A critical discourse analysis of President Biden’s 2021 state of the union address = Phân tích diễn ngôn phê phán Thông điệp Liên Bang năm 2021 của Tổng thống Mỹ Biden
INTRODUCTION
Background of the study
Presidents, as the leaders of nations, wield large amounts of power and influence Their words and actions have the potential to shape public opinion, influence policy decisions, and impact the course of a nation The presidency is not only a political position but is also a symbol of national unity and the hopes of the people In the American context, the president acts as Head of state and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces With these roles come the responsibilities of implementing and enforcing the laws written by Congress and appointing the heads of federal agencies (The White House, n.d.)
Currently, Joseph R Biden is the 46 th president of the United States, and assumed office in January, 2021 As President Biden entered the presidency, he was faced with numerous challenges (Collinson, 2021) One of these was the pandemic While it had been a year since the pandemic started, this crisis still put tremendous strain on global health management Trump‘s administration was criticized for failing to effectively contain the virus in America, which put enormous pressure on President Biden, as the new head of state, to rectify the failures of the previous administration and ensure that public health improves Another challenge was America‘s economy Owing to various factors, including the pandemic, unemployment was a severe issue President Biden was expected to implement policies that would reignite growth in the country and improve employment Political conflict was another challenge for President Biden Although President Biden officially won the election, President Trump argued the results and challenged the presidency Overall, President Biden faced various major challenges
2 which would ultimately define his legacy as a president
Like any other president, his ideologies, leadership style, and decision-making have been evaluated and critiqued Particularly, understanding the ideologies of presidents is crucial for comprehending the motives behind their policy decisions and the ways in which they address the nation Analyzing presidential discourse goes beyond merely examining their speeches It involves delving into the underlying power structures, ideologies, and social identities embedded within the language used by the president Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) provides a valuable framework for such investigations as it allows researchers to uncover power relations and identify dominant ideologies By examining President Biden‘s 2021 SOTU Address with CDA, I can identify the ideologies that he exhibited in his speech CDA can also enable me to discover how these ideologies are represented through various linguistic and discursive elements In addition, a CDA of President Biden‘s speech can reveal why certain ideologies are represented, which could lead to a better understanding of the context of his speech and the situation of American politics during the time of the speech‘s delivery.
Research objectives and questions
This study aims to employ Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) as a framework to analyze President Biden's 2021 State of the Union (SOTU) Address, with the main goal of understanding the ideologies embedded within his speech By delving into linguistic elements, the study seeks to identify President Biden's core ideological views, discern the strategies he employs to convey these ideologies, and elucidate the reasons behind their representation in his discourse Ultimately, this research aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of how ideologies are constructed and communicated through political discourse, particularly within the context of the presidency
After conducting a thorough review of existing literature and considering the role of ideology in political discourse, I established three primary objectives
Objective 1: To identify President Biden's core ideologies as expressed in his speech,
3 providing insights into his political worldview, priorities, and values
To achieve this objective, I intend to identify the key ideological themes in President Biden‘s speech
Objective 2: To examine the strategies employed by President Biden in his speech, with a focus on how linguistic and discursive elements contribute to the expression of his ideologies
To achieve this objective, I intend to apply Van Dijk‘s Ideological Square Model to discern discursive strategies used by President Biden In addition, I intend to apply Fairclough‘s approach to describe and interpret the speech in terms of the textual features
Objective 3: To understand the reasons for the representation of certain ideologies in President Biden‘s speech
To achieve this objective, I will consider the socio-political context of the speech and interpret and explain the results to infer the reasons behind the representation of the ideologies communicated in President Biden‘s speech
In accordance with the aims mentioned above, the following research questions were set:
1 What are President Biden‘s ideologies in his 2021 State of the Union address?
2 How are President Biden‘s ideologies linguistically represented?
3 Why are President Biden‘s ideologies represented the way they were in the speech?
Scope of the study
The scope of this study is specifically delimited to the critical discourse analysis of President Biden‘s 2021 State of the Union address, delivered on April 28, 2021, at the U.S Capitol By focusing exclusively on this one event, the study aims to provide an in- depth examination of President Biden‘s discourse on that occasion This targeted scope enables the research to delve into the language used within the context of a specific moment in the president‘s term This speech is critical since it is only delivered once per
4 year and is intended to provide the audience with an overview of the nation‘s current condition Moreover, it is usually delivered to the general public, which means that it serves as a crucial platform for the president to address a wide audience, shaping public perceptions and influencing collective understanding of the nation‘s course In terms of the analysis, the study focused on President Biden‘s ideologies and the ways in which these ideologies were communicated, specifically through word frequencies, collocations, in-group, out-group categorization, repetition, past references, and metaphors.
Significance of the study
This study holds importance in revealing aspects of President Biden‘s leadership, contributing to an understanding of his presidency By delving into Biden‘s ideologies and the ways in which these ideologies are communicated through discourse, the research will uncover his fundamental beliefs and policy perspectives, and the strategies used to convey them This study‘s findings can inform understanding of presidential communication and contribute to academic and policy discussions surrounding ideology in politics.
Structure of the Thesis
Chapter I: Introduction – This initial chapter sets the stage for the investigation by exploring the significant influence wielded by presidents and the utility of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) in evaluating their ideological and power structures It further delineates the aims, research queries, and the extent of the inquiry Additionally, it highlights the importance and organizational framework of the study
Chapter II: Literature review – In this section, an in-depth examination of discourse analysis and critical discourse analysis is undertaken, drawing upon existing scholarly work It discusses the origins and fundamental definitions of CDA, probes into its primary areas of inquiry, and assesses prominent theoretical frameworks associated with CDA
Chapter III: Methodology – Here, the approach to research is explained, detailing the selection of data, the procedures for data gathering, and the strategies employed in
Chapter IV: Results and discussion – This portion of the study reports on the findings from the critical discourse analysis, offering a comprehensive portrayal of the discourse under review It further delves into the interpretation and elucidation of these outcomes Chapter V: Conclusion – The concluding chapter encapsulates the primary discoveries of the research, acknowledges any limitations encountered, and proposes directions for future investigations.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Discourse analysis
Discourse analysis refers to the study of language in use and how it constructs social worlds (Johnson & McLean, 2020) It is an interdisciplinary field of research that examines the complex relationships between language, social practices, power relations, and the production of knowledge across contexts (Pramadya & Rahmanhadi, 2021; Johnson & McLean, 2020) Discourse analysts view language as a form of social practice that both influences and is influenced by larger societal contexts (Johnson & McLean,
2020) There are many theoretical approaches to discourse analysis stemming from fields like linguistics, communications, anthropology, sociology, and nursing, but they generally involve the systematic, qualitative study of texts and speech to understand the role of language in maintaining social norms, power dynamics, ideologies, and inequities (Suciu, 2023; Delmas & Giles, 2023) Both descriptive and critical forms of discourse analysis exist; the former seeks to understand how language shapes human interactions and situations, while the latter aims to expose and challenge power imbalances within discourse through rigorous description and interpretation (Delmas & Giles, 2023)
Critical discourse analysis in particular draws on theories of power and knowledge from Michel Foucault to study how language sustains social inequalities (Johnson & McLean,
2020) Overall, the various approaches to discourse analysis provide means to carefully investigate how language constructs specific worldviews, systems of meaning, and unequal power relations within varied social contexts.
