List of Longest US President Speech to Congress; Check Names and Duration

The Presidential addresses to joint sessions of Congress, including the annual State of the Union (SOTU) addresses, have played an important role in shaping national discourse. These speeches serve as a platform for the President to outline their administration's policies, legislative priorities, and vision for the country. Over the years, the length of these addresses has varied significantly which ranges from brief remarks to extensive, policy-heavy speeches. Some presidents have chosen to deliver succinct speeches, focusing on key issues with brevity, while others have opted for detailed and comprehensive addresses, covering a wide range of topics such as the economy, national security, healthcare, education, and foreign policy. The duration of these speeches often reflects the complexity of the issues discussed, the political climate at the time, and the personal speaking style of the president.

List of Longest US President Speech to Congress

Here is a list of some of the longest presidential speeches delivered to Congress, highlighting the president's name, the date of the address, and the duration of each speech. 

Note: The durations are formatted in hours, minutes, and seconds. (Source: The American Presidency Project)

The data above indicates that President Donald J. Trump's address on March 4, 2025, holds the record for the longest speech delivered to a joint session of Congress, lasting approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes. Prior to this, President William J. Clinton's State of the Union address on January 27, 2000, was the longest, with a duration of 1 hour, 28 minutes, and 49 seconds. 

The length of these addresses often reflects the president's desire to comprehensively outline their administration's achievements, legislative agendas, and visions for the nation's future. While longer speeches allow for detailed discussions on various policy areas, they also require maintaining the audience's engagement over extended periods.

It's noteworthy that while some presidents have delivered lengthy spoken addresses, others have opted for written messages. For instance, President Jimmy Carter's 1981 written message contained 33,667 words, making it one of the longest written communications to Congress.

In contrast, shorter addresses, such as President Richard Nixon's 1972 State of the Union address, which lasted approximately 28 minutes and 55 seconds, demonstrate a more concise approach to communicating with Congress and the nation. The evolution in the length and delivery of these speeches reflects changes in communication styles, technological advancements, and the complexities of the issues addressed by the presidents over time.