President Obama’s address to Congress tonight was historic for several reasons.

First, it is rare that a president addresses the joint Houses of Congress, save annual State of the Union addresses. President Bush did it only once in the days following the September 11th attacks.

President Clinton did it early on during his first term and the topic was the same as tonight’s address: health care reform. I was an intern in the Clinton White House the night President Clinton gave that speech. Many of you will remember that his wife headed up the administration’s reform efforts. At the time he gave his speech, health care reform was still popular. That didn’t last too much longer.

Following President Clinton’s address, he, Mrs. Clinton, Vice President and Mrs. Gore, and the Surgeon General all ventured across the street to the OEOB and the Health Care War Room. There, they were met by the staff working on reform and a few interns, myself included.

The president briefly spoke to the group, giving something of a pep talk. His wife also gave a short talk, standing on a chair, supported by her husband. A picture of that scene is in Hillary Clinton’s autobiography, with a young intern standing in the corner of the shot. His name is Jay Warren. My mother sure liked that!

Back to President Obama’s speech; did he do what he needed to do? I suspect the answer to that question is a soft yes. I don’t think he won over the majority of Republicans. In fact, they came off almost angry during portions of the speech. I’m not sure I have ever seen a United States President shouted down by a member of Congress during an address of this nature and magnitude, but it happened tonight.

I do think President Obama might have done enough to win over a couple of moderate Republicans, likely enough to pass something. Will that something be exactly what the liberal wing of the Democratic Party is dreaming of? I can’t imagine it will be. But, I’ll bet insurance reform and an expansion of health care benefits to many more Americans will pass the Democratic controlled House and Senate at some point this fall. And, President Obama will declare victory, even if it’s not exactly what he campaigned on or really wanted.