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Executive Branch: American Government

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Public Papers of the Presidents

This guide provides an overview of resources on the Executive Office of the President.

What are the Public Papers of the Presidents?

Official series publication because in 1957 with President Truman's papers. These include the public messages and speeches of the presidents

  • Letters, meeting minutes, and memoranda not included, but can often be found in the broader presidential manuscript collections
  • Hoover's papers included (published retroactively) 
  • FDR's papers included (published privately before 1957)

Finding the Public Papers

Finding Presidential Speeches

The State of the Union

The State of the Union Message is a message from the President to Congress, usually given once a year in January or February. The Constitution of the United States requires that the President give Congress a State of the Union message from time to time on the condition of the country.