0.134529148
    Money
    3
    0.134529148
    Taxes
    1
    0.04484304933
    Unemployment
    3
    0.134529148

    Herbert Hoover

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1929
    Total Word Count: 10,994

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Bankruptcy
    1
    0.009095870475
    Banks
    7
    0.06367109332
    Budget
    3
    0.02728761142
    Business
    10
    0.09095870475
    Debt
    3
    0.02728761142
    Dollar
    1
    0.009095870475
    Economy
    16
    0.1455339276
    Employee
    1
    0.009095870475
    Employment
    7
    0.06367109332
    Expenditures
    12
    0.1091504457
    Finance
    5
    0.04547935237
    Income
    8
    0.0727669638
    Money
    1
    0.009095870475
    Poverty
    1
    0.009095870475
    Stimulus
    1
    0.009095870475
    Tariff
    13
    0.1182463162
    Taxes
    13
    0.1182463162
    Unemployment
    3
    0.02728761142

    Calvin Coolidge

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1923
    Total Word Count: 6,706

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Budget
    4
    0.05964807635
    Business
    5
    0.07456009544
    Debt
    5
    0.07456009544
    Dollar
    5
    0.07456009544
    Economy
    8
    0.1192961527
    Employee
    4
    0.05964807635
    Employer
    1
    0.01491201909
    Employment
    3
    0.04473605726
    Expenditures
    4
    0.05964807635
    Finance
    6
    0.08947211452
    Income
    2
    0.02982403817
    Money
    3
    0.04473605726
    Tariff
    3
    0.04473605726
    Taxes
    12
    0.178944229

    Warren Harding

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1921
    Total Word Count: 5,606

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Budget
    3
    0.05351409204
    Business
    2
    0.03567606136
    Debt
    3
    0.05351409204
    Dollar
    1
    0.01783803068
    Economy
    10
    0.1783803068
    Employee
    1
    0.01783803068
    Employer
    1
    0.01783803068
    Employment
    6
    0.1070281841
    Expenditures
    1
    0.01783803068
    Finance
    5
    0.08919015341
    Money
    3
    0.05351409204
    Poverty
    1
    0.01783803068
    Tariff
    12
    0.2140563682
    Taxes
    4
    0.07135212273
    Unemployment
    0.03567606136

    Woodrow Wilson

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1913
    Total Word Count: 3,553

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Business
    9
    0.2533070645
    Economy
    2
    0.05629045877
    Employee
    1
    0.02814522938
    Employer
    1
    0.02814522938
    Employment
    1
    0.02814522938
    Money
    1
    0.02814522938

    Frequency adjusted for speech length.
    Similar variations of words were combined. For example: budget, budgets, budgetary, budgeted, and budgeting are all categorized under “budget.”

    Source: The American Presidency Project — https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/presidential-documents-archive-guidebook/annual-messages-congress-the-state-the-union

Truman is the only president to say “refugees” in his first State of the Union, and Reagan was the first president to say “terrorism” in his.

  • datascience@berkeley looked at each president’s first State of the Union address — from Woodrow Wilson to Donald J. Trump — to find out how often they mentioned these words.

    Donald J. Trump

    Party: Republican
    Year: 2018
    Total Word Count: 5,799

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Border
    6
    0.1034661148
    Crime
    6
    0.1034661148
    Drugs
    10
    0.1724435247
    Economy
    4
    0.0689774099
    Guns
    1
    0.01724435247
    Immigration
    11
    0.1896878772
    Military
    4
    0.0689774099
    Prison
    2
    0.03448870495
    Terrorism
    9
    0.1551991723

    Barack Obama

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 2010
    Total Word Count: 7,304

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Border
    2
    0.0273822563
    Drugs
    1
    0.01369112815
    Economy
    18
    0.2464403067
    Housing
    2
    0.0273822563
    Immigration
    2
    0.0273822563
    Medicaid/Medicare
    5
    0.06845564074
    Military
    2
    0.0273822563
    Terrorism
    2
    0.0273822563

    George W. Bush

    Party: Republican
    Year: 2002
    Total Word Count: 3,878

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Border
    3
    0.07735946364
    Drugs
    2
    0.05157297576
    Economy
    7
    0.1805054152
    Environment
    1
    0.02578648788
    Medicaid/Medicare
    1
    0.02578648788
    Magnificently
    1
    0.025786488
    Military
    4
    0.1031459515
    Prison
    1
    0.02578648788
    Terrorism
    34
    0.8767405879

    Bill Clinton

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1994
    Total Word Count: 7,432

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Border
    1
    0.01345532831
    Crime
    16
    0.215285253
    Drugs
    11
    0.1480086114
    Economy
    13
    0.174919268
    Environment
    4
    0.05382131324
    Guns
    7
    0.09418729817
    Housing
    1
    0.01345532831
    Medicaid/Medicare
    4
    0.05382131324
    Military
    5
    0.06727664155
    Prison
    1
    0.01345532831
    Terrorism
    1
    0.01345532831

    George Bush Sr.

