Speaker

The speaker of the 2002 State of the Union address is George W. Bush. He was a year into his first term as US President and had a very high approval rating among the population at the time.

George W. Bush is the son of a former US President, George H. W. Bush, who served as US President between 1989 and 1993. Many members of the Bush family are involved in US politics. George W. Bush is a member of the Republican Party. 

The US Republican Party is defined as conservative in terms of social policy, supporting traditional family values, for example. Also, it is defined by support for free market capitalism (rewards for individual intiative, reduced governmental interference in economy, and low taxes for businessmen) and a strong military.

In the speech, Bush mentions his party but focuses on the importance of unity: “I'm a proud member of my party – yet as we act to win the war, protect our people, and create jobs in America, we must act, first and foremost, not as Republicans, not as Democrats, but as Americans.” (ll. 135-138)

A typical Republican attitude is reflected in the...