What is the history of "shout-out" appearances by people at the SOTU?

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

Bush:
2007-Mutombo, "Baby Einstein" Lady
? -Tom Brady

Clinton:
? -Scott O'Grady (F-16 pilot who was shot down)

[Virginia Dare]

1. Started by Ronald Reagan iirc...n/t

[Staph]

2. According to Wikipedia,

the first acknowledged special guest was in 1982. Speechwriters refer to them as "Lenny Skutniks", after the first such guest, the guy who jumped into the Potomac River to rescue passengers of crashed Air Florida flight 90.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_the_union

Just another annoyance for which we can blame Reagan and the Replubicans!

[Little Wing]

3. They surround themselves with the bravery of others

Bush I with his police shield, or did both of them do that?

Cindy Sheehan dragged out for wearing a shirt.

[WI_DEM]

4. Reagan started it and it annoys me no end--they could end that as far as I'm concerned

Who was the guy Bush introduced last night who sat near Pickles who was blowing Bush kisses when he was introduced?

[Rosemary2205]

5. That was the subway hero in NYC.

and I love that guy.

[WI_DEM]

6. Yes, he's a hero. Too bad Bush used him.

[Rosemary2205]

7. I think the guy was probably willing.

I saw him on something last week and he said he doesn't understand why he's getting so many prizes for just doing what anyone else would do, but he's enjoying it. The man seems to have his head and heart in the right place -- just enjoying the "15 minutes" while he has it.

[Raydawg1234]

8. The guy who saved a man who fell on the NYC subway tracks

He jumped on the tracks, dragged the man into a space in between the tracks, laying on him to sheild him while the train passed over them

which was really quite amazing, he totally risked his life, I can only imagine what it is like to lay underneath a moving train.

[Javaman]

9. Who else is tired of the phrase "shout-out"? nt

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

10. I honestly couldn't think of a more appropriate term for these "guest appearances" @ SOTU at the

time I posted this, still can't...