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1990
    Total Word Count: 3,777

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Crime
    1
    0.02647603918
    Drugs
    5
    0.1323801959
    Economy
    4
    0.1059041567
    Environment
    7
    0.1853322743
    Housing
    1
    0.02647603918
    Immigration
    1
    0.02647603918
    Military
    6
    0.1588562351
    Prison
    1
    0.02647603918

    Ronald Reagan

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1982
    Total Word Count: 5,154

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Crime
    2
    0.0388048118
    Drugs
    1
    0.0194024059
    Economy
    20
    0.388048118
    Medicaid/Medicare
    3
    0.05820721769
    Military
    8
    0.1552192472
    Terrorism
    1
    0.0194024059

    James Carter, Jr.

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1978
    Total Word Count: 4,580

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Economy
    26
    0.5676855895
    Housing
    1
    0.02183406114
    Military
    5
    0.1091703057
    Prison
    1
    0.02183406114

    Gerald Ford

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1975
    Total Word Count: 4,126

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Economy
    18
    0.4362578769
    Environment
    4
    0.09694619486
    Military
    7
    0.169655841

    Richard Nixon

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1970
    Total Word Count: 4,457

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Crime
    9
    0.201929549
    Economy
    7
    0.1570563159
    Environment
    4
    0.08974646623
    Housing
    2
    0.04487323312
    Military
    3
    0.06730984967

    Lyndon B. Johnson

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1964
    Total Word Count: 3,168

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Border
    2
    0.06313131313
    Economy
    6
    0.1893939394
    Housing
    4
    0.1262626263
    Immigration
    1
    0.03156565657
    Military
    3
    0.0946969697

    John F. Kennedy

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1961
    Total Word Count: 5,274

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Border
    1
    0.01896094046
    Economy
    25
    0.4740235116
    Environment
    1
    0.01896094046
    Housing
    3
    0.05688282139
    Military
    5
    0.09480470231

    Dwight D. Eisenhower

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1953
    Total Word Count: 6,973

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Drugs
    1
    0.01434102969
    Economy
    31
    0.4445719203
    Environment
    1
    0.01434102969
    Housing
    2
    0.02868205937
    Immigration
    4
    0.05736411874
    Military
    12
    0.1720923562

    Harry S. Truman

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1946
    Total Word Count: 27,465

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Crime
    1
    0.003640997633
    Economy
    88
    0.3204077917
    Environment
    1
    0.003640997633
    Housing
    37
    0.1347169124
    Immigration
    1
    0.003640997633
    Military
    15
    0.0546149645
    Prison
    1
    0.003640997633
    Refugees
    2
    0.007281995267

    Franklin D. Roosevelt

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1934
    Total Word Count: 2,230

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Crime
    1
    0.04484304933
    Economy
    3
    0.134529148

    Herbert Hoover

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1929
    Total Word Count: 10,994

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Border
    1
    0.009095870475
    Crime
    4
    0.0363834819
    Economy
    16
    0.1455339276
    Housing
    1
    0.009095870475
    Immigration
    4
    0.0363834819
    Military
    1
    0.009095870475
    Prison
    7
    0.06367109332

    Calvin Coolidge

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1923
    Total Word Count: 6,706

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Crime
    2
    0.02982403817
    Drugs
    1
    0.01491201909
    Economy
    8
    0.1192961527
    Housing
    1
    0.01491201909
    Immigration
    3
    0.04473605726
    Prison
    2
    0.02982403817
    Very
    5
    0.074560095

    Warren Harding

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1921
    Total Word Count: 5,606

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Economy
    10
    0.1783803068

    Woodrow Wilson

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1913
    Total Word Count: 3,553

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Economy
    2
    0.05629045877
    Military
    1
    0.02814522938

    Frequency adjusted for speech length.
    Similar variations of words were combined. For example: immigrant, immigrants, and immigration are all categorized under “immigration.”

    Source: The American Presidency Project — https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/presidential-documents-archive-guidebook/annual-messages-congress-the-state-the-union

President Trump and President George W. Bush are the only ones to mention Guantanamo in their first State of the Union addresses.

  • datascience@berkeley looked at each president’s first State of the Union address — from Woodrow Wilson to Donald J. Trump — to find out how often they mentioned the military.

