Speech time spat stemmed from allure of address to Congress
The White House could have saved itself the embarrassment of stories saying it caved-in to House Speaker John Boehner, had it just decided for President Obama to address the nation from the White House or some other venue it could control.
But by asking for an invitation to address a Joint Session of Congress and agreeing to a date and time not of its choosing, the White House showed the importance it places on having Mr. Obama speak from the podium in the House Chamber.
Every White House views an address to a Joint Session of Congress as the pinnacle of sites from which a president can speak.
Being announced into the House Chamber by the Sergeant-at-Arms, walking down the center aisle to the cheers of supporters and the respectful applause of opposition party members makes a speech seem more historic even before a single word is uttered.
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An address to Congress adds a layer of pomp and circumstance not offered by any other venue. There is no setting that enables a chief executive to appear more presidential.
Even a speech to the nation from the White House is far more common than an address to Congress.
Since taking office, Mr. Obama has delivered seven formal addresses to the nation - five of them from the White House, one from West Point and one from National Defense University at Ft. McNair.
Since taking office, he has delivered four addresses to Congress: two State of the Union messages, a speech on his health care plan and an economic speech a month after he took office.
An address to Congress is also likely to bring the president a larger viewing audience as he lays out his latest strategy to promote economic growth and create jobs.
It further gives him the opportunity to show political fortitude by facing down his critics in Congress and serving notice - as he does in nearly every speech - that he expects them to put country above party by enacting his proposals.
By the time of the speech next Thursday, the White House expects that yesterday's dust-up with Speaker Boehner over the timing of the address will be a forgotten footnote.
For comparison: here are the numbers of recent presidential addresses to Joint Sessions of Congress:
Addresses to Joint Sessions of Congress
President Obama 4 (2 State of the Union; 2 policy addresses)
President George W. Bush 9 (7 State of the Union; 2 policy addresses)
President Clinton 9 (7 State of the Union; 2 policy addresses)
President George H.W. Bush 6 (3 State of the Union; 1 policy; 2 on Persian Gulf crisis/war)
