Historians usually refer to State of the Union Addresses using a single formal title: "Address Before a Joint Session of the Congress on the State of the Union."

Doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, does it?

Several of the more famous State of the Unions have nicknames (for example, George W. Bush's "Axis of Evil" speech or Lyndon Johnson's "War on Poverty" speech).

Clinton's 1996 address is most famous for the line, "the era of big government is over," but (so far) this phrase hasn't led to a catchier nickname. So for Shmoop purposes, just call it the 1996 State of the Union. It's just easier that way.