    Donald J. Trump

    Party: Republican
    Year: 2018
    Total Word Count: 5,799

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Army
    1
    0.017244352
    Battlefield
    1
    0.017244352
    Guantanamo
    2
    0.034488705
    Marines
    1
    0.017244352
    Military
    4
    0.06897741
    Missile
    1
    0.017244352
    Navy
    1
    0.017244352
    Nuclear
    6
    0.103466115
    Veterans
    9
    0.155199172
    War
    2
    0.034488705
    Weapons
    1
    0.017244352

    Barack Obama

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 2010
    Total Word Count: 7,304

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Battle
    1
    0.013691128
    Military
    2
    0.027382256
    Nuclear
    5
    0.068455641
    Troops
    4
    0.054764513
    Veterans
    1
    0.013691128
    War
    7
    0.095837897
    Weapons
    3
    0.041073384

    George W. Bush

    Party: Republican
    Year: 2002
    Total Word Count: 3,878

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Battlefield
    1
    0.025786488
    Guantanamo
    1
    0.02578648788
    Military
    4
    0.103145952
    Missile
    2
    0.051572976
    Navy
    1
    0.02578648788
    Nuclear
    3
    0.077359464
    Soldiers
    2
    0.051572976
    Troops
    3
    0.077359464
    Veterans
    1
    0.025786488
    War
    12
    0.309437855
    Weapons
    12
    0.309437855

    Bill Clinton

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1994
    Total Word Count: 7,432

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Military
    5
    0.067276642
    Missile
    1
    0.013455328
    Nuclear
    4
    0.053821313
    Troops
    1
    0.013455328
    War
    2
    0.026910657
    Weapons
    5
    0.067276642

    George Bush Sr.

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1990
    Total Word Count: 3,777

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Army
    3
    0.079428118
    Battle
    1
    0.02647603918
    Military
    6
    0.158856235
    Troops
    2
    0.052952078

    Ronald Reagan

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1982
    Total Word Count: 5,154

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Military
    8
    0.1552192472
    Nuclear
    1
    0.019402406

    James Carter, Jr.

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1978
    Total Word Count: 4,580

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Military
    5
    0.109170306
    Nuclear
    7
    0.152838428
    War
    6
    0.131004367
    Weapons
    3
    0.065502183

    Gerald Ford

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1975
    Total Word Count: 4,126

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Military
    7
    0.169655841
    Navy
    2
    0.048473097
    Nuclear
    6
    0.145419292
    War
    2
    0.048473097

    Richard Nixon

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1970
    Total Word Count: 4,457

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Battle
    1
    0.022436617
    Military
    3
    0.06730985
    War
    16
    0.358985865
    Weapons
    1
    0.02243661656

    Lyndon B. Johnson

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1964
    Total Word Count: 3,168

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Military
    3
    0.09469697
    Nuclear
    1
    0.031565657
    War
    7
    0.220959596
    Weapons
    2
    0.063131313

    John F. Kennedy

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1961
    Total Word Count: 5,274

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Military
    5
    0.094804702
    Missile
    3
    0.056882821
    Nuclear
    3
    0.056882821
    War
    6
    0.113765643
    Weapons
    2
    0.037921881

    Dwight D. Eisenhower

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1953
    Total Word Count: 6,973

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Army
    1
    0.01434103
    Military
    12
    0.172092356
    Navy
    2
    0.028682059
    Soldiers
    1
    0.01434103
    Veterans
    2
    0.028682059
    War
    5
    0.071705148
    Weapons
    1
    0.01434103

    Harry S. Truman

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1946
    Total Word Count: 27,465

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Army
    7
    0.021845986
    Battle
    1
    0.003640998
    Marines
    1
    0.003640998
    Military
    15
    0.054614965
    Navy
    16
    0.058255962
    Nazi
    4
    0.014563991
    Soldiers
    1
    0.003640998
    Troops
    2
    0.007281995
    Veterans
    36
    0.131075915
    War
    222
    0.808301475
    Weapons
    2
    0.007281995

    Franklin D. Roosevelt

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1934
    Total Word Count: 2,230

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    War
    1
    0.044843049

    Herbert Hoover

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1929
    Total Word Count: 10,994

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Army
    7
    0.063671093
    Marines
    3
    0.027287611
    Military
    1
    0.00909587
    Navy
    8
    0.072766964
    Soldiers
    2
    0.018191741
    Veterans
    9
    0.081862834
    War
    14
    0.127342187

    Calvin Coolidge

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1923
    Total Word Count: 6,706

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Army
    5
    0.074560095
    Navy
    5
    0.074560095
    Veterans
    3
    0.044736057
    War
    10
    0.149120191

    Warren Harding

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1921
    Total Word Count: 5,606

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Navy
    1
    0.017838031
    Soldiers
    1
    0.017838031
    War
    14
    0.24973243

    Woodrow Wilson

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1913
    Total Word Count: 3,553

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Military
    1
    0.028145229

    Frequency adjusted for speech length.
    Similar variations of words were combined. For example: naval and navy are both categorized as “navy.”