Critical discourse analysis
According to Brown (2005), critical discourse analysis originated in the mid-1980s as a new approach within the work of scholars such as Fairclough, van Dijk, Wodak, Kress, and van Leeuwen The movement officially began in 1992 during a meeting in Amsterdam, where influential presentations were given by key figures in the field These presentations, including those by van Dijk, Fairclough, Wodak, Kress, and van Leeuwen, were later published as a special issue of Discourse and Society in 1993 The group, initially formed in 1992, gradually expanded and continued to meet every year Another noteworthy collection of influential papers was published a few years later in 1996 by Caldas-Coulthard and Coulthard As CDA gained momentum, it evolved into a fast- growing and increasingly interdisciplinary movement The first large-scale international conference dedicated to CDA took place in Valencia in 2004, marking a significant milestone in the development of the field In the same year, two new journals, Critical Discourse Studies and the Journal of Language and Politics, were established, further contributing to the expansion of critical discourse analysis
Fairclough (2023) stated that CDA contributes to critical social analysis by focusing on discourse and its relationships with various social elements, including power relations, ideologies, institutions, and social identities Wodak (2014) defined CDA as a problem- oriented interdisciplinary research program with diverse theoretical models, research methods, and agendas The roots of CDA extend across disciplines such as rhetoric, text
7 linguistics, anthropology, philosophy, sociopsychology, cognitive science, literary studies, and sociolinguistics Importantly, CDA does not solely focus on linguistic units but rather investigates complex social phenomena, requiring a multimethodological approach
Van Dijk (2015) emphasized CDA‘s focus on studying the enactment, reproduction, legitimation, and resistance of social power abuse and inequality through text and talk in the social and political context Critical discourse analysts explicitly position themselves as part of a social movement with a commitment to understanding, exposing, and challenging social inequality Pramadya and Rahmanhadi (2021) highlighted CDA as an attempt to interpret texts related to social occurrences, aiming to uncover underlying interests CDA is utilized to investigate the relationship between discourse and sociocultural development in various social domains, including politics, racism, gender, hegemony, culture, and social class Johnson and McLean (2020) noted that CDA is a growing interdisciplinary research movement with distinct theoretical and methodological approaches united by a shared perspective on language as a form of social practice CDA scholars systematically investigate hidden power relations and ideologies embedded in discourse, with a dedication to examining the social and material consequences of language use Wodak and Celia (2006) emphasized CDA‘s perspective on language as a social practice and the crucial role of context in language use They particularly highlight CDA‘s interest in institutional, political, gender, and media discourses that reveal overt or covert relations of struggle and conflict
In summary, CDA is a multifaceted research approach that examines language as a social practice, emphasizing its role in power relations, ideologies, and societal structures CDA researchers employ diverse theoretical models and methodologies to conduct interdisciplinary analyses of discourse, aiming to uncover, critique, and challenge social inequality and injustice in various domains
2.2.2 Focus areas in CDA research
Ideology can be defined as a system of representations, encompassing images, myths, ideas, or concepts, that possesses its own logic (Renaldo, 2021) Ideology plays a vital role in political discourse and is characterized by its manifestation through language The process of transferring ideology, often achieved through speech, allows for its reproduction within a given society Renaldo emphasizes that this transfer of ideology, historically performed since the early years of modern life, serves the function of reproducing the means of production and ensuring the continuity of dominance for the ruling class Cranston (2023) adds that ideology is a form of social or political philosophy in which practical elements are as prominent as theoretical ones It constitutes a system of ideas with the dual purpose of explaining the world and effecting change within it In this research, ideology is viewed as the set of beliefs and ideals that an individual has about the world, especially in the political context (relating to subjects such as economics, equality, government, healthcare, etc.)
Dominant ideologies in American politics
There are numerous political ideologies expressed by societies, governments, and individuals all across the world In American politics, conservatism and liberalism are the dominant ideologies The Republican party is the most influential group with conservative beliefs, whereas the Democratic party is the largest group with liberal beliefs Heywood (2021) described conservatism and liberalism as follows:7
• Conservatism: Conservatism is a debated ideology often characterized by resistance to change and a defense of existing orders While it is commonly seen as opposing or distrusting change, it is more than a mere political stance, rooted in specific beliefs about human nature, society, and core values Critics may view it as an unprincipled defense of
9 elite interests, but conservatism encompasses theories underpinning its ‗common sense.‘
It is a comprehensive framework emphasizing history and experience
• Liberalism: Liberalism, synonymous with the industrialized West, has significantly shaped political, economic, and cultural landscapes Originating from Enlightenment ideals, it champions core values tied to personal autonomy While historically seen as morally neutral, emphasizing 'the right' over 'the good,' liberalism provides conditions for diverse interpretations of the good life without prescribing a specific notion Despite its perceived moral neutrality, it embodies a strong moral dimension, guiding political and ideological discussions while favoring openness, debate, and self-determination
Ideologies of the Democratic Party
According to the U.S Department of State (n.d.), the main policy issues in America today are anti-corruption, arms control, climate and environment, drugs and crime, COVID-19 recovery, terrorism, cybersecurity, economic prosperity and trade, energy, healthcare, huma rights, immigration, science and technology, and international diplomacy
In a 2020 document, the Democratic Party (DP) expressed their views on some of the key issues:
• Anti-corruption: The DP believes in transparency within the American financial system to prevent financial corruption such as money laundering, shell companies, and illegal cross-border transactions
• Arms control: The DP advocates for stricter gun control measures aimed at reducing gun violence and promoting public safety They aim to achieve this through comprehensive background checks, banning assault weapons, banning high-capacity magazines, and implementing community-based violence intervention programs
• Climate and environment: The DP recognizes the urgency of addressing climate change, pledging to rejoin international agreements like the Paris Climate Agreement and transitioning to a clean energy economy
• COVID-19 recovery: The DP criticizes the Trump administration‘s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, calling for effective public health measures, economic support for individuals and businesses, and a science-based approach to combating the virus
• Energy: The DP aims to transition to a clean energy economy by expanding the generation of energy from renewable sources, prioritizing policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing air and water pollution, and investing in clean energy research
• Healthcare: The DP supports the idea of healthcare as a right for all Americans and vows to protect and expand access to affordable healthcare
• Human rights: The DP supports various human rights Firstly, it advocates for strengthening democracy by protecting voting rights, combating voter suppression, and reducing the influence of money in politics Moreover, it is committed to addressing systemic racism in society and reforming the criminal justice system to ensure equality and justice for all Furthermore, it aims to address economic inequalities by promoting shared prosperity, creating jobs, raising wages, ensuring equal pay for women, providing paid family leave, and safeguarding retirement benefits
• Immigration: The DP prioritizes creating a humane immigration system that welcomes diversity and provides opportunities for immigrants to participate in American society
• International diplomacy: The DP aims to prioritize diplomacy, strengthen alliances, and address global challenges, while also committing to ending prolonged military engagements
The Biden-Harris administration, of which President Biden is the primary representative, have expressed their ideologies by indicating the key issues that they are prioritizing during President Biden‘s presidential term (The White House, 2024) Firstly, President Biden is concerned with addressing the COVID-19 crisis by expanding testing, launching a national vaccination program so that all U.S citizens can be vaccinated, and providing
11 scientific information to communities Secondly, he acknowledges the threat of global warming and wants to address the climate crisis by reducing pollution, creating opportunities in the sustainable infrastructure sector, and advancing clean energy technologies Thirdly, President Biden opposes racism and wants to eliminate inequality throughout every sector in America Fourthly, President Biden wants to reform the immigration system by implementing a system that is fair and welcomes immigrants so that they can contribute to the country‘s development Lastly, he wants to make healthcare more affordable by reducing healthcare costs and making the healthcare system less complex
CDA’s analysis of ideology and power in discourse
Previous studies
Various previous CDA studies have been conducted with the aim of investigating President Bidem‘s speeches One of these was conducted by Amir (2021), who examined President Biden‘s persuasive strategies and ideology in his inaugural address The study analyzed ―the rule of three‖, past references, biblical examples, contrast, word frequencies and connotations, and keyword density The findings showed that the main themes of the speech were American‘s heroic past and traditional American values, such as tolerance, love, and unity Another study was from Pramadya and Rahmanhadi (2021) who examined President Biden‘s use of language in his inaugural speech with a focus on his policy plans and ideology The study analyzed the textual dimension (personal pronouns, metaphor, repetition, antithesis), the discursive dimension, and the social dimension) The findings showed that President Biden attempted to maintain a small speaker-audience distance He also used various methods and language tactics to communicate important information His ideology is centered around a sense of unity and democratic principles Khaldaoui (2023) conducted a study to examine President Biden‘s ideologies as expressed in his first speech on the war in Ukraine The study analyzed the discursive strategies from Dijk‘s Ideological Square Model The findings showed that Biden employed eight discursive strategies Overall, he framed himself and his allies as defenders of democracy against Russia and considered the war unnecessary.
