from conference chair and washington representative cathy mcmorris romers and through the night, join -- cathy mcmorris rodgers and through the night, join the >> good evening. tonight president obama will fulfill one of his obligations as outlined in article two comments section three. the president gives to congress the state of the union. the white house has been working on and has gone through a number of drafts, including last-minute edits. there told his remarks before the joint session of congress will last about an hour. the theme is "opportunities for all." he will travel a short 16 blocks to capitol hill. , wescene inside the capital will set the stage as members of

congress, the president's cabinet, and justices gather. of course, we want to hear from you as part of our state of the unit coverage with your calls, comments, and tweets. >what issues do want the president and congress to address this year? we have john lovett. he was a former speech writer for president barack obama. thank you for being with us. >> good to be here good as you put together -- good to be here. t> as you put together -- put i in the president's voice. when ie was a meeting was there with the chief staff writer and communications advisers. it is a pretty big and open meeting. it is the job about white house speech writer to turn those

policies into speeches. this state of the union is one of the challenging speeches. and that being a place in which you let out a lot of different alice's over different areas. it has been criticized as a laundry list. it is a challenging job to organize all of this. there's some rhetoric between the nuts and bolts proposal. interior set up by denis mcdonough is to go beyond the white house staff. that ministration officials put it forward for some fresh eyes. spoke to members of congress. is that different from past years question mark -- past years? >> i think that this president material requested from many different sources to read and review. previouspeech,

presidents, experts, people who have interesting points of view, there is a desire to reach outside and find an unexpected point of view. it is always in some sense of how you figure out the right words to use. you want to look beyond the same group of people in the room here . >> tell us about the chief writer what he brings to the speechwriting shop. >> cody is a brilliant guy. what makes them so popular in the white house and what makes him a great speechwriter is he is an incredibly decent person. a generous and kind and caring person. that is reflected in a lot of the speeches he did before becoming chief speechwriter. one of the speeches he is involved in is the speech the president game after that he gave after the shooting in tucson. he gave a lot of artful,

heartful,speeches -- emotional senses. he gives a grounded sense of how to talk about policy. he does not appreciate wonky talk. he does not respond to it. that is reflected. we have been receding -- >> we have been receiving a lot of excerpts. there are some specific examples. >> yeah. that attempts to be what the state of the union is. historically, it is not the speeches and with to go back and say that was a beautiful phrase. it was a magnificent, soaring open. it tends to be a pretty solid look at the president was he a specific priorities. begins withwriter the state of the unit by china figure how this year will be different. it will be the year where we do

not do a laundry list of policies. 30 minutes at most. , more and morely ends up being part of the speech. that is ultimately necessary. the truth is, this is one of those rare moments where huge chunk of the country pays attention directly to what the president has to say. what happens is the president gives the state of the union. reporters in the media that covers these things talk about what is new to them and what they have not heard before. people watching at home who are not keeping track of everything that, itdent says, for is a fresh look for the president's goals for the upcoming years. i think it helps set the agenda. mark inident made his politics with his speech to the

nation at the 2004 democratic convention in boston good he has written a number of bestsellers. he knows what it takes to write a good speech. how involved is he in this process? involved.ery those of us who have been speech writers at this white house refer to him as the best speechwriter on the team. he is heavily involved in every draft. he makes very detailed notes and comments. by the end, he has written a great deal of it himself. a piece of paper is filled with notes. he is deeply involved in this process. as you get closer and more involved, he takes a great deal of pride as a writer and a giver of speeches. it is a big part of what rot hill international tension. it is a big art of the way he

conducts himself as president. he puts a narrative forward. that is reflected in the speech he tends to gives. >> it became the state of the union when franklin roosevelt gave the shortest speech. george washington, the first president read the -- along the speech was president bill clinton. how long will the president speech be tonight? >> i think an hour. that is his standard. they have gotten longer. it used to be somewhere between 30-45 minutes. it has gotten longer and longer. in our is what we tend to respect -- expect. andou exceeded -- succeeded getting the speech cut down, and our -- an hour. best.y your

keep the word count down. there are important point to want to make. you're also dealing with the president himself and what he wants to say. the cabin is weighing in. you try to keep this down -- the cabinet is weighing in. you're trying to keep this down. help the speechwriter punch it here, but in applause looking for ways to cut the speech down. is happening at the white house right now with about 50 minutes before the president enters the house of representatives and is welcomed with members of congress and begins his remarks? >> not a lot. the president prepares the day before the speech. at this point in his law -- it is locked.