    Source: The American Presidency Project — https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/presidential-documents-archive-guidebook/annual-messages-congress-the-state-the-union

Words like “I”, “me”, and “us” make up a larger percentage of each address, but it varies. For example, President Ronald Reagan said “together” more than anyone else — it was 0.29 percent of his address.

  • datascience@berkeley looked at each president’s first State of the Union address — from Woodrow Wilson to Donald J. Trump — to find out how often they mentioned these words.

    Donald J. Trump

    Party: Republican
    Year: 2018
    Total Word Count: 5,799

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    I
    39
    0.6380410416
    My
    14
    0.2414209346
    Our
    104
    1.793412657
    Us
    18
    0.3103983445
    We
    137
    2.241765822
    You
    53
    0.8277289188
    Together
    13
    0.2241765822

    Barack Obama

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 2010
    Total Word Count: 7,304

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    I
    105
    1.437568456
    My
    10
    0.1369112815
    Our
    121
    1.656626506
    Us
    19
    0.2601314348
    We
    169
    2.313800657
    You
    25
    0.3422782037
    Together
    5
    0.06845564074

    George W. Bush

    Party: Republican
    Year: 2002
    Total Word Count: 3,878

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    I
    34
    0.8767405879
    My
    13
    0.3352243424
    Our
    79
    2.037132543
    Us
    6
    0.1547189273
    We
    85
    2.19185147
    You
    12
    0.3094378546
    Together
    5
    0.1289324394

    Bill Clinton

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1994
    Total Word Count: 7,432

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    I
    90
    1.210979548
    My
    14
    0.1883745963
    Our
    115
    1.547362756
    Us
    28
    0.3767491927
    We
    168
    2.260495156
    You
    68
    0.9149623251
    Together
    8
    0.1076426265

    George Bush Sr.

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1990
    Total Word Count: 3,777

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    I
    45
    1.191421763
    My
    5
    0.1323801959
    Our
    80
    2.118083135
    Us
    19
    0.5030447445
    We
    64
    1.694466508
    You
    19
    0.5030447445
    Together
    3
    0.07942811755

    Ronald Reagan

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1982
    Total Word Count: 5,154

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    I
    37
    0.7178890182
    My
    5
    0.09701202949
    Our
    74
    1.435778036
    Us
    14
    0.2716336826
    We
    110
    2.134264649
    You
    14
    0.2716336826
    Together
    15
    0.2910360885

    James Carter, Jr.

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1978
    Total Word Count: 4,580

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    I
    50
    1.091703057
    My
    4
    0.08733624454
    Our
    91
    1.986899563
    Us
    18
    0.3930131004
    We
    124
    2.707423581
    You
    13
    0.2838427948
    Together
    11
    0.2401746725

    Gerald Ford

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1975
    Total Word Count: 4,126

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    I
    64
    1.551139118
    My
    7
    0.169655841
    Our
    58
    1.405719825
    Us
    10
    0.2423654872
    We
    60
    1.454192923
    You
    8
    0.1938923897
    Together
    1
    0.02423654872

    Richard Nixon

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1970
    Total Word Count: 4,457

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    I
    43
    0.964774512
    My
    6
    0.1346196993
    Our
    77
    1.727619475
    Us
    16
    0.3589858649
    We
    94
    2.109041956
    You
    4
    0.08974646623
    Together
    2
    0.04487323312

    Lyndon B. Johnson

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1964
    Total Word Count: 3,168

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    I
    16
    0.5050505051
    My
    5
    0.1578282828
    Our
    71
    2.241161616
    Us
    5
    0.1578282828
    We
    73
    2.304292929
    You
    6
    0.1893939394
    Together
    1
    0.03156565657

    John F. Kennedy

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1961
    Total Word Count: 5,274

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    I
    39
    0.739476678
    My
    10
    0.1896094046
    Our
    126
    2.389078498
    Us
    15
    0.2844141069
    We
    60
    1.137656428
    You
    2
    0.03792188093
    Together
    1
    0.01896094046

    Dwight D. Eisenhower

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1953
    Total Word Count: 6,973

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    I
    38
    0.5449591281
    My
    4
    0.05736411874
    Our
    122
    1.749605622
    Us
    11
    0.1577513265
    We
    64
    0.9178258999
    You
    6
    0.08604617812
    Together
    3
    0.04302308906

    Harry S. Truman

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1946
    Total Word Count: 27,465

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    I
    124
    0.4514837065
    My
    13
    0.04733296923
    Our
    90
    0.327689787
    Us
    31
    0.1128709266
    We
    216
    0.7864554888
    You
    1
    0.003640997633
    Together
    7
    0.02548698343

    Franklin D. Roosevelt

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1934
    Total Word Count: 2,230

