"Now that the applause in the chamber is but a memory, we thought we'd see how President Bush's presumed last State of the Union address matches up against those of his 20th-century counterparts, presidents who served two terms after the passage of the 22nd Amendment.*

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER

Date given: Jan. 12, 1961.

Best moment: Well, the end. Because after a long, long speech, Eisenhower closed with streamlined, efficient eloquence:

"Let us pray that leaders of both the near and distant future will be able to keep the nation strong and at peace, that they will advance the well-being of all our people, that they will lead us on to still higher moral standards, and that, in achieving these goals, they will maintain a reasonable balance between private and governmental responsibility."

Biggest yawner:"The operation of our postal system has been modernized to get better and more efficient service."

Should have been deleted:"An historic new approach -- Urban Renewal -- now replaces piecemeal thrusts at slum pockets and urban blight. Communities engaged in urban renewal have doubled and renewal projects have more than tripled since 1953."

Could have been noted: Wife Mamie's "million-dollar fudge" recipe.

RONALD REAGAN

Date given: Jan. 25, 1988.

Best moment: It was as if Reagan were channeling the ghost of Knute Rockne or, at the very least, the guy who played Knute Rockne in that movie in which Reagan was the Gipper.

"If anyone expects just a proud recitation of the accomplishments of my administration, I say let's leave that to history," Reagan said near the beginning. "We're not finished yet. So, my message to you tonight is: Put on your work shoes -- we're still on the job."

Biggest yawner:"And let's begin by discussing how to maintain economic growth by controlling and eventually eliminating the problem of federal deficits."

Should have been deleted:"So, too, in Afghanistan, the freedom fighters are the key to peace. We support the mujaheddin."

Could have been noted: Granting amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants in 1986, thus planting the seeds for Lou Dobbs's whole post-"Moneyline" career.

BILL CLINTON

Date given: Jan. 27, 2000.

Best moment:"America will lead the world toward shared peace and prosperity and the far frontiers of science and technology. And we will become at last what our founders pledged us to be so long ago -- one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Biggest yawner:"And to make sure all teachers know the subjects they teach, tonight I propose a new teacher quality initiative."

Should have been deleted:"That is why Congress should support the agreement we negotiated to bring China into the WTO, by passing permanent normal trade relations as soon as possible this year. Our markets are already open to China. This agreement will open China's markets to us. And it will advance the cause of peace in Asia and promote the cause of change in China."

Could have been noted: Redefining the word "is."" (Sridhar Pappu, The Washington Post, January 29, 2008)

* Bush has the option (as Eisenhower exercised) to deliver one more State of the Union before leaving office.