there bring to get now i'm ready to hand it out to members of congress as they entered the chamber. -- they are ready to print it out and handed out to members of congress as they entered the chamber. it is a waiting game. all of the work is done. >> we are reminded of what happened in 1990 four when bill clinton began in his state of the union address, but previous years address were loaded onto the teleprompter. he began remarks basically from memory before they could figure out what the issue was up with the right speech into the teleprompter. where are the speechwriter's in connection to the oval office? it is one floor down from the oval office. the others have it in the old executive office. the speech is ultimately finished in the speechwriter's office. scenario asghtmare

a speechwriter whether or not you are responsible, you are responsible. i can only imagine what the speechwriters were feeling and he realized that the wrong speech had been loaded. >> who decides what policies are in the speech? the president? cabinet staff? >> the president sets the agenda and decides what goes and what doesn't. the actual conversation involves everyone. it involves the cabinet, resident, senior white house team. it involves a whole team to figure out what the actual agenda will be and what should focus in the speech. the state of the union is one of the most challenging in part because it will cover such right issues. it is not just a means of determining how you will convey the policy of this white house. it is a way for the white house to terminate what policies will be. the process of marrying -- to

determine what policies there will be. the process of narrowing it down. these debates that need to be -- part of what makes the state of the union address a challenge for the speechwriter is it ends up being a conversation in two directions. the policies themselves will determine the speech, but in many ways, it we need to focus the speech. it will help determine the focus of the administration will take in and help clarify those conversations. >> having worked on previous state of the union speeches, when the work is done, the president delivers his remarks. where will you be? >> i'm not sure. having finished a state of the union successfully, it will go

and be in the chambers is only fair. the speechwriter has nothing to do but watch. it will go over there with the president. they have just completed this task. >> tomorrow the president will travel to maryland and then off to pittsburgh, pennsylvania. he will focus on one of the themes he will discuss tonight. retirement benefits for those who do not have it through their current employer. he will then go to milwaukee and nashville. of thesehe purpose post-state of the union trips? >> the state of the union is a reset moment for every president. the goal is to make that moment last and to find a way to emphasize the speech and to keep up the momentum that you have generated.

the state of the union is a great chance to do -- let the people know what you stand for and what you will be fighting for the years to come. there is a lot of pomp and circumstance. it is in many ways disconnected from the world. the members of congress rise to their feet. it is an old-fashioned and big ceremony. we wanted to the policies that you talk about in that environment and you want to make them feel more real. and the people that will be affected. find a way to emphasize the terms of the debate in a much more human contact and that is going out and talking to people on theting a human face dry policies that are often part of the speech here that is why president reagan highlighted policies that is about putting a face ond real world

what are often complex issues. , a formerett speechwriter to president obama. thank you for setting the stage or two nights state of the union address. >> thank you. >> this'll be president obama's fifth state of the union address. he focused on the economy. his run -- is speech will last possibly in our. -- an hour. here is a tweet. here is a photograph of her three children. she had three children. the only member of congress to have delivered three times as a member of congress. we want to hear from you over the course of our coverage.

a number of ways you can join in -- our phone lines are open. the numbers are on your screen. #cspan chat on twitter. to of your says she hopes hear a plan about tax and income inequality. tell us what you think? what do you want to hear from the president? what do you want the president and congress to address in the year ahead? we have the senate historian. behindk in with him on the scenes on what happens and also how various technologies have changed over the years. the white house at a big push for social media and this yours state of the union address.