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    I
    24
    1.076233184
    My
    4
    0.1793721973
    Our
    23
    1.031390135
    Us
    1
    0.04484304933
    We
    34
    1.524663677
    You
    12
    0.5381165919
    Together
    1
    0.04484304933

    Herbert Hoover

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1929
    Total Word Count: 10,994

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    I
    57
    0.5184646171
    My
    4
    0.0363834819
    Our
    81
    0.7367655085
    Us
    5
    0.04547935237
    We
    59
    0.536656358
    Together
    3
    0.02728761142

    Calvin Coolidge

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1923
    Total Word Count: 6,706

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    I
    31
    0.4622725917
    My
    3
    0.04473605726
    Our
    73
    1.088577393
    Us
    2
    0.02982403817
    We
    49
    0.7306889353
    You
    1
    0.01491201909
    Together
    1
    0.01491201909

    Warren Harding

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1921
    Total Word Count: 5,606

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    I
    34
    0.6064930432
    My
    3
    0.05351409204
    Our
    71
    1.266500178
    Us
    7
    0.1248662148
    We
    71
    1.266500178
    You
    13
    0.2318943989
    Together
    1
    0.01783803068

    Woodrow Wilson

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1913
    Total Word Count: 3,553

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    I
    39
    1.097663946
    My
    7
    0.1970166057
    Our
    42
    1.182099634
    Us
    7
    0.1970166057
    We
    41
    1.153954405
    You
    10
    0.2814522938
    Together
    1
    0.02814522938

    Frequency adjusted for speech length.
    Similar variations of words were combined. For example: our, ours, and ourselves are all categorized under “our.”

    Source: The American Presidency Project — https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/presidential-documents-archive-guidebook/annual-messages-congress-the-state-the-union

President Trump said “very” almost twice as frequently as any other president in their first State of the Union address, while President Nixon said “great” more than anyone else.

  • datascience@berkeley looked at each president’s first State of the Union address — from Woodrow Wilson to Donald J. Trump — to find out how often they mentioned these words.

    Donald J. Trump

    Party: Republican
    Year: 2018
    Total Word Count: 5,799

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Best
    3
    0.051733057
    Big
    2
    0.034488705
    Great
    28
    0.482841869
    Highest
    1
    0.017244352
    Many
    9
    0.155199172
    Most
    6
    0.103466115
    Really
    1
    0.017244352
    Very
    24
    0.413864459

    Barack Obama

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 2010
    Total Word Count: 7,304

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Best
    3
    0.041073384
    Big
    9
    0.123220153
    Great
    6
    0.082146769
    Large
    6
    0.082146769
    Many
    13
    0.177984666
    Most
    10
    0.136911281
    Very
    2
    0.027382256

    George W. Bush

    Party: Republican
    Year: 2002
    Total Word Count: 3,878

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Best
    6
    0.154718927
    Big
    1
    0.025786488
    Great
    10
    0.257864879
    Highest
    1
    0.025786488
    Large
    4
    0.103145952
    Magnificently
    1
    0.025786488
    Many
    5
    0.128932439
    Most
    5
    0.128932439
    Very
    1
    0.025786488

    Bill Clinton

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1994
    Total Word Count: 7,432

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Best
    9
    0.121097955
    Big
    2
    0.026910657
    Great
    3
    0.040365985
    Highest
    1
    0.013455328
    Many
    14
    0.188374596
    Most
    12
    0.16146394
    Large
    2
    0.026910657
    Really
    3
    0.040365985
    Very
    4
    0.053821313

    George Bush Sr.

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1990
    Total Word Count: 3,777

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Best
    1
    0.026476039
    Great
    9
    0.238284353
    Many
    4
    0.105904157
    Most
    5
    0.132380196
    Really
    1
    0.026476039
    Very
    7
    0.185332274

    Ronald Reagan

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1982
    Total Word Count: 5,154

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Best
    2
    0.038804812
    Big
    2
    0.038804812
    Great
    1
    0.019402406
    Large
    7
    0.135816841
    Many
    5
    0.097012029
    Most
    2
    0.038804812
    Really
    1
    0.019402406
    Very
    2
    0.038804812

    James Carter, Jr.

