States of the Union uses State of the Union addresses and other presidential addresses to tell the story of the political history of the United States--the great "experiment," as George Washington described it, in government of the people by the people. One by one, the presidents define the great issues of their day, recommend solutions, and report on successes and failures both at home and abroad. The people, meanwhile, register their own verdict in presidential and congressional elections. Anyone interested in US history will learn a great deal from this book.