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The 1997 State of the Union address was given by President Bill Clinton to a joint session of the 105th United States Congress on February 4, 1997. The speech was the first State of the Union address of President Clinton's second term.
President Clinton discussed numerous topics in the address, including the environment, the International Space Station, welfare, crime and relations with NATO and China. The president also focused on a "detailed plan to balance the budget by 2002".
The Republican Party response was delivered by Oklahoma congressman J. C. Watts in front of high school students sponsored by the Close Up Foundation.
Dan Glickman, the Secretary of Agriculture, served as the designated survivor.
The speech was broadcast live on television and radio and lasted 1:04:21 and consisted of 6,774 words.
This was the first State of the Union Address carried live on the Internet.