Speaker Dennis Hastert invited President Kerry to address a joint-session of Congress on January 31, 2006. The stakes were high: Kerry would be unveiling a massive reform of the nation's mission in Iraq, he would be reflecting on Hurricane Katrina and Ann Williams' successful confirmation as the first African-American and the first female Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He would also outline a domestic agenda, touching on hopes for reform of illegal immigration and gun control, and talking about the need for long-lasting reform of America's public schools. After the speech it would become clear that the President's mission would be held hostage by an election year and the lack of political capital after spending it all to bring troops home from Iraq. Still, at the time, the President was optimistic about getting his agenda through in 2006. It was time to get to work, and that was the message he wanted to convey.
The overwhelming focus was on Iraq and it was important that the President make sure everyone understood that he was the Commander-in-Chief, that this timetable was going to happen, and he had the complete authority to make it happen. "I was elected to this office to lead this nation through two wars, and the buck stops with the Commander-in-Chief," Kerry would say in the address. It was tough language, but Kerry didn't want to speak in vague terms, he wanted to be up-front and honest with the American people - they deserved it. This was an important moment in the nation's history and if the president wasn't completely honest with them it could backfire.
There were rumors engulfing Washington that Iraq would be the subject of Kerry's address and so Senator John McCain of Arizona, a close friend of Kerry's, was chosen to deliver the Republican's response to the State of the Union. Kerry wasn't nervous, though he had a lot of respect for McCain, it was obvious that he wasn't where the majority of Americans were on the issue and he fully intended to have the people on his side of the argument. It was time to end the mission in Iraq, and he couldn't envision a scenario where Kerry had broad public opposition, especially with how thorough the plan was. In fact, the preparations for the draw downs had already begun in Iraq and it was time to get ready for the full scale withdrawals.
It wasn't until the President was on his way to the Capitol Building that the words in the address were finalized and sent to the teleprompter. Kerry's speechwriters had been given an incredible task and one that had completely engulfed them for weeks. It was clear that the 2006 State of the Union would be like no other - Kerry had made the unlikely decision to fold the timetable into the State of the Union instead of simply issuing a separate address to the American people from the Oval Office or East Room - those seemed like more conventional opportunities than the State of the Union, but the president was clear that this mission would define 2006 and therefore it needed to be made public in the State of the Union.
"Mr. Speaker: the President of the United States!" The words still sent chills up his spine as he grinned and waved to the mass of Congressmen and Senators before him. Also in attendance were members of Kerry's cabinet, all of them expect for the Secretary of Health and Human Services: Jeanne Shaheen. Shaheen was watching the address from the Oval Office this year - she was the designated survivor who would become President in the event that the entire U.S. Capitol blew up and killed everyone else in the Presidential Line of Succession. Shaheen would be missed, but that was the last thing on Kerry's mind as he wandered through the Senators and Congressmen anxiously hoping to shake his hand and grab him for a "Good luck!". Ted Kennedy was one of the first hands that the president shook, followed by others like Secretary Joe Biden, General Casey, and numerous other influential Senators. Finally, the president was at the podium where he waved and turned to shake the hands of Vice President Edwards and Speaker Hastert - it was a moment that Kerry looked forward to as he turned and saw the sea of elected officials before him.
The speech began smoothly. Kerry reflected on 2005 and received a standing ovation when he mentioned the nomination of Ann Williams as Chief Justice. His choice had been groundbreaking and he was reaping the political benefits now as the entire U.S. Congress was applauding his choice for Chief Justice - she was a woman who had broken barriers and inspired millions of Americans. He was interrupted for applause when he talked about the strength of the people of New Orleans, promising to move the nation in the right direction and to continue the efforts to rebuild the gulf. Furthermore, he told the country that there was much to learn from the disaster that had rocked the Gulf Coast.
Then, Kerry drew a deep breath as he prepared for the next segment.
"The time has come to realize that democracy will always spread, that no matter how hard the terrorists will try, the people of the world will be free. I cannot stand here and pretend that bringing democracy to a nation is something that will take the United States decades. The people of Iraq have held two free elections this year, and that is something to be proud of. But the truth is that those elections, despite U.S. supervision, were ultimately led and supported by the Iraqi people. Tonight, I tell the American people and the people of Iraq about the next step, about training the soldiers and police force in Iraq to handle their own domestic security. That is the future of the mission in Iraq. That is the future that we have fought for, and the time has arrived. The nation of Iraq is stable and U.S. assistance will draw to a slow end..." The section immediately drew attention from everyone in the room. Was the President talking about withdrawal?
Soon enough the question was answered. The president detailed his plan, the timetable that had been discussed and debated since early in 2005. It was time for the future of the War in Iraq to change and he talked about that future - a future when the people of Iraq had complete control of their nation and that the nation truly joined the ranks of the free. Kerry was committed to the mission and ready to fight for the timetable. Democrats were ecstatic, but somewhat nervous, but the Republicans were divided. There were some who were happy to see the direction Kerry was taking, and others were furious that the president would end the mission in Iraq and do it without seeking Congressional support! It was going to define the year of 2006.
By the end of his address, the president had been interrupted for applause 70 times, exactly. He had pushed the issue of Iraq while highlighting hopes for education reform, gun control, and reigning in illegal immigration. There was so much at stake as the year would progress and Kerry was committed to making the year successful. John McCain, however, was harsh. He called the President's plan irresponsible and hit Kerry hard on the issue of Iraq. That night, former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld was incredibly critical of Kerry's Administration and handling of Iraq, especially the timetable. Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman said that John McCain's response to the State of the Union was closer to his feelings on Iraq than President Kerry's actual address. The moderate Senator, Evan Bayh, was also somewhat cautious to endorse Kerry's message. While he supported the timetable, he questioned whether it had been rushed.
In 2006, there would be a lot that would take place, and the President's State of the Union could not have predicted it all. In the end, his address was strong and tough. Kerry was inspirational to those in Iraq who hoped for an end to the war. There was a lot at stake and it was necessary for Kerry to gather support for his agenda, domestic and foreign. It came as a great relief when former President Bush said he would not release a statement on Kerry's timetable for Iraq - with the war's inventor silent the chance for Republican support of the measure grew. Still, Kerry didn't plan to beg for Congress's support anyways.