State of the Union: Draft after draft

By Jinitzail Hernández

Posted February 4, 2020 at 6:40am

Rep. Josh Gottheimer was one of the youngest staffers on the Clinton administration’s speech writing team.

“The good news is I was only 23 so I don’t think I realized just how overwhelmed I should have been by being in the West Wing,” said Gottheimer while showing CQ Roll Call the Clinton speech memorabilia adorning his walls.

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Watch the New Jersey Democrat recall the many drafts and just how last minute the State of the Union comes together.

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Tulsi Gabbard, nominated to be director of National Intelligence, testifies to the Senate Select Intelligence Committee on Jan. 30.

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Roll Call Editor Tim Curran questions Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., during an interview by Roll Call reporters in the newspaper's office in 2006. To Curran's left are, in order, Erin Billings, David Drucker, Paul Kane and Louis Jacobson.

Editor’s Note: Tim Curran, an editor and a neighbor

As editor of Roll Call, Tim Curran covered a changing political landscape and launched the careers of several young journalists. Above, Curran wears a Washington Nationals hat and a Roll Call shirt as he hands out awards at the Congressional Baseball Game at RFK Stadium on June 29, 2006.

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