>> for many years because the only people who could hear the address where people who sat in that gallery, the 19th century and early 20th century, presidents would send them a message and newspapers would cover the story. beginning in 1923, they can started -- then movie started -- then tv started covering it. the 1990s, they began streaming video worldwide essentially. residents have had to change some of their tactics given their changing audiences. the message is used to be a long. when they went out to read them, they shortened considerably. they've send a longer message. part of it is to set the right tone. practiced essentially how

they're going to present this information and how to get the priorities in. what will people remember? if it is a long laundry list, people cannot remember any of it . they focus on a few that become the headlines for the next day. it becomes a talking points on tv and in congress. then they can get public opinion generated about those issues. if they're lucky, they can get people to write letters to members of congress to say that they support or oppose whatever the president has discussed. >> the white house releasing experts from the speech. in the coming months, led see where we can make progress together. let's make this a year of action. that is what most americans want , to focus on their lives, hopes, and aspirations. here is a live view of the u.s. capitol. here's a scene inside statuary

hall. the backdrop of all of this, it is a midterm election. a number of key senate races could determine control of the u.s. senate. many members of the house of representatives. joining us is the editor-in- chief of the gallup poll's. mercy for joining us. >> my pleasure. -- thank you for joining us. >> my pleasure. >> the president's approval stands at 41%. how much capital does that give the president? >> not a lot. any president would like to be well above 50%. obama has been in the low-made wii's for quite a while. 40's for in -- low-mid- quite a while. he comes in -- >> let me share interesting

findings from your poll. in previous years, the debt and deficit was an overriding issue. number one is dissatisfaction with the government. the economy is second. unemployment and health care is third. the federal budget is fourth. ethics, moral, religious, and the topecline tops out five. , the indication of the biggest problem is dysfunctional government. the president may interpret that as we need to work together to take action, but i think americans have a broader view and look at the whole asper radice of washington as inefficient and not working well. presidentthe more the says tonight let's get together and have government do this and do that, i think he needs to be cautious that a lot americans are saying i'm not sure the government is up to doing this and that and the other that he is common for.

they view the government as -- it is athat mean chamber that the people with lower approval meant -- approval than the president are members of congress? well. military does quite members of congress are down. the lowest in history last november. have ofasure we government in general is low. if i were the president's speechwriters, i would ask them to address the concerns americans have with their elected representatives rather than striking out a long list of new things they want the government to do. at least, that is what a lot americans will be asking. >> we saw a senator from west virginia and his friend from illinois who suffered a stroke

and is being wheeled into the house chamber. we will watch as members of congress and members of the judiciary travel from the u.s. senate to the u.s. house for this joint session of congress. we are joined on the phone with frank newport with the gallup organization and keeping track where the president is. how does he compare to president george w. bush or bill clinton? >> george w. bush was about at the same point of his stiff or year or -- his fifth six year. looking at recent presidents reelected, we find obama roughly where george w. bush was. is rating was coming down due to the iraq war and other issues.

clinton was in the beginnings of the economic boom. joying the beginnings of the economic boom. frank newport is editor-in- chief of the gallup organization. thank you for being with us. >> my pleasure to be with you. out,me of the editorials this is from the washington times. saying the national security is simply not a top obama administration priority. this is what it looked like from the washington times website should we are told two thirds of the speech will focus on domestic policy issues and a third on foreign-policy issues, including a discussion on iran and troops. the president is at the white house. he will depart shortly on pennsylvania avenue.

the diplomatic entrance on the south lawn as we hear from you. good evening. democrat line. caller: thank you for taking my call. and i am looking forward to see how obama will talk about his health care initiative and fight back some of the republican attacks. people should be covered. they shouldn't go bankrupt. someone shouldn't go bankrupt after falling down the stairs and getting hurt, but this happens. >> ok. thank you for the call. republican line. pennsylvania. seeer: what i would like to is how mr. obama is going to address the unintended consequences that have come down from obamacare and the fact that he and his buddies in congress pushed it through all those years ago despite the fact that

nobody really wanted it. call.nk you for the you are looking at the south lawn diplomatic entrance of the white house. we will watch for a moment. the president and the first lady will be departing moment late. span and onge on c- c-span radio. >> we saw the white house chief of staff. the president will be

coming out to materially. -- coming out momentarily. good evening. caller: i'm looking to see if the president will focus on the unemployment issue. to me, this has been a very bitter issue. a bitterft aftertaste. there are a lot of hard-working people in america. money thatthout the they have put into the system. they're not even able to get it due to what the republicans are doing. >> think you for the call. -- thank for the call. here is a tweet. but fair pathway to citizenship for all aspiring americans.

