Utah's members of Congress said they never saw anything like it - both Democrats and Republicans cheering a president, chanting his name, waving flags and setting what had to be a record for standing ovations in a speech.
"In all the speeches I have been to in 17 years (in the Senate), I have never gotten that much exercise, never seen a response like that - continuing standing ovations," said Sen. Jake Garn, R-Utah."And as I looked around, I saw a lot of people with tears in their eyes," he added. "I've never felt such a good, warm feeling in Congress."
"I was very proud of the president," said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, who especially liked how Bush continually looked up to his wife in the galleries to share his triumph.
"Americans have never stood taller since the Second World War," said Rep. Jim Hansen, R-Utah.
"I commend him," Rep. Bill Orton, D-Utah, said of the president, and he also especially praised him for proposing to help solve Arab-Israeli conflicts - which Orton has pushed for weeks. "I think that is the most important thing he could have possibly said."
"It was probably his finest hour," said Rep. Wayne Owens, D-Utah. "He certainly brought victory home. I liked the tone of his speech enormously. It spoke about healing and solving the rest of the problems in the Middle East. A comprehensive Middle East peace is to be devoutly hoped for, and he set all the right tones."
The delegation also generally agreed that the president's speech may spur Congress into action - especially when he said that if U.S. troops could win the ground war in 100 hours, then Congress should be able to pass bills on crime and transportation in the next 100 days.