Lenny Skutnicks

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In the United States, Lenny Skutnicks is a term used by presidential speechwriters to refer to guests at the State of the Union Address (SOTU) that the President points to in order to illustrate a point. The term comes from Lenny Skutnick, the first guest used in this manner.

These special guests are seated next to the First Lady during the course of the speech. This area of seating is sometimes known as the "Heroes' Gallery".

List of Lenny Skutnicks

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1982

Lenny Skutnick, the namesake of the term for the special guests at the SOTU. He was an office worker who jumped into the icy Potomac River to try to save the victims of the 1982 Air Florida Flight 90 plane crash. President Ronald Reagan pointed to him as an example of the American ideal in his first Address, which was only two weeks after the accident. Immediately before noting Skutnick, Reagan first pointed out Jeremiah Denton, a former U.S. prisoner of war held in Vietnam and a then-Senator. Denton's role is often unnoted, perhaps because Denton, as a Senator, had not been brought in specifically as a prop and thus not a Skutnick.

1983

No Skutnick was used, with Reagan pointing out the members of the Commission on Social Security and calling for recognition of Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker and Speaker Tip O'Neill

1984

Reagan pointed to Sergeant Stephen Trujillo, a medic during the Invasion of Grenada in October 1983. He also mentions Rev. Bruce Ritter, founder of Covenant House for abused children, and Dr. Charles Carson, who was paralyzed and trying to develop computer-controlled walking.

1999

Sammy Sosa, a right fielder in Major League Baseball who had just beaten Roger Maris' home run record, and Rosa Parks, an icon of the U.S. civil rights movement, were mentioned by Bill Clinton

2004

Adnan Pachachi, the President of the Iraqi Governing Council, was pointed to by George W. Bush

External links

• Links to text of all SOTUs