METHODOLOGY
Research methodology
The research approach for this study involved the application of CDA methods to analyze President Biden‘s 2021 State of the Union address The primary focus of the research was
20 on examining the discourse for insights into ideology As stated before, CDA is highly flexible and should be customized to fit specific research objectives Considering this, I decided to integrate methods from different CDA approaches Specifically, I based the sequence of my analysis on Fairclough‘s Three-Dimensional framework
The description dimension enabled me to thematically analyze the discourse to reveal the ideologies that were communicated During my thematic analysis, I read through the content several times, generated codes based on the main themes, and reviewed the codes I recorded these main themes in a text document and supported them with quotations These main themes revealed the ideologies that were communicated by President Biden The discourse practice dimension encouraged an analysis of the discourse practices I took inspiration from Van Dijk‘s ideological square model when selecting which discursive strategies to examine I focused on analyzing word frequency, collocations, personal pronouns, repetition, past references, metaphors, and in-group out- group categorization Regarding word frequency and collocations, I used keyword software (AntConc) to generate a list of most commonly used terms in the text, along with the most common collocations Regarding personal pronouns, I also used AntConc to calculate the frequencies of various personal pronouns Concerning repetition, I read through the text several times to identify instances of repetition and noted them in a word document Regarding metaphors, I read through the text multiple times to identify metaphors and classified them according to Lakoff‘s framework (Lakoff & Johnson,
1980) Concerning in-group out-group categorization, I reviewed the text multiple times to identify instances where individuals or groups were viewed as in-group (allied to the speaker) or out-group (opposed to the speaker) To calculate the frequencies of the occurrences of discourse practices, I recorded all instances of the identified practices in a Microsoft Excel file (along with direct quotations) The explanation dimension, which considers the broader social context, facilitated my analysis of the reasons behind President Biden‘s communication of specific ideologies To uncover the social context, I conducted research using internet sources, notably online articles I noted the main events and situations that seemed to be dominating the socio-political landscape at the time
Data and data collection
Data for this study was the SOTU Address to a Joint Session of the US Congress , which was delivered by President Joe Biden on the 28 th of April, 2021 Before analyzing the data, I had to first obtain a transcript of the speech The White House government website often publishes transcripts of speeches and addresses given by American presidents President Biden‘s 2021 state of the union address was uploaded to this website shortly after it was delivered Therefore, I copied the transcript directly from The White House government website I then prepared the transcript for analysis by placing each sentence on an individual line with a corresponding sentence number The speech was made up of
Data analysis
The data analysis method employed in this study was an integration of Fairclough‘s Three-Dimensional Framework and Van Dijk‘s Ideological Square Model Fairclough‘s Three-Dimensional approach is particularly suitable for this study as it provides a methodology through which the textual features of the discourse are carefully examined and through which the impact of the broader social context on the discourse is considered Additionally, van Dijk‘s model is a valuable tool which can reveal a speakers‘ perceptions of themselves and their opposition, thereby offering insight into ideologies related to social issues, such as immigration, equality, and international policy The combined application of Fairclough and Van Dijk‘s approaches allows for a comprehensive analysis that examines the linguistic features in the discourse, reveals the ideologies embedded in the discourse, and considers the broader social context
The analysis of this study was performed across three primary stages, similar to the three dimensions of Fairclough‘s Three-Dimensional framework Each of the stages were expected to produce findings that could be used to answer their respective research question
• RQ1 (description dimension): For this dimension‘s analysis, the content of the speech was analyzed thematically Main themes from the speech were identified and the
23 sentences were divided into sections based on similar themes (as seen in the speech outline in chapter IV) Codes were assigned to each identified ideology based on the potential issues for ideology identification presented in the analytical framework These issues were taken from the U.S Department of State‘s (n.d.) list of main policy issues in modern-day America Quotations were also extracted to connect the identified ideologies with direct statements by President Biden
• RQ2 (discourse practice dimension): Various discursive strategies were examined to determine how President Biden communicated his ideologies Following is an explanation of each of the features that were analyzed:
1) Word frequency and collocations: Using keyword software (AntConc), I assessed the frequency and patterns of vocabulary use and collocations The dominant words and collocations will be identified
2) Personal pronouns: I used keyword software to identify the occurrences of personal pronouns in the speeches Personal pronouns include ―I‖, ―we‖, ―they‖, ―you‖, etc
3) In-group, out-group categorization: I delved into the categorization of individuals or groups as in-group or out-group This involves understanding how language constructs alliances or divisions
4) Repetition: Repetition, a figurative language or poetic device, emphasizes significance by deliberately repeating sounds, syllables, words, or sentence elements within a sentence (Kone, 2018) In discourse, repetition reinforces specific viewpoints, opinions, or ideas I identified repetition based on phrases and words that were repeated at least three times
5) Past references: I explored what past events were referred to and how they were perceived
6) Metaphors: I closely examined the use of metaphors in the speech, revealing conceptualizations and framing of issues and concepts
• RQ3 (explanation dimension): Considering the socio-political context of the speech, I presumed President Biden‘s reasons for communicating his ideologies.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Research question 1
Research question 1 asked ―What are President Biden‘s ideologies in his 2021 State of the Union address?‖
The table below shows the outline of the speech with the main themes and ideas The ideology communicated in each section is tagged with a code and quotations are subsequently provided
Section Theme/Idea Sentences Description Codes
1 Introduction 1-9 Thanking audience; Acknowledging other political members n/a
COVID-19 vaccination efforts and economic relief measures; Crediting success to American Rescue plan;
Warning people to remain vigilant against the virus
70-76 Praising Healthcare Rescue Plan Hea
4 Economic growth 77-90 Expressing the need for further economic investment
91-158 Detailing the American Jobs Plan involving investment in infrastructure, sanitation, internet, electricity, jobs,
American-made products, union support, and minimum wage raises
159-181 Discussing America‘s decline in research; Emphasizing the need to focus on clean energy, microchips, and biotechnology research for future economic and technological leadership in the world
7 Bipartisanship 182-190 Welcoming bipartisan discussion Unity
191-196 Discussing competition with countries like China
197-238 Explaining how the American Families
Plan aims to provide access to good education, provide affordable childcare, provide 12 weeks of paid leave, and increase tax credit for every child in a family
239-256 Proposing the Affordable Care Act to reduce prices of medical care
11 Tax reform 257-298 Outlining plan to financially support previously mentioned plans through increasing taxes for the rich
12 Vaccine access 299-307 Stating that vaccines will be available to all Americans
308-315 Emphasizing the need to address the climate crisis
Addressing Russia‘s election interference; Acknowledging nuclear threats in Iran and North Korea
349-372 Referring to the George Floyd incident;
Encouraging audience to unite against racism
17 Transgenderism 373-374 Expressing support for the LGBTQ community
18 Gun reform 375-416 Discussing violence against women;
Sharing past success on gun reform;
Informing about new ―ghost guns‖;
Justifying the need for gun reform
19 Immigration 417-439 Expressing support for immigration reform
20 Capitol attack 440-465 Describing a threat on democracy and the result of division; Stating that America‘s adversaries doubt America
