State of the Union Addresses

This audiobook gathers the four State of the Union speeches delivered by Chester A. Arthur between 1881 and 1884. In the wake of President Garfield’s assassination, the addresses balance solemn tribute with reports of a thriving nation—plentiful harvests, expanding industry, and steady health. Arthur’s remarks also trace the United States’ diplomatic posture, from a friendly salute to Britain to discussions of a Panama canal.

Listeners will hear the president’s detailed accounts of settlement claims, international exhibitions in Melbourne and Paris, and early negotiations on copyright and bimetallism. He also touches on sensitive issues such as the surrender of Sitting Bull and the management of frontier relations with British‑Indian groups. The language preserves the formal cadence of 19th‑century congressional speeches while offering a vivid snapshot of an era poised between reconstruction and emerging global ambition.