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1978
    Total Word Count: 4,580

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Best
    10
    0.218340611
    Great
    12
    0.262008734
    Highest
    1
    0.021834061
    Many
    2
    0.043668122
    Most
    3
    0.065502183
    Really
    1
    0.021834061
    Large
    1
    0.021834061
    Very
    6
    0.131004367

    Gerald Ford

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1975
    Total Word Count: 4,126

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Best
    2
    0.048473097
    Great
    7
    0.169655841
    Huge
    1
    0.024236549
    Large
    1
    0.024236549
    Many
    8
    0.19389239
    Most
    8
    0.19389239
    Very
    5
    0.121182744

    Richard Nixon

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1970
    Total Word Count: 4,457

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Best
    5
    0.112183083
    Big
    1
    0.022436617
    Great
    25
    0.560915414
    Highest
    1
    0.022436617
    Many
    5
    0.112183083
    Large
    1
    Most
    7
    0.157056316
    Very
    1
    0.022436617

    Lyndon B. Johnson

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1964
    Total Word Count: 3,168

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Best
    2
    0.063131313
    Great
    2
    0.063131313
    Highest
    1
    0.031565657
    Large
    1
    0.031565657
    Many
    3
    0.09469697
    Most
    4
    0.126262626
    Really
    1
    0.031565657
    Very
    1
    0.031565657

    John F. Kennedy

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1961
    Total Word Count: 5,274

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Best
    2
    0.037921881
    Great
    11
    0.208570345
    Huge
    2
    0.037921881
    Large
    4
    0.075843762
    Many
    5
    0.094804702
    Most
    8
    0.151687524
    Really
    1
    0.01896094

    Dwight D. Eisenhower

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1953
    Total Word Count: 6,973

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Best
    8
    0.114728237
    Big
    1
    0.01434103
    Great
    20
    0.286820594
    Huge
    1
    0.01434103
    Large
    5
    0.071705148
    Many
    6
    0.086046178
    Most
    5
    0.071705148
    Very
    1
    0.01434103

    Harry S. Truman

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1946
    Total Word Count: 27,465

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Best
    12
    0.043691972
    Big
    2
    0.007281995
    Great
    54
    0.196613872
    Huge
    1
    0.003640998
    Large
    43
    0.156562898
    Many
    39
    0.141998908
    Most
    22
    0.080101948
    Very
    12
    0.043691972

    Franklin D. Roosevelt

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1934
    Total Word Count: 2,230

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Great
    9
    0.403587444
    Large
    2
    0.089686099
    Many
    9
    0.403587444
    Most
    1
    0.044843049

    Herbert Hoover

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1929
    Total Word Count: 10,994

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Best
    1
    0.00909587
    Great
    18
    0.163725669
    Highest
    1
    0.00909587
    Huge
    1
    0.00909587
    Large
    16
    0.145533928
    Many
    15
    0.136438057
    Most
    26
    0.236492632
    Very
    5
    0.045479352

    Calvin Coolidge

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1923
    Total Word Count: 6,706

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Best
    6
    0.089472115
    Great
    28
    0.417536534
    Highest
    1
    0.014912019
    Large
    16
    0.238592305
    Many
    5
    0.074560095
    Most
    9
    0.134208172
    Very
    5
    0.074560095

    Warren Harding

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1921
    Total Word Count: 5,606

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Best
    2
    0.035676061
    Big
    1
    0.017838031
    Great
    13
    0.231894399
    Large
    15
    0.26757046
    Many
    7
    0.124866215
    Most
    8
    0.142704245
    Really
    2
    0.035676061
    Very
    14
    0.24973243

    Woodrow Wilson

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1913
    Total Word Count: 3,553

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Best
    2
    0.056290459
    Great
    6
    0.168871376
    Many
    6
    0.168871376
    Large
    2
    0.056290459
    Most
    2
    0.056290459

    Frequency adjusted for speech length.
    Similar variations of words were combined. For example: great, greater, greatly, and greatest are all categorized under “great–.” Largely, larger, and largest are all categorized under “large–.”

    Source: The American Presidency Project — https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/presidential-documents-archive-guidebook/annual-messages-congress-the-state-the-union

How often is the rest of the world mentioned in this early-term address? Countries like Libya and Palestine have only ever been mentioned once, while presidents have said “Europe” 54 times in total.

  • datascience@berkeley looked at each president’s first State of the Union address — from Woodrow Wilson to Donald J. Trump — to find out how often they mentioned these words.

    Donald J. Trump

    Party: Republican
    Year: 2018
    Total Word Count: 5,799

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Afghanistan
    2
    0.034488705
    Africa
    1
    0.017244352
    Asia
    3
    0.051733057
    China
    3
    0.051733057
    Cuba
    1
    0.017244352
    Iran
    3
    0.051733057
    Iraq
    1
    0.017244352
    Korea
    8
    0.06897741
    Mexico
    2
    0.034488705
    Russia
    1
    0.017244352

    Barack Obama

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 2010
    Total Word Count: 7,304

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Afghanistan
    5
    0.068455641
    Asia
    2
    0.027382256
    Britain
    1
    0.013691128
    China
    2
    0.027382256
    Colombia
    1
    0.013691128
    Europe
    1
    0.013691128
    Germany
    1
    0.013691128
    Haiti
    2
    0.027382256
    India
    1
    0.013691128
    Iran
    3
    0.041073384
    Iraq
    5
    0.068455641
    Korea
    2
    0.027382256
    Russia
    1
    0.013691128