Emphasizing that everyone in America is part of one group
The outline shows that President Biden addressed a variety of issues, such as COVID-19 recover, healthcare, the economy, the climate, human rights, arms control, and international diplomacy Following is a list of quotations that corresponds to an identified ideology
President Biden discussed COVID-19 recovery efforts in sections 2 and 12 of his speech
―After I promised we‘d get 100 million COVID-19 vaccine shots into people‘s arms in
100 days, we will have provided over 220 million COVID shots in those 100 days‖ (Biden, 2021, sentence 30)
―Today, 90 percent of Americans now live within five miles of a vaccination site Everyone over the age of 16 — everyone is now eligible to get vaccinated right now‖ (Biden, 2021, sentences 34-35)
―And our own vaccine supply…will become an arsenal of vaccines for other countries, just as America was the arsenal of democracy for the world‖ (Biden, 2021, sentence 306)
President Biden talked about plans for the economy in sections 2, 4, 5, 6, and 9
"That‘s why I proposed the American Jobs Plan - a once-in-a-generation investment in America itself." (Biden, 2021, sentence 91)
"It creates jobs to upgrade our transportation infrastructure; jobs modernizing our
27 roads, bridges, highways; jobs building ports and airports, rail corridors, transit lines." (Biden, 2021, sentence 93)
―The American Jobs Plan creates jobs replacing 100 percent of the nation‘s lead pipes and service lines so every American can drink clean water." (Biden, 2021, sentence 96)
"The American Jobs Plan will put engineers and construction workers to work building more energy-efficient buildings and homes…we can own the electric car market." (Biden,
In sections 3, 9, 10, and 12, President Biden explained various government plans related to healthcare
"The American Rescue Plan lowered healthcare premiums for 9 million Americans who buy their coverage under the Affordable Care Act…But let‘s make that provision permanent so their premiums don‘t go back up." (Biden, 2021, sentences 236-238)
"The Affordable Care Act has been a lifeline for millions of Americans, protecting people with preexisting conditions, protecting women‘s health And the pandemic has demonstrated how badly — how badly it‘s needed." (Biden, 2021, sentences 240-241)
"Let‘s give Medicare the power to save hundreds of billions of dollars by negotiating lower drug prescription prices." (Biden, 2021, sentence 250)
"Healthcare should be a right, not a privilege in America." (Biden, 2021, sentence 256)
President Biden spoke about climate change in sections 6 and 13
"Look, the climate crisis is not our fight alone; it‘s a global fight." (Biden, 2021, sentence
"That‘s why I kept my commitment to rejoin the Paris Accord" (Biden, 2021, sentence
" If we act to save the planet, we can create millions of jobs and economic growth and opportunity to raise the standard of living to almost everyone around the world." (Biden,
Unity was encouraged by President Biden in sections 7, 20, and 21
"Investments in jobs and infrastructure, like the ones we‘re talking about, have often had bipartisan support in the past." (Biden, 2021, sentence 182)
"Vice President Harris and I met regularly in the Oval Office with Democrats and
Republicans to discuss the Jobs Plan." (Biden, 2021, sentence 183)
"And I applaud a group of Republican senators who just put forward their own proposal." (Biden, 2021, sentence 184)
"I‘d like to meet with those who have ideas that are different — they think are better I welcome those ideas." (Biden, 2021, sentences 187-188)
―That‘s all I‘m asking: that we do our part, all of us." (Biden, 2021, sentence 480)
―We can do whatever we set our mind to do if we do it together So let‘s begin to get together‖ (Biden, 2021, sentence 494-495)
President Biden discussed international diplomacy in sections 8, 14, and 15
―Look, we can‘t be so busy competing with one another that we forget the competition that we have with the rest of the world to win the 21st century.‖ (Biden, 2021, sentence
―He and others — autocrats — think that democracy can‘t compete in the 21st century with autocracies because it takes too long to get consensus.‖ (Biden, 2021, sentence 195)
―That means making sure every nation plays by the same rules in the global economy, including China.‖ (Biden, 2021, sentence 316)
―We welcome the competition We‘re not looking for conflict But I made absolutely clear that we will defend America‘s interests across the board.‖ (Biden, 2021, sentences 317-
―And they turned out to be true, so I responded directly and proportionally to Russia‘s interference in our elections and the cyberattacks on our government and our business They did both of these things, and I told them we would respond, and we have.‖ (Biden,
―We have to remain vigilant against the threats to the United States wherever they come from.‖ (Biden, 2021, sentence 347)
Human rights were discussed in sections 11, 16, 17, and 18
―White supremacy is terrorism." (Biden, 2021, sentence 349)
"We have a giant opportunity to bend to the arc of the moral universe towards justice — real justice Real opportunities in the lives of more Americans — Black, white, Latino,
Asian Americans, Native Americans." (Biden, 2021, sentences 367-368)
"I also hope Congress can get to my desk the Equality Act to protect LGBTQ Americans
To all transgender Americans watching at home, especially young people who are so brave, I want you to know your President has your back." (Biden, 2021, sentences 373-
"Another thing: Let‘s authorize the Violence Against Women Act, which has been law for
President Biden expressed his stance on domestic arms/gun control in section 18
―keep guns out of the hands of abusers." (Biden, 2021, sentence 377)
―I laid out several of the Department of Justice actions that are being taken to…One of them is banning so-called ‗ghost guns‘.‖ (Biden, 2021, sentences 392-393)
"We need a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines." (Biden, 2021, sentence 401)
Immigration was discussed in section 19
And here‘s what else we can do: Immigration has always been essential to America Let‘s end our exhausting war over immigration.‖ (Biden, 2021, sentences 417-418)
"Congress needs to pass legislation this year to finally secure protection for DREAMers
— the young people who have only known America as their home." (Biden, 2021, sentence 433)
In his speech, President Biden displayed several ideological beliefs that are typical of a member of the Democratic Party One of these was that the government should play an active role in promoting social welfare, equality, and economic development He acknowledged that the government is responsible for intervening in the state of the nation and expressed his intent to improve the country through government programs President Biden also expressed his support of gun reform He stated that assault weapons and high- capacity magazines should be banned and that new policies should be implemented to make it more difficult for people to purchase guns, thereby reducing the likelihood of a dangerous individual getting a weapon Concerning climate change, he emphasized the
30 importance of America, and other countries, to address climate change and also remarked that climate change action can be highly beneficial to both America and the rest of the world
On the issue of COVID-19, President Biden fully supports vaccinations as he praised his administration‘s efforts for addressing the COVID-19 problem, explained that the government will make vaccinations available to all American citizens, and encouraged people to get vaccinated Concerning energy, the analysis revealed that President Biden supports clean energy and research into advancing the field of clean energy On the topic of healthcare, President Biden is in favor of making healthcare more affordable and accessible Furthermore, President Biden is a supporter of human rights as he wants to combat racism and expressed his support for the LGBTQ community He also supports immigration and wants to reform the immigration policies enacted by the Trump administration In contrast to typical democratic beliefs, the idea of multilateralism was not mentioned in this speech Instead, President Biden spoke about international competitions with countries like China and interference from countries like Russia He also mentioned nuclear threats from Iran and North Korea This suggests an opposition towards competing countries Unity was an important issue for President Biden He believes strongly in democracy, which he believed is under attack, especially in light of the capitol attack on January 6th Similarly, in Pramadya and Rahmanhadi‘s (2021) study, it was found that unity was a central part of President Biden‘s ideology Amir
(2021) also found that President Biden emphasized unity Overall, President Biden communicated liberal ideologies, such as supporting gun reform, encouraging vaccinations, supporting the LGBTQ community, and wanting to address climate change However, his ideology related to diplomacy appeared more conservative than liberal.
