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Obama to speak to joint session of Congress

President Barack Obama plans to address a joint session of Congress next month to deliver a State of the Union-style speech.
/ Source: msnbc.com staff and news service reports

President Barack Obama plans to address a joint session of Congress next month to deliver a State of the Union-style speech.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Friday that Obama plans a speech at the Capitol in February. Gibbs said no date has been set but joked that they are trying to schedule it around "Dancing with the Stars."

Such a speech is typical for a new president. Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton delivered similar addresses shortly after taking office, focusing on the goals of their administrations, according to the Government Printing Office's Public Papers of the President.

President Ronald Reagan also gave an inaugural year speech to Congress in 1981, outlining his economic recovery plan.

Obama is working with congressional leaders to push through an economic stimulus plan that could cost $825 billion. He met with legislative leaders Friday morning at the White House.