what do want the president and congress to deal with this year? what issue is important to you? caller: for me, it is a gridlock. as obama stops -- lisa stop being nice and call republicans out -- to stopt obama needs being nice and call republicans out. john boehner would not even bring it up for a vote. you have a jobs bill. john boehner would not bring it up for a vote. it is a huge opposition to obama. i think it is personal. i think obama needs to acknowledge it and call it out for what it is. >> thank you. independent line. because i amalling concerned about the unemployment as well, especially extended benefits. i want to see what president obama has to say about that. >> and you have been out of work since?

caller: may 2013. i'm a veteran. i'm 60 years old. is they income we have money she gets from social security. >> what have you been doing when the unemployment benefits are cut off? caller: living off the money i have saved up. right now that is pretty much gone. >> thank you for the call. the president will address the long-term unemployment issue and extending the benefits for americans who lost their benefits as of december 28. this is the scene outside the white house. we will continue to watch as we hear from ken from california. caller: i think tonight we will hear more of the same from president obama, whether it is to raise minimum wage or obamacare. they will fund yet another

program so people will be dependent on bigger government. republicans want you to keep more of your hard-earned money which you can put back into the economy that will allow jobs to be created for more americans. [indiscernible] >> thank you for the call. you're looking at the motorcade. president biden -- we are waiting for the president that will be departing momentarily to head up to capitol hill. re mr. nices -- no mo president. mr. obama needs to go and double at that take a stab nation cozy political n --

nation's political narrative. caller: thank you for taking my call. one of the main issues i want to millionhat -- 1.6 resourceshat have no whatsoever. i'm included. i'm 25 years old. i mail. i have an associates degree. i have been out of work since the december of last year. i have been applying everywhere i can. i have been doing everything i can. i think it is time that obama tried to get congress together to work on something. i watch c-span today for hours and hours. it seems the bills that are coming up are not needed. what are the pressing issues right now? 1.6 million people that are about to step off this cliff? it is something he needs to

address. get congress to work together. i think a lot of people feel the same. >> thank you for the call. we will check in with frank newport from that gallup organization. a look at where the president is most popular and least popular, d.c. are where his approval ratings are among the highest. the states where it is the lowest, wyoming, west virginia, south dakota, and in montana. you can get the information online at gallup.com. republican line. that evening. caller: -- good evening. caller: i'm currently serving in the military. i have one question. in my youth, i

killed,iend shot and and i can't have a beer? >>. the call.ou for a tweet -- is a lives seen inside the senate. they will travel across the capital for the state of the union address. you can see by's president biden appears to be in their. -- vice president biden appears to be in there. continue to watch this. we will keep our eye on the other end of pennsylvania avenue. hi.er: i have a couple of things to say erie it i think obama should legalize marijuana.

thing shouldnshine be open. >> democrat line. caller: i think he should get tough with congress. ratings are lower than this. -- his. they could care less about what happens. he should talk tough tonight. workould say, i try to with you for five years. you refused to work with me. i have gone to the people and i will visit every one of the 50 states and talk to the tea party people. you don't like social security? give it back to them. you do not like medicare? give it back to us. he should talk tough. i want him to talk to these people and say, let's get the job done. let's not play politics. it is frustrating. we have senior citizens and veterans.

these tea party people, john boehner, he has not been able to get reasonable republicans to work with democrats or get anything done. i want obama to tell this straight to their face thank you. #cspanchat. gridlock limits america. you can join in on the conversation at #cspanchat. republican line. caller: hello. have been most impressed with the neighbors number of views that you have had on your show tonight. i must say when you listen to the different viewpoints and how uninformed most people are coming quitting myself, even though have a masters degree in in physics, i am very impressed with the fact that congress has checked the president in many ways.

ineptms to be a most person who has a lot of ideas, it does not know how to work with people. >> thank you for the call. let's watch as jay carney and others to part with the president as he prepares to deliver his speech.

>> the president and the first lady were scheduled to depart about five minutes ago. they are slightly behind schedule. this is an opportunity to remind you you can join in on the armor station on our facebook page as well eared the question is -- you can join in on the conversation on our facebook page as well. the question is -- what issue do you want resin obama and congress to work on this year? elizabeth comments -- jobs, but we know the congress will not work with obama. oklahoma. independent line. good evening. caller: good evening. i would like to see if the president could help the ones to get insurance where i work. they do not give me that and if

it -- benefit. i have to buy it out of my own pocket e. >> thank you for the call. let's watch for a moment.