Research question 2
Research question 2 asked ―How are President Biden‘s ideologies linguistically represented?‖
I used keyword software (AntConc) to generate a list of the 100 most commonly occurring words in the speech AntConc is a powerful tool for corpus analysis that can help you analyze texts like President Biden's 2021 State of the Union Address Below, I describe how you can use AntConc to perform various analyses on this speech, such as word frequency analysis, keyword identification, concordance analysis, and metaphor analysis The words were classified as being keywords based on their frequencies of occurring in the text Using AntConc to analyze keywords in President Biden‘s 2021 State of the Union Address allows you to uncover the key themes and ideological stances emphasized in the speech By generating keyword lists and examining their contexts, you can describe how Biden‘s language reflects his focus on public health, economic recovery, and environmental sustainability This approach provides a structured way to interpret the speech's content and its ideological underpinnings After filtering out prepositions, articles, and pronouns, the remaining words on the list were transferred to this table, which shows the words, frequencies, and ranks
Americans 30 42 world 29 44 plan 28 46 act 24 53 president 24 53 percent 23 61
32 years 22 64 nation 18 71 democracy 17 75 congress 15 79 help 15 79 time 15 79 country 14 84 days 14 84 down 14 84 ever 14 84 families 14 84 right 14 84 year 14 84 pay 13 92 tax 13 92
I also further investigated the most commonly occurring words to discover what the speaker said about these words Concerning the word ‗America‘, which was used 56 times, the speaker often referred to America‘s potential for improvement, as shown in the quotes below
―America is moving — moving forward — but we can‘t stop now.‖
―America is ready for takeoff, in my view.‖
‗America‘ was also used to refer to the country and the people who are part of it
―America will not back away from our commitments‖
―We are the United States of America.‖
Concerning the word ‗jobs‘, which was used 46 times, President Biden often referred to the American Jobs Plan
―the American Jobs Plan will be the biggest increase in nondefense research and development on record.‖
―the American Jobs Plan will help millions of people get back to their jobs and back to their careers.‖
―The American Jobs Plan is going to create millions of good-paying job‖
Concerning the word ‗world‘, which was used 29 times, the speaker frequently spoke about America‘s position in the world and the competition that America faces
―Twelve years is no longer enough today to compete with the rest of the world in the 21st Century.‖
―we forget the competition that we have with the rest of the world to win the 21st century.‖
―But the rest of the world is not waiting for us.‖
Concerning the word ‗democracy‘, which was used 17 times, President Biden often spoke about the current state of doubt towards democracy
―Can our democracy overcome the lies, anger, hate, and fears that have pulled us apart?‖
―They look at the images of the mob that assaulted the Capitol as proof that the sun is setting on American democracy.‖
―The question of whether our democracy will long endure is both ancient and urgent, as old as our Republic — still vital today.‖
Concerning the word ‗families‘, which was used 14 times, President Biden frequently mentioned the American Families Plan
―the American Families Plan will finally provide up to 12 weeks of paid leave and medical leave‖
―American Families Plan guarantees four additional years of public education for every
Concerning the word ‗tax‘, which was used 13 times, President Biden generally referred to his proposal for tax reform
―But I will not add a tax burden — an additional tax burden to the middle class in this country.‖
―Let‘s start with what I will not do: I will not impose any tax increase on people making less than $400,000 It‘s — but it‘s time for corporate America and the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans to just begin to pay their fair share.‖
Along with generating a list of the most common words, I also generated a list of common collocations
Word Frequency Rank the world 25 6 the American 24 7 in America 20 12 percent of 14 19 jobs plan 13 22
American jobs 12 24 want to 11 29 millions of 9 35 our democracy 9 35 you know 9 35 plan will 8 40
America is 7 56 the future 7 56 the middle 7 56 the people 7 56
35 united states 7 56 we need 7 56 we will 7 56
As seen in the table above, the personal pronoun ‗we‘ was used most frequently The pronoun ‗I‘ was used second-most often and the pronoun ‗our‘ was used third most often Overall, President Biden mostly used the plural pronoun ‗we‘ and its variations He infrequently referred to others with the singular pronouns ‗he‘ and ‗she‘ and sometimes referred to other groups with ‗they‘
4.2.1.4 In-group, out-group categorization
Further analysis of the personal pronouns revealed groups that could be identified as either in-group or out-group The plural pronoun ‗we‘ and its variants revealed that the America, not just the country but also the people living inside it, is the core of the in- group
―We‘re in competition with China and other countries to win the 21st Century.‖
―We‘re one of the few industrial countries in the world.‖
―We have to remain vigilant against the threats to the United States wherever they come from.‖
―we can own the electric car market.‖
―We can do whatever we set our mind to do if we do it together.‖
―We need to work together to find a consensus.‖
In contrast, the out-group consisted mainly of America‘s opponents, which were Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, and other unmentioned groups
―America‘s adversaries –- the autocrats of the world –- are betting we can‘t And I promise you, they‘re betting we can‘t They believe we‘re too full of anger and division and rage.‖
―But the world has caught up, or catching up They are not waiting.‖
―They look at the images of the mob that assaulted the Capitol as proof that the sun is setting on American democracy But they are wrong.‖
―In my conversations with world leaders — and I‘ve spoken to over 38, 40 of them now
— I‘ve made it known — I‘ve made it known that America is back And you know what they say? The comment that I hear most of all from them is they say, ‗We see America is back but for how long? But for how long?‘‖
―With regard to Russia, I know it concerns some of you, but I made very clear to Putin that we‘re not going to seek escalation, but their actions will have consequence if they turn out to be true.‖
When analyzing repetition in the speech, I looked for phrases or words that were repeated at least three times in close proximity to one another After identifying the repetition used in the speech, I organized the occurrences based on their themes One theme was giving thanks, which is something President Biden did at the start of his speech
―Thank you Thank you Thank you.‖ (Biden, 2021, sentence 1-3)
He also used repetition to emphasize the crisis that America has gone through As seen below, he repeated the words ‗the worst‘ three times followed by each of the major crises (pandemic, economic crisis, attack on democracy)
―The worst pandemic in a century The worst economic crisis since the Great Depression The worst attack on our democracy since the Civil War‖ (Biden, 2021, sentence 13-15)
President Biden also reported on the progress of America, especially how they were managing to renew
―Now, after just 100 days, I can report to the nation: America is on the move again — turning peril into possibility, crisis to opportunity, setbacks into strength.‖ (Biden, 2021,
―Today, that‘s what we‘re doing: America is rising anew, choosing hope over fear, truth over lies, and light over darkness.‖ (Biden, 2021, sentence 20)
At one point, President Biden told the audience three consecutive times that they should get vaccinated, which shows his strong belief in the vaccine and its ability to counter COVID-19
―Everyone over the age of 16 — everyone is now eligible to get vaccinated right now, right away Go get vaccinated, America Go and get the vaccination.‖ (Biden, 2021, sentence 35-37)
While talking about America‘s potential growth, he mentioned that America will have to work harder than before
―We have to do more than just build back better — I mean ―build back.‖ We have to build back better We have to compete more strenuously than we have.‖ (Biden, 2021, sentence 82-84)
Through a repetition of the word ‗jobs‘, President Biden expressed his belief about the significance of jobs in the climate crisis
―For too long, we‘ve failed to use the most important word when it comes to meeting the climate crisis: ‗jobs.‘ Jobs Jobs For me, when I think ‗climate change,‘ I think ‗jobs.‘‖ (Biden, 2021, sentence 112-115)
In his explanation of the Affordable Care Act, President Biden repeatedly stated that America is able to implement it, thereby showing his enthusiasm and devotion to launching the plan and encouraging people to follow him
―It‘s within our power to do it; let‘s do it now We‘ve talked about it long enough Democrats and Republicans, let‘s get it done this year.‖ (Biden, 2021, sentence 253-255)
To emphasize the tragedy of the Capitol attack on January 6 th , he repeated that lives were lost
―Lives were put at risk — many of your lives Lives were lost Extraordinary courage was summoned.‖ (Biden, 2021, sentence 448-450)
As he wrapping up his speech, President Biden remarked that people are starting to question the remaining power of democracy He asked the audience three rhetorical questions to convey the uncertain state of democracy
Research question 3
Research question 3 asked ―Why are President Biden‘s ideologies represented the way they were in the speech?‖
Several issues were contributing to an unstable socio-political environment during the SOTU address The most significant issue was the COVID-19 pandemic, which had taken the lives of many people and which had impacts on various aspects of American, and global, society Another issue was rising healthcare expenses Due to the increase in sickness rates caused by COVID-19, people were spending more money on healthcare, which put a major financial burden on the American public Furthermore, the George Floyd incident amplified the awareness of inequality, especially racial inequality Lastly, the Capital riot, that occurred in January, intensified disconnection between the two main political groups
The previous analysis revealed the ideologies expressed by President Biden in his 2021
