Bush's first State of the Union address outlined the post-9/11 war on terrorism and introduced the 'Axis of Evil' framing for US foreign policy.
Key Facts
- Date and time
- January 29, 2002, 9:00 p.m. EST
- Speaker
- President George W. Bush (43rd President)
- Congress addressed
- 107th United States Congress
- Bush's speech order
- Second speech to a joint session; first State of the Union
- House Speaker presiding
- Dennis Hastert
- Primary focus
- September 11 aftermath, war on terrorism, and US economy
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, occurring just four months prior, had prompted a sweeping US military response in Afghanistan, the removal of the Taliban regime, and a broader declaration of a global war on terrorism, creating urgent demand for presidential accountability to Congress.
On January 29, 2002, President George W. Bush delivered his first State of the Union address to the 107th Congress, reporting on progress in the war on terrorism, the defeat of the Taliban in Afghanistan, and outlining plans to counter further terrorist threats while also addressing domestic economic concerns following a recession.
The address reinforced bipartisan support for Bush's post-9/11 policies and set the tone for an assertive US foreign policy doctrine. It established public and legislative consensus around continued military engagement and counter-terrorism efforts that would define the early years of the Bush presidency.