Furthermore , the speech marked the second time that a Democrat sat behind President Bush during a joint session of Congress and the first time at a State of the Union address . Traditionally , the Speaker of the House and the Vice President ( the President of the Senate ) are the only individuals on the rostrum with the President . However , in a joint session of Congress on September 20 , 2001 , following the September 11 attacks nine days earlier , president pro tempore Robert Byrd , a Democrat , took the place of Vice President Cheney , who was at an undisclosed location . As the first female Speaker of the House , Nancy Pelosi is also the first woman in American history to stand on the podium during a State of the Union address
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
2007 State of the Union Address