1989 George H. W. Bush speech to a joint session of Congress

George H. W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States, addressed a joint session of the United States Congress on Wednesday, February 9, 1989. It was his first public address before a joint session. Similar to a State of the Union Address, it was delivered before the 101st United States Congress in the Chamber of the United States House of Representatives in the United States Capitol. Presiding over this joint session was the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Jim Wright, accompanied by Dan Quayle, the vice president in his capacity as the president of the Senate.

The speech is referred to as the presidential economic address or the address on administration goals. During his speech, President Bush presented his proposed federal budget.

Secretary of Education Lauro Cavazos was the designated survivor and did not attend the address in order to maintain a continuity of government.

Democratic response
Speaker of the House Jim Wright and Senator Lloyd Bentsen, both of Texas, delivered the Democratic response to the address.