SOTU address For several of these ideologies, there exist conceivable rationales behind their inclusion For instance, President Biden encouraged people to get vaccinated and stated that the government aims to make vaccinations available for all U.S citizens The previous Trump administration was heavily criticized for poorly managing the COVID-
19 situation According to Parker and Stern (2022), the U.S president is responsible for ensuring that policies are implemented which protect citizens against viruses However, the Trump administration did not respond to the outbreak fast enough, despite having early warnings and vast resources, was affected by bureaucratic politics, and was too distracted (Parker & Stern, 2022) With this knowledge, the American people were hoping that President Biden‘s administration would be able to address this problem more effectively, especially during a time when the pandemic was worsening President Biden strongly urged people to get vaccinated and stated his intentions to manage the pandemic better than the Trump administration President Biden‘s ideology of ensuring quality and affordable healthcare for all was also likely motivated by the repercussions that the pandemic had on American citizens For many, medical bills were affecting their personal finances and fears of unaffordable healthcare was present By expressing his intention to make healthcare more affordable and less complex, President Biden likely aimed to put the American people at ease during a time where everyone‘s health was at risk Concerning President Biden‘s statements about human rights, especially racism, it is important to consider the George Floyd incident and the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement At this time, there was an outcry against police brutality against black Americans and the inequality that had persisted since the days of slavery As President Biden supports human rights in all aspects and considering the scope of the George Floyd incident, it was essential for him to address human rights and convince the audience that he would combat inequality Lastly, his message of unity was not only important, but crucial for the American people Just a few months prior to the speech, the Capitol riot occurred, further deepening the divisions between the two most influential political groups in America Taking into account the vast number of issues already confronting America, it was likely clear to President Biden that division would only worsen the
48 situation In response, he emphasized the need for unity and assured people that they and the government are not separate
Overall, this study contributes to the existing literature on CDA of presidents‘ speeches by illustrating the practical application of linguistic devices and discourse analysis techniques in political communication This can be beneficial to future researchers who want to analyze political speeches using Fairclough‘s CDA framework
CONCLUSION
Summary of the main findings
This study investigated the ideological messages communicated in President Biden‘s
2021 State of the Union address through an integration of Fairclough‘s Three- Dimensional framework and Van Dijk‘s Ideological Square Model It followed the three stages of Fairclough‘s framework, which are description, discourse practice, and explanation First, the main themes of the speech were identified through thematic analysis of the content Next, the way in which the content was delivered was analyzed through an examination of word frequencies and collocations, personal pronouns, repetition, in-group out-group categorization, metaphors, and past references Lastly, the socio-political context was examined to explain President Biden‘s reasons for communicating his ideologies
Regarding the findings, President Biden exhibited several ideological beliefs aligned with the Democratic Party, reflecting liberal values He emphasized the active role of government in promoting social welfare, equality, economic development, and outlined plans such as the American Health Plan and the American Families Plan President Biden supported social progress, individual rights, and explicitly opposed racism, referencing the George Floyd incident His approval of transgenderism and support for immigration, environmental policy, gun control, and vaccinations further reflected liberal ideologies However, his approach to diplomacy appeared more conservative, emphasizing unity among Americans and framing external adversaries as the out-group Several linguistic devices were used to communicate these ideologies For instance, the repetitive use of certain keywords, like ‗jobs‘, ‗tax‘, and ‗America‘, supported his views on economic reform, financial equality, and unity Additionally, the repetitive use of certain collocations, such as ‗jobs plan‘, ‗American jobs‘, ‗our democracy‘, and ‗we need‘, expressed his viewpoints on the economy and need for unity His frequent use of the
50 personal pronouns ‗we‘ and ‗our‘ also emphasized his ideology of unity On the other hand, his in-group, out-group categorization revealed his perception on the juxtaposition of America and other countries America, and its people, were viewed as allies (the in- group), while competing countries, notably Russia, China, and Middle Eastern countries, were viewed as opponents (the out-group) The use of repetition also supported some of his ideologies For example, by repetitively telling people to get vaccinated, his support for vaccinations was communicated In addition, his use of repetition helped reinforce certain ideas and concepts such as the success of his administration, the state of division from the capitol attack, and the need for jobs and economic reform Another linguistic device that argued his viewpoints was past references He referred to the capitol attack to exemplify the state of division in the country and he referred to past failed economic policies to encourage new ones Lastly, his use of metaphors was aimed at making people enthusiastic about America‘s future and emphasizing the negative impacts of COVID and racism
In addition to the aforementioned findings, I determined the possible reasons for President Biden‘s communication of specific ideologies in his speech Firstly, his emphasis on vaccination and pandemic management stemmed from criticism of the previous administration‘s handling of COVID-19 Biden aimed to address the shortcomings by prioritizing vaccination and healthcare accessibility Additionally, Biden‘s focus on human rights, particularly in combating racism, was prompted by events like the George Floyd incident and the Black Lives Matter movement Lastly, Biden‘s call for unity originated from the Capitol riot and deepening political divisions, emphasizing the need for solidarity The ideologies that President Biden communicated were not only reflective of his political affiliation, but were also suitable responses to the crises that were confronting America at the time.
Limitations and suggestions for further studies
I identified three main limitations in this study Firstly, I assumed transparency in President Biden‘s speech The analysis assumes that the speech accurately reflects
President Biden's genuine ideologies Political speeches often involve strategic communication, and some elements may be tailored for public reception rather than transparently representing the speaker's personal beliefs For instance, Biden used to be openly against the LGBTQ community in the 1990s, however, in this speech he briefly expressed support (Nagourney & Kaplan, 2020) It is possible that he did this to appeal to the audience, instead of expressing his actual belief Second, this study is based on a speech delivered in 2021, and political landscapes can evolve rapidly Changes in policies, events, or public sentiment after the speech might influence the relevance of the findings over time Lastly, CDA analysis is susceptible to subjective analysis Despite efforts to maintain objectivity, findings can be influenced by the researcher‘s own biases and perspectives which reflect the researcher‘s preconceived notions
In light of these limitations, I suggest the following actions for researchers who aim to conduct studies that build on the findings of my study To address the challenge of subjective analysis, researchers can replicate my study with similar research questions and methodologies The findings of these studies can then be compared with mine to assess the consistency and reliability of the findings and determining whether a consensus exists For those interested in identifying ideologies in political discourse, particularly within the context of the presidency, expanding the scope beyond a single president can enhance the generalizability of findings Analyzing speeches and discourses from a diverse range of presidents allows for a more comprehensive understanding of how ideologies are communicated and perceived across different political administrations Furthermore, given the evolving nature of political discourse, researchers should prioritize analyzing the latest speeches and communications from political figures This ensures that the findings reflect current ideological positions and priorities.
Implications
Teachers can use President Biden‘s 2021 SOTU address as a case study to illustrate the practical application of linguistic devices and discourse analysis techniques in political
52 communication This can help to encourage critical thinking and analysis skills among students by prompting them to identify and evaluate the ideologies communicated by political figures in their speeches By incorporating discussions on how ideologies are communicated in political discourse, teachers can further enhance students‘ understanding of modern political issues and the persuasive strategies used by politicians
Students can gain a better understanding of political communication by engaging with real-world examples, such as President Biden's SOTU address, and analyzing the strategies used to convey ideologies Students can be empowered to critically evaluate the messages and motivations of political leaders through CDA that focuses on ideology
Analysts can draw insights from the research findings to inform their own studies on political discourse and ideological communication They can use similar methodologies and analytical frameworks to examine speeches from various political leaders The analysis of specific features of discourse in President Biden‘s speech can serve as a blueprint for analysts seeking to uncover ideologies and discursive strategies in political communication.