    George W. Bush

    Party: Republican
    Year: 2002
    Total Word Count: 3,878

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Afghanistan
    15
    0.386797318
    Africa
    2
    0.051572976
    Asia
    1
    0.025786488
    China
    1
    0.025786488
    Europe
    1
    0.025786488
    India
    1
    0.025786488
    Iran
    2
    0.051572976
    Iraq
    2
    0.051572976
    Korea
    1
    0.025786488
    Pakistan
    1
    0.025786488
    Russia
    1
    0.025786488

    Bill Clinton

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1994
    Total Word Count: 7,432

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Africa
    1
    0.013455328
    Asia
    1
    0.013455328
    China
    1
    0.013455328
    Europe
    5
    0.067276642
    Haiti
    1
    0.013455328
    Korea
    1
    0.013455328
    Nafta
    3
    0.040365985
    Nato
    2
    0.026910657
    Russia
    7
    0.094187298

    George Bush Sr.

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1990
    Total Word Count: 3,777

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Africa
    1
    0.026476039
    Europe
    10
    0.264760392
    Germancy
    2
    0.052952078
    Nato
    1
    0.026476039

    Ronald Reagan

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1982
    Total Word Count: 5,154

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Afghanistan
    1
    0.019402406
    Asia
    1
    0.019402406
    Cuba
    1
    0.019402406
    Europe
    2
    0.038804812
    Libya
    1
    0.019402406

    James Carter, Jr.

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1978
    Total Word Count: 4,580

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Africa
    1
    0.021834061
    Asia
    1
    0.021834061
    Britain
    1
    0.021834061
    Europe
    2
    0.043668122
    India
    1
    0.021834061
    Japan
    1
    0.021834061

    Gerald Ford

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1975
    Total Word Count: 4,126

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Asia
    1
    0.024236549
    China
    1
    0.024236549
    Europe
    2
    0.048473097
    Germany
    1
    0.024236549
    Japan
    2
    0.048473097
    Korea
    1
    0.024236549
    Vietnam
    1
    0.024236549

    Richard Nixon

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1970
    Total Word Count: 4,457

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Africa
    1
    0.022436617
    Asia
    2
    0.044873233
    China
    1
    0.022436617
    Europe
    2
    0.044873233
    Japan
    2
    0.044873233
    Korea
    1
    0.022436617
    Vietnam
    3
    0.06730985

    Lyndon B. Johnson

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1964
    Total Word Count: 3,168

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Cuba
    2
    0.063131313
    Germany
    1
    0.031565657
    Korea
    1
    0.031565657

    John F. Kennedy

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1961
    Total Word Count: 5,274

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Africa
    1
    0.01896094
    Asia
    2
    0.037921881
    China
    2
    0.037921881
    Cuba
    4
    0.075843762
    Europe
    2
    0.037921881
    India
    1
    0.01896094
    Nato
    2
    0.037921881

    Dwight D. Eisenhower

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1953
    Total Word Count: 6,973

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Asia
    1
    0.01434103
    China
    6
    0.086046178
    Europe
    11
    0.157751327
    France
    1
    0.01434103
    Germany
    1
    0.01434103
    India
    1
    0.01434103
    Korea
    9
    0.129069267
    Russia
    2
    0.028682059

    Harry S. Truman

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1946
    Total Word Count: 27,465

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Africa
    1
    0.003640998
    Asia
    1
    0.003640998
    Britain
    6
    0.021845986
    China
    4
    0.014563991
    Europe
    12
    0.043691972
    Fascism
    3
    0.010922993
    France
    2
    0.007281995
    Germany
    13
    0.047332969
    Japan
    15
    0.054614965
    Korea
    2
    0.007281995
    Mexico
    2
    0.007281995
    Palestine
    1
    0.003640998
    Russia
    4
    0.014563991

    Franklin D. Roosevelt

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1934
    Total Word Count: 2,230

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Europe
    1
    0.044843049

    Herbert Hoover

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1929
    Total Word Count: 10,994

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Britain
    3
    0.027287611
    China
    2
    0.018191741
    Cuba
    1
    0.00909587
    France
    2
    0.018191741
    Germany
    3
    0.027287611
    Haiti
    3
    0.027287611
    Japan
    1
    0.00909587
    Mexico
    6
    0.054575223
    Russia
    1
    0.00909587

    Calvin Coolidge

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1923
    Total Word Count: 6,706

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Britain
    1
    0.014912019
    Europe
    1
    0.014912019
    France
    1
    0.014912019
    Germany
    2
    0.029824038
    Mexico
    1
    0.014912019
    Russia
    6
    0.089472115

    Warren Harding

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1921
    Total Word Count: 5,606

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Europe
    1
    0.017838031
    Russia
    6
    0.107028184

    Woodrow Wilson

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1913
    Total Word Count: 3,553

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Europe
    1
    0.028145229
    Britain
    1
    0.028145229
    Mexico
    6
    0.168871376

    Frequency adjusted for speech length.
    Similar variations of words were combined. For example: China, China’s, and Chinese are all categorized under “China.”

