Politickin' With John Brown: The Most Memorable State of the Union Addresses

In honor of Obama's first, our political correspondent takes a look back at other noteworthy Presidential speeches to the nation.

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In his first State Of The Union address, President Obama shied away from any sensationalism and sought to reach all those so-called centrists who get a warm-fuzzy feeling when they hear the word "bipartisan". It's chess not checkers. Yeah he ran down some policy proposals but still had his eyes on elections. The man is not trying to see a Massachusetts domino effect and was spitting his middle-road game to moderate Matthew at home. We'll see if it works.

While Mr. 44 played it safe with his above-the-fray demeanor, others have used the annual address to declare bold new policies or deliver reckless threats. In its 220 years of existence, there's been a whole lot of rhetoric. But here's a look back at some of the most significant State of the Union addresses.

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James Monroe, 1823
• The country's fifth Prez was the first to use the address to call out world rivals. Fearing that Russia and Spain would challenge America's plans to dominate the Western Hemisphere, Monroe proposed his imperialist compromise, humbly called the Monroe Doctrine. Uncle Sam would turn a blind eye to European exploitation of other countries if Europe would have the decency to ignore America's plans for pillaging. Britain cosigned and the west was "won."

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Abraham Lincoln, 1862
• Exactly three years and one day after the abolitionist John Brown was executed, Honest Abe kept it real during his SOTU. Delivering his speech in the midst of a civil war, Lincoln declared: "In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free...a way which, if followed, the world will forever applaud." Clap for him.

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Grover Cleveland, 1888
• On his way out of office, Cleveland used his final address to take an uncharacteristically harsh shot at big business. Sensing the growth of monetary monarchs, the New Jersey native warned: "Corporations, which should be the carefully restrained creatures of the law and the servants of the people, are fast becoming the people's masters." Apparently it resonated with the people. Cleveland was elected again five years later - the only President to ever serve two non-consecutive terms.

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BONUS: Dubya's Real SOTU Speech
• An internets classic.

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