SOTU Remixed

What would it sound like if Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and Theodore Roosevelt helped President Barack Obama write tonight’s State of the Union address? The Sunlight Foundation’s State of the Union Machine might give you some idea. 

The online tool was highlighted during NPR's "All Things Considered" on Tuesday.

Here's how it works.

Using text from previous State of the Union speeches by Obama, George W. Bush, Clinton, George H.W. Bush, Reagan, Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, the “machine” allows users to turn up or down the influence of the Commander in Chief of their choice.

The quality of the results varies. Often, the sentences make no sense at all. But, it’s fun to see what happens when you match political odd couples, or ignore the chronological order of the Presidency.

Take it for a spin, and then share your results in the comments section below. The Sunlight Foundation is also engouraging users to share their favorite passages using #SOTUMachine. 

President Obama’s real State of the Union Address will be broadcast live tonight at 9 p.m. You can catch it on 90.1 WFYI and WFYI 1 Public Television.