Concluding thoughts
Linguistic devices provide a rich repertoire for speakers to express their ideologies in a way that evokes empathy, urgency, and support from the audience For example, President Biden‘s reference to past events such as the George Floyd incident justified his policy proposals Moreover, by using metaphors when talking about the impact of COVID-19, he was able to generate empathy from the audience for people who had been separated due to the pandemic Furthermore, repetition created a sense of urgency when President Biden stated ―we have to prove them wrong We have to prove that democracy still works‖ Ultimately, speakers are able to utilize various linguistic devices to influence the way their message is perceived by the audience
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5 And Mitch and Chuck will understand it‘s good to be almost home, down the hall
7 Madam Speaker, Madam Vice President - no President has ever said those words from this podium
8 No President has ever said those words, and it‘s about time
9 First Lady — I‘m her husband; Second Gentleman; Chief Justice; members of the United States Congress and the Cabinet; distinguished guests; my fellow Americans: While the setting tonight is familiar, this gathering is just a little bit different — a reminder of the extraordinary times we‘re in
10 Throughout our history, Presidents have come to this chamber to speak to Congress, to the nation, and to the world to declare war, to celebrate peace, to announce new plans and possibilities
11 Tonight, I come to talk about crisis and opportunity, about rebuilding the nation, revitalizing our democracy, and winning the future for America
12 I stand here tonight, one day shy of the 100th day of my administration — 100 days since I took the oath of office and lifted my hand off our family Bible and inherited a nation — we all did — that was in crisis
13 The worst pandemic in a century
14 The worst economic crisis since the Great Depression
15 The worst attack on our democracy since the Civil War
16 Now, after just 100 days, I can report to the nation: America is on the move again
— turning peril into possibility, crisis to opportunity, setbacks into strength
17 We all know life can knock us down
18 But in America, we never, ever, ever stay down
20 Today, that‘s what we‘re doing: America is rising anew, choosing hope over fear, truth over lies, and light over darkness
21 After 100 days of rescue and renewal, America is ready for takeoff, in my view
22 We‘re working again, dreaming again, discovering again, and leading the world again
23 We have shown each other and the world that there‘s no quit in America — none
24 One hundred days ago, America‘s house was on fire
26 And thanks to the extraordinary leadership of Speaker Pelosi; Majority Leader Schumer; and the overwhelming support of the American people — Democrats, independents, and Republicans — we did act
27 Together we passed the American Rescue Plan — one of the most consequential rescue packages in American history
28 We‘re already seeing the results
29 We‘re already seeing the results
30 After I promised we‘d get 100 million COVID-19 vaccine shots into people‘s arms in 100 days, we will have provided over 220 million COVID shots in those 100 days
31 Thanks to all the help of all of you, we‘re marshalling — with your help, everyone‘s help — we‘re marshalling every federal resource
32 We‘ve gotten vaccines to nearly 40,000 pharmacies and over 700 Community Health Centers where the poorest of the poor can be reached
33 We‘re setting up community vaccination sites, developing mobile units to get to hard-to-reach communities
34 Today, 90 percent of Americans now live within five miles of a vaccination site
35 Everyone over the age of 16 — everyone is now eligible to get vaccinated right now, right away
37 Go and get the vaccination
40 When I was sworn in on January 20th, less than 1 percent of the seniors in America were fully vaccinated against COVID-19
41 One hundred days later, 70 percent of seniors in America over 65 are protected — fully protected
42 Senior deaths from COVID-19 are down 80 percent since January — down 80
60 percent because of all of you
43 And more than half of all the adults in America have gotten at least one shot
44 At a mass vaccination center in Glendale, Arizona, I asked a nurse — I said,
45 She looked at me and she said, ―It‘s like every shot is giving a dose of hope‖ — was the phrase
47 A dose of hope for an educator in Florida who has a child suffering from an autoimmune disease — wrote to me, said she‘s worried — that she was worrying about bringing the virus home
48 She said she then got vaccinated at a — at a large site, in her car
49 She said she sat in her car, when she got vaccinated, and just cried — cried out of joy and cried out of relief
50 Parents see the smiles on their kids‘ faces, for those who are able to go back to school because the teachers and school bus drivers and cafeteria workers have been vaccinated
51 Grandparents hugging their children and grandchildren instead of pressing hands against a window to say goodbye
54 You know, there‘s still — you all know it; you know it better than any group of Americans — there‘s still more work to do to beat this virus
55 We can‘t let our guard down
56 But tonight I can say it: Because of you, the American people, our progress these past 100 days against one of the worst pandemics in history has been one of the greatest logistical achievements — logistical achievements this country has ever seen
57 What else have we done in those first 100 days?
58 We kept our commitment — Democrats and Republicans — of sending $1,400 rescue checks to 85 percent of American households
59 We‘ve already sent more than one — 160 million checks out the door
61 You all know it when you go home
62 For many people, it‘s making all the difference in the world
63 A single mom in Texas who wrote to me, she said she couldn‘t work, but she said
61 the relief check put food on the table and saved her and her son from eviction from their apartment
64 A grandmother in Virginia who told me she immediately took her granddaughter to the eye doctor — something she said she put off for months because she didn‘t have the money
65 One of the defining images, at least from my perspective, of this crisis has been cars lined up — cars lined up for miles
66 And not — not people who just barely ever start those cars — nice cars lined up for miles, waiting for a box of food to be put in their trunk
67 I don‘t know about you, but I didn‘t ever think I‘d see that in America
68 And all of this is through no fault of their own
69 No fault of their own these people are in this position
70 That‘s why the Rescue Plan is delivering food and nutrition assistance to millions of Americans facing hunger, and hunger is down sharply already
71 We‘re also providing rental assistance — you all know this, but the American people, I want to make sure they understand — keeping people from being evicted from their homes, providing loans to small businesses to reopen and keep their employees on the job
72 During these 100 days, an additional 800,000 Americans enrolled in the Affordable Care Act when I established the special sign-up period to do that — 800,000 in that period
73 We‘re making one of the largest one-time ever investments — ever — in improving healthcare for veterans
74 Critical investments to address the opioid crisis
75 And, maybe most importantly, thanks to the American Rescue Plan, we‘re on track to cut child poverty in America in half this year
76 And in the process, while this was all going on, the economy created more than 1,300,000 new jobs in 100 days — more jobs in the first — more jobs in the first 100 days than any President on record
77 The International Monetary Fund — the International Monetary Fund is now estimating our economy will grow at a rate of more than 6 percent this year
78 That will be the fastest pace of economic growth in this country in nearly four decades
79 America is moving — moving forward — but we can‘t stop now
80 We‘re in competition with China and other countries to win the 21st Century
81 We‘re at a great inflection point in history
82 We have to do more than just build back better — I mean ―build back.‖
83 We have to build back better
84 We have to compete more strenuously than we have
85 Throughout our history, if you think about it, public investment and infrastructure has literally transformed America — our attitudes, as well as our opportunities
86 The transcontinental railroad, the interstate highways united two oceans and brought a totally new age of progress to the United States of America
87 Universal public schools and college aid opened wide the doors of opportunity
88 Scientific breakthroughs took us to the Moon — now we‘re on Mars; discovering vaccines; gave us the Internet and so much more
89 These are the investments we made together as one country, and investments that only the government was in a position to make
90 Time and again, they propel us into the future
91 That‘s why I proposed the American Jobs Plan — a once-in-a-generation investment in America itself
92 This is the largest jobs plan since World War Two
93 It creates jobs to upgrade our transportation infrastructure; jobs modernizing our roads, bridges, highways; jobs building ports and airports, rail corridors, transit lines
95 And, today, up to 10 million homes in America and more than 400,000 schools and childcare centers have pipes with lead in them, including in drinking water — a clear and present danger to our children‘s health
96 The American Jobs Plan creates jobs replacing 100 percent of the nation‘s lead pipes and service lines so every American can drink clean water
97 And in the process, it will create thousands and thousands of good-paying jobs
98 It creates jobs connecting every American with high-speed Internet, including 35 percent of the rural America that still doesn‘t have it
99 This is going to help our kids and our businesses succeed in the 21st-century economy
100 And I am asking the Vice President to lead this effort, if she would — because I know it will get done
101 It creates jobs, building a modern power grid
102 Our grids are vulnerable to storms, hacks, catastrophic failures — with tragic results, as we saw in Texas and elsewhere during the winter storms
103 The American Jobs Plan will create jobs that will lay thousands of miles of transmission lines needed to build a resilient and fully clean grid
