State of the Union is a 1948 American drama film directed by Frank Capra about a man's desire to run for the nomination as the Republican candidate for President, and the machinations of those around him.

The New York Times described it as "a slick piece of screen satire...sharper in its knife-edged slicing at the hides of pachyderm schemers and connivers than was the original.

"[5] The film was written by Myles Connolly and Anthony Veiller and was based on the 1945 Russel Crouse, Howard Lindsay Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name.

Republican newspaper magnate, Kay Thorndyke, intends to make her lover, aircraft tycoon Grant Matthews, U.S. president, with her as the power behind the throne.

Thorndyke plans to use her newspaper chain's influence to deadlock the 1948 Republican National Convention, so it will choose Matthews as a compromise dark horse candidate, instead of Thomas E. Dewey, Robert A. Taft or former Governor of Minnesota, Harold Stassen.

Matthews is skeptical of the idea of running for president, but Thorndyke, Republican strategist Jim Conover, and campaign manager Spike McManus persuade him to test the waters by going on a speaking tour.

A nationwide fireside chat, broadcast live on radio and television from the Matthews's home, is intended to officially launch Grant's candidacy.

Grant, who came to the broadcast from a meeting (off camera) of local people where his one-time friends, neighbors and supporters let him have it, sees Mary succumbing to the corruption.

There was tension between Adolphe Menjou and Hepburn during the filming, as he was a member of the politically conservative group Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals and she had allied herself with the rival Committee for the First Amendment.

"[14] Shortly after completion, State of the Union was screened exclusively for President Harry Truman and reportedly helped convince him to run for office again.

[15] Capra bought the rights of State of the Union after its initial theatrical release and after his company folded, Liberty Films' assets were acquired by Paramount Pictures.