>> they call it the beast of the presidential motorcade. it will take them up pennsylvania avenue to capitol hill.

the president is expected to enter the house chamber shortly after 9:00 eastern time. he will be introduced. seated high the president will be the president of the senate, vice president biden, and speaker the house, john boehner. democrat line. what do you want to hear from the president? what issue is important to you in the year ahead? caller: hello. thank you for your time and taking the call. address issue of marijuana. two states that have made income off of this medical marijuana. it can help the economy. i think obama should recognize the medical benefits of cannabis. he has to address it. it seems he has taken the issue

off. he implemented congress laws to govern the states a dispensary business owners and protect them under something. for the call. members of the senate are departing. there is ruth bader ginsburg. there are other members of the supreme court that will be in attendance for two nights state of the union address. tonight's state of the union address.

>> there you have it.

members of the supreme court and also members of the supreme court. they will be in attendance for tonight's state of the union address. there is the democratic leader, harry reid, as well. one prominent member is not in attendance tonight. >> back in the 1950s, it was the beginning of the nuclear air or -- era. it began to dawn on them they should not have the entire government under one roof at a time. branch began designating at least one cabinet officer not to attend. members were noticing that pattern. it became pretty audience -- obvious. they thought it was not a good idea to have all members of congress.

it should have a couple of members not to be there in case there is an emergency. rarely are all of the members of congress there anyway. some of the senior members prefer to watch it on television. they don't get up to go out for an evening performance like that. some members are not even in town. there is always someone who is a way. in this case, they have officially designated members of the senate and the house to stay away. motorcade isent's at the u.s. capitol. you can see live coverage on c- span. he will travel inside and go to a holding room before addressing the house of representatives. it is set to get underway in about 15 minutes. republican line. south carolina. caller: good evening.

my question is twofold. allowed thewe only president to hold office for eight years. can they put term limits on our congress? theypeople i speak with, do not understand jobs or the working class anymore. i think we need to have term limits on these people so they can figure out what it is you have a job and understand real haversations that people around the kitchen table. i doubt any of them have sat around the kitchen table in a long time. >> thank you for the call. among the guests of cool rejoining michelle obama tonight bel be the first -- who will joining michelle obama tonight will be the first openly gay nba player.

they have a particular policy or issue. here is a look among the guests. been working on the implementation of the affordable care act in kentucky. -- wes jason collins -- also have jason collins. was warren buffett's secretary. remember obama's speech about her taxes. the beautiful capitol building and watching members of all government branches, i'd really stuff for tonight i was to witness this historic event. the midwest,m start working right out of high school at the age of 17. i kept pinching myself to make sure this wasn't a dream.

inside the u.s. capitol, members continue to gather. we have a mormon are to to take your calls. yes we have a mome -- we have a few moments to take your calls. george, are you with us? north carolina. republican line. caller: good evening. i would like to know the president's plan to get congress to work together? also, how to get america back to work. for your call. memphis, tennessee. this year, i hope the president's speech, i hope is focused on -- right now we can tell congress is not trying to work with the president. i want a speech where the president is stern about his word. on, not know what is going

but the people in west tennessee , they are suffering for jobs. >> thanks for the call. the president will be in nashville, tennessee on thursday. john boehner is about to gavel in the session. we will watch it live. we will come back after the state of the union address for more of your calls and comments of what you heard this evening. live coverage on this tuesday as c-span continues with state of the union programming.

>> the joint session will come to order. committee will score the president of the united states. mr. cantor, mr. mccarthy, mr. jenkins, ms. polos my. hoyer, mr. crawley, mr. isreal, and ms. delaro.

members of the committee on the part of the senate to escort the resident of the united mr. reid, mr. durbin, mr. mcconnell, mr. cornyn, mr. blunt. >> the members of the escort committee will exit through the chamber doors through the lobby.

>> acting dean of the diplomatic orps.

>> mr. speaker, the chief justice and the associate justices of the supreme court.