    Source: The American Presidency Project — https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/presidential-documents-archive-guidebook/annual-messages-congress-the-state-the-union

Overall, education isn’t talked about as frequently. Of the words listed, President Roosevelt only said “education” once, and Wilson mentioned “schools” just one time as well.

  • datascience@berkeley looked at each president’s first State of the Union address — from Woodrow Wilson to Donald J. Trump — to find out how often they mentioned these words.

    Donald J. Trump

    Party: Republican
    Year: 2018
    Total Word Count: 5,799

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    College
    1
    0.01724435247
    Education
    2
    0.03448870495
    Schools
    3
    0.01724435247
    Students
    2
    0.03448870495

    Barack Obama

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 2010
    Total Word Count: 7,304

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    College
    8
    0.1095290252
    Education
    5
    0.06845564074
    Schools
    6
    0.08214676889
    Students
    5
    0.06845564074
    Teachers
    2
    0.0273822563

    George W. Bush

    Party: Republican
    Year: 2002
    Total Word Count: 3,878

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    College
    1
    0.025786488
    Education
    2
    0.05157297576
    Schools
    4
    0.1031459515
    Teachers
    4
    0.1031459515

    Bill Clinton

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1994
    Total Word Count: 7,432

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Academic
    1
    0.01345532831
    College
    2
    0.02691065662
    Education
    5
    0.06727664155
    Schools
    12
    0.1614639397
    Students
    1
    0.01345532831
    Teachers
    2
    0.02691065662

    George Bush Sr.

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1990
    Total Word Count: 3,777

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Education
    5
    0.1323801959
    Schools
    9
    0.2382843527
    Students
    2
    0.05295207837
    Teachers
    2
    0.05295207837

    Ronald Reagan

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1982
    Total Word Count: 5,154

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Education
    3
    0.05820721769
    Schools
    2
    0.0388048118

    James Carter, Jr.

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1978
    Total Word Count: 4,580

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Education
    3
    0.06550218341
    Illiteracy
    1
    0.02183406114
    Schools
    1
    0.02183406114

    Richard Nixon

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1970
    Total Word Count: 4,457

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Education
    2
    0.04487323312

    Lyndon B. Johnson

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1964
    Total Word Count: 3,168

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Education
    4
    0.1262626263
    Schools
    6
    0.1893939394
    Teachers
    1
    0.03156565657

    John F. Kennedy

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1961
    Total Word Count: 5,274

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    College
    4
    0.07584376185
    Education
    2
    0.03792188093
    Illiteracy
    1
    0.01896094046
    Schools
    4
    0.07584376185
    Students
    1
    0.01896094046
    Teachers
    2
    0.03792188093

    Dwight D. Eisenhower

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1953
    Total Word Count: 6,973

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Education
    1
    0.01434102969
    Schools
    7
    0.1003872078

    Harry S. Truman

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1946
    Total Word Count: 27,465

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    College
    3
    0.0109229929
    Education
    15
    0.0546149645
    Schools
    14
    0.05097396687
    Students
    1
    0.003640997633

    Franklin D. Roosevelt

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1934
    Total Word Count: 2,230

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Education
    1
    0.04484304933

    Herbert Hoover

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1929
    Total Word Count: 10,994

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Education
    6
    0.05457522285
    Illiteracy
    1
    0.009095870475
    Schools
    1
    0.009095870475

    Calvin Coolidge

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1923
    Total Word Count: 6,706

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Education
    5
    0.07456009544
    Illiteracy
    1
    0.01491201909
    Schools
    1
    0.01491201909
    Students
    1
    0.01491201909

    Warren Harding

    Party: Republican
    Year: 1921
    Total Word Count: 5,606

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Education
    1
    0.01783803068
    Illiteracy
    1
    0.01783803068
    Schools
    2
    0.03567606136

    Woodrow Wilson

    Party: Democrat
    Year: 1913
    Total Word Count: 3,553

    WordFrequencyPercentage of Speech
    Schools
    1
    0.02814522938

    Frequency adjusted for speech length.
    Similar variations of words were combined. For example: college and colleges are both categorized under “college.”

    Source: The American Presidency Project — https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/presidential-documents-archive-guidebook/annual-messages-congress-the-state-the-union

View methodology.

Citation for this content: datascience@berkeley, the online masters in data science from UC Berkeley