-- Tuesday , February 24 , 2009 : 52 minutes and 61 applause interruptions . Longest State of the Union address was Harry Truman 's on January 22 , 1946 . The shortest : George Washington 's 1790 address . Former President George W. Bush was a big fan of the blue ties .
Longest State of the Union address was Harry Truman 's on January 22 , 1946 . The shortest : George Washington 's 1790 address . Former President George W. Bush was a big fan of the blue ties .