By John Lindstrom
Publisher
Posted: January 16, 2013 7:10 PM

Going into the biggest speech of the year, every governor has to come up with a way drawing the state’s attention to what he, or she, will propose.

There are, of course, the customary courtesies that must be followed, greeting the leaders, the Legislature and the people. But then, the governor has to get into, and draw his audience into, the mood and tenor of what he, or she, is going to say. In other words, the governor has to hook ‘em.

Some have tried with oratory, some with setting a story, some with a witticism.

None got everyone’s attention better than former Governor William Milliken in the 1978 State of the State.

The biggest question that year was would Mr. Milliken run for a third full term. The state was doing reasonably well economically, a legislative solution to the PPB crisis had been enacted, and Republicans were hoping to have a better year after suffering from post-Watergate hangovers.

So would Mr. Milliken run? He had given out absolutely no clues of his intent.

State of the State addresses were held in the morning, the Thursday after the Legislature returned to session in those long ago days. Reporters were parked in a raised section parallel with the rostrum to the left.

Mr. Milliken was introduced, applauded, and greeted the lawmakers, then immediately he became very, very serious.

“I have to announce,” he said to the now quiet chamber, “that this is the last time I will address this Legislature…

“…This month,”

Reporters had been climbing over each other to get to the phones before Mr. Milliken dropped the punchline.

Smoking was allowed in the chamber then, and former House Republican Floor Leader Bill Bryant said he almost swallowed his cigarette.

The chamber howled with laughter, and some relief, and Mr. Milliken went on to announce a modest income tax cut.

Okay, all current and future governors, top that.