1
This address before a joint session of Congress is not considered an official “State of the
Union” message, although President Bush followed the State of the Union tradition of having a
cabinet member stay home.
2
This address before a joint session of Congress is not considered an official “State of the
Union” message, although President Clinton followed the State of the Union tradition of having
a cabinet member stay home.
Cabinet members who did not attend the State of the Union Address (since 1984)
January 28, 2008
Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne
January 23, 2007
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales
January 31, 2006
Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson
February 2, 2005 -
Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans
January 20, 2004 -
Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans
January 28, 2003
-
Attorney General John Ashcroft
January 29, 2002
-
Interior Secretary Gale Norton
February 27, 2001
1
- Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi
January 27, 2000
-
Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson
January 19, 1999
-
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Andrew W. Cuomo
January 27, 1998
-
Commerce Secretary Bill Daley
February 4, 1997
-
Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman
January 30, 1996
-
Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala
January 24, 1995
-
Transportation Secretary Federico Pena
January 25, 1994
-
Agriculture Secretary Mike Epsy
February 17, 1993
2
- Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt
January 28, 1992
-
Secretary of Agriculture Ed Madigan
January 29, 1991
-
Interior Secretary Manuel Lujan
January 31, 1990
-
Veterans Affairs Secretary Edward J. Derwinski
