The State of the Union in Photos

Obama reached for the center, as Congress' "prom night" seating chart led to a civil, if subdued, reception. Will it help the Dems? Did Paul Ryan break through? Mark McKinnon, Meghan McCain, Eliza Griswold, and other Daily Beast contributors weigh in. PLUS: Watch video of the speech.

Evan Vucci / AP Photo

galleries/2011/01/25/the-state-of-the-union-in-photos/state-of-the-union-5_rxyzze — President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union address at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011.
Evan Vucci / AP Photo

galleries/2011/01/25/the-state-of-the-union-in-photos/state-of-the-union-1_vtdiay — President Barack Obama greets Justice Sonia Sotomayor on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011, prior to delivering his State of the Union address. Justices, from left are, Anthony Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer and Sotomayor.
Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP Photo

galleries/2011/01/25/the-state-of-the-union-in-photos/state-of-the-union-3_fkz1yu — First lady Michelle Obama waves on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011, prior to the start of President Barack Obama's State of the Union address.
Evan Vucci / AP Photo

galleries/2011/01/25/the-state-of-the-union-in-photos/state-of-the-union-2_kaa2zm — Members of President Barack Obama's Cabinet, from left, Attorney General Eric Holder, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton are seen on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan, 25, 2011, prior to the start of the president's State of the Union address.
Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP Photo

galleries/2011/01/25/the-state-of-the-union-in-photos/state-of-the-union-4_c5h8ov — Vice President Joe Biden talks with House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011, prior to the start of President Barack Obama's State of the Union address.
Charles Dharapak / AP Photo

galleries/2011/01/25/the-state-of-the-union-in-photos/state-of-the-union-13_tieet3 — Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., left, and Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., right stand and applaud as Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y. sits during President Barack Obama's State of the Union address in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011.
Evan Vucci / AP Photo

galleries/2011/01/25/the-state-of-the-union-in-photos/state-of-the-union-11_bfgbvd — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton greets Justices Elana Kagan, right, and Sonia Sotomayor on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan, 25, 2011, prior to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address.
Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP Photo

galleries/2011/01/25/the-state-of-the-union-in-photos/state-of-the-union-9_odoci5 — U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with the new Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner (R) before his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, January 25, 2011.
Jim Young, Reuters / Landov

galleries/2011/01/25/the-state-of-the-union-in-photos/state-of-the-union-6_uyjd71 — An empty seat for Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz. is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011, during President Barack Obama's State of the Union address. Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz. is at left, Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz. is at right.
Evan Vucci / AP Photo

galleries/2011/01/25/the-state-of-the-union-in-photos/state-of-the-union-8_takeci — U.S. President Barack Obama makes a point during his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, January 25, 2011.
Jim Young, Reuters / Landov

galleries/2011/01/25/the-state-of-the-union-in-photos/state-of-the-union-12_oppczw — Senator Jim Webb (D-VA), (C) whispers to his seatmate Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) as they sit between Senator Max Baucus (R-MT) (L) and Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) (R) during U.S. President Barack Obama's State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, January 25, 2011. Members of both parties broke with tradition and sat with each other during the speech.
Molly Riley, Reuters / Landov

galleries/2011/01/25/the-state-of-the-union-in-photos/state-of-the-union-7_xcew6t — Senators John Kerry (D-MA), John McCain (R-AZ), Tom Udall (D-NM) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) talk as they take their seats mixed among members of other parties on the floor of the house chamber before U.S. President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, January 25, 2011.
Jim Young, Reuters / Landov

galleries/2011/01/25/the-state-of-the-union-in-photos/state-of-the-union-10_w71jhc — U.S. President Barack Obama greets Republican Congressman from Florida John Mica (L) before delivering his second State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, USA, on 25 January 2011. Obama used the speech, which focused on jobs and strengthening the economy, to call for a five-year freeze on non-security discretionary spending.
Shawn Thew, EPA / Landov

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