105 Look, the American Jobs Plan will help millions of people get back to their jobs and back to their careers
106 Two million women have dropped out of the workforce during this pandemic — two million
107 And too often because they couldn‘t get the care they needed to care for their child or care for an elderly parent who needs help
108 Eight hundred thousand families are on a Medicare waiting list right now to get homecare for their aging parent or loved one with a disability
109 If you think it‘s not important, check out in your own district
110 Democrat or Republican — Democrat or Republican voters, their great concern — almost as much as their children — is taking care of an elderly loved one who can‘t be left alone
111 Medicaid contemplated it, but this plan is going to help those families and create jobs for our caregivers with better wages and better benefits, continuing a cycle of growth
112 For too long, we‘ve failed to use the most important word when it comes to meeting the climate crisis: ―jobs.‖
115 For me, when I think ―climate change,‖ I think ―jobs.‖
116 The American Jobs Plan will put engineers and construction workers to work building more energy-efficient buildings and homes
117 Electrical workers — IBEW members — installing 500,000 charging stations along our highways so we can own — so we can own the electric car market
118 Farmers — farmers planting cover crops so they can reduce the carbon dioxide in the air and get paid for doing it
119 Look, but think about it: There is simply no reason why the blades for wind turbines can‘t be built in Pittsburgh instead of Beijing
123 So, folks, there‘s no reason why American — American workers can‘t lead the
64 world in the production of electric vehicles and batteries
124 I mean, there is no reason
126 We have the brightest, best-trained people in the world
127 The American Jobs Plan is going to create millions of good-paying jobs — jobs Americans can raise a family on — as my dad would then say, ―with a little breathing room.‖
128 And all the investments in the American Jobs Plan will be guided by one principle: Buy American
130 And I might note, parenthetically — that does not — that does not violate any trade agreement
131 It‘s been the law since the ‘30s: Buy American
132 American tax dollars are going to be used to buy American products made in America to create American jobs
133 That‘s the way it‘s supposed to be and it will be in this administration
134 And I made it clear to all my Cabinet people
135 Their ability to give exemptions has been extraneously limited
136 It will be American products
137 Now I know some of you at home are wondering whether these jobs are for you
138 So many of you — so many of the folks I grew up with feel left behind, forgotten in an economy that‘s so rapidly changing
140 I want to speak directly to you
141 Because if you think about it, that‘s what people are most worried about: ―Can I fit in?‖
142 Independent experts estimate the American Jobs Plan will add millions of jobs and trillions of dollars to economic growth in the years to come
143 It is a — it is an eight-year program
144 These are good-paying jobs that can‘t be outsourced
145 Nearly 90 percent of the infrastructure jobs created in the American Jobs Plan do not require a college degree; 75 percent don‘t require an associate‘s degree
146 The American Jobs Plan is a blue-collar blueprint to build America
148 And it recognizes something I‘ve always said in this chamber and the other
149 Good guys and women on Wall Street, but Wall Street didn‘t build this country
150 The middle class built the country, and unions built the middle class
151 So that‘s why I‘m calling on Congress to pass the Protect the Right to Organize Act — the PRO Act — and send it to my desk so we can support the right to unionize
152 And, by the way, while you‘re thinking about sending things to my desk — let‘s raise the minimum wage to $15
153 No one — no one working 40 hours a week — no one working 40 hours a week should live below the poverty line
154 We need to ensure greater equity and opportunity for women
155 And while we‘re doing this, let‘s get the Paycheck Fairness Act to my desk as well
156 It‘s been much too long
157 And if you‘re wondering whether it‘s too long, look behind me
158 And finally, the American Jobs Plan will be the biggest increase in nondefense research and development on record
159 We will see more technological change — and some of you know more about this than I do — we‘ll see more technological change in the next 10 years than we saw in the last 50
160 That‘s how rapidly artificial intelligence and so much more is changing
161 And we‘re falling behind the competition with the rest of the world
162 Decades ago, we used to invest 2 percent of our gross domestic product in America — 2 percent of our gross domestic product — in research and development
163 Today, Mr Secretary, that‘s less than 1 percent
164 China and other countries are closing in fast
165 We have to develop and dominate the products and technologies of the future: advanced batteries, biotechnology, computer chips, clean energy
166 The Secretary of Defense can tell you — and those of you on — who work on national security issues know — the Defense Department has an agency called DARPA
— the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency
167 The people who set up before I came here — and that‘s been a long time ago — to develop breakthroughs that enhance our national security -– that‘s their only job
168 And it‘s a semi-separate agency; it‘s under the Defense Department
169 It‘s led to everything from the discovery of the Internet to GPS and so much more that has enhanced our security
170 The National Institute of Health — the NIH –- I believe, should create a similar Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health
171 And that would — here‘s what it would do
172 It would have a singular purpose: to develop breakthroughs to prevent, detect, and treat diseases like Alzheimer‘s, diabetes, and cancer
173 I‘ll still never forget when we passed the cancer proposal the last year I was Vice President — almost $9 million going to NIH
174 And if you excuse the point of personal privilege, I‘ll never forget you standing and mentioning — saying you‘d name it after my deceased son
176 But so many of us have deceased sons, daughters, and relatives who died of cancer
177 I can think of no more worthy investment
178 I know of nothing that is more bipartisan
179 So, let‘s end cancer as we know it
181 It‘s within our power to do it
182 Investments in jobs and infrastructure, like the ones we‘re talking about, have often had bipartisan support in the past
183 Vice President Harris and I met regularly in the Oval Office with Democrats and Republicans to discuss the Jobs Plan
184 And I applaud a group of Republican senators who just put forward their own proposal
185 So, let‘s get to work
186 I wanted to lay out, before the Congress, my plan before we got into the deep discussions
187 I‘d like to meet with those who have ideas that are different — they think are better
189 But the rest of the world is not waiting for us
190 I just want to be clear: From my perspective, doing nothing is not an option
191 Look, we can‘t be so busy competing with one another that we forget the
67 competition that we have with the rest of the world to win the 21st century
192 Secretary Blinken can tell you, I spent a lot of time with President Xi — traveled over 17,000 miles with him; spent, they tell me, over 24 hours in private discussions with him
193 When he called to congratulate me, we had a two-hour discussion
194 He‘s deadly earnest about becoming the most significant, consequential nation in the world
195 He and others — autocrats — think that democracy can‘t compete in the 21st century with autocracies because it takes too long to get consensus
196 To win that competition for the future, in my view, we also need to make a once- in-a-generation investment in our families and our children
197 That‘s why I‘ve introduced the American Families Plan tonight, which addresses four of the biggest challenges facing American families and, in turn, America
198 First is access to a good education
199 When this nation made 12 years of public education universal in the last century, it made us the best-educated, best-prepared nation in the world
200 It‘s, I believe, the overwhelming reason that propelled us to where we got in the 21st — in the 20th century
201 But the world has caught up, or catching up
203 I would say, parenthetically: If we were sitting down, put a bipartisan committee together and said, ―Okay, we‘re going to decide what we do in terms of government providing for free education,‖ I wonder whether we‘d think, as we did in the 20th century, that 12 years is enough in the 21st century
205 Twelve years is no longer enough today to compete with the rest of the world in the 21st Century
206 That‘s why my American Families Plan guarantees four additional years of public education for every person in America, starting as early as we can
207 The great universities of this country have conducted studies over the last 10 years
208 It shows that adding two years of universal high-quality preschool for every three- year-old and four-year-old, no matter what background they come from, it puts them in the position to be able to compete all the way through 12 years
209 It increases exponentially their prospect of graduating and going on beyond graduation
210 The research shows when a young child goes to school — not daycare — they are far more likely to graduate from high school and go to college or something after high school
211 When you add two years of free community college on top of that, you begin to change the dynamic
213 And we‘ll increase Pell Grants and invest in Historical Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges, Minority-Serving Institutions
214 The reason is: They don‘t have the endowments, but their students are just as capable of learning about cybersecurity, just as capable of learning about metallurgy — all the things that are going on that provide those jobs of the future
215 Jill was a community college professor who teaches today as First Lady
218 If I‘ve heard it once, I‘ve heard it a thousand times: ―Joe, any country that out- educates us is going to outcompete us.‖
219 She‘ll be deeply involved in leading this effort
221 Second thing we need: American Families Plan will provide access to quality, affordable childcare