He hoped that the targeted move on wages would act as a prelude to a more comprehensive effort making its way through Congress in the form of the Harkin-Miller legislation that would make that rate the minimum wage for all workers.

In calling for the increase in wage, Obama called out the example of Costco, a company that has successfully demonstrated that high profits and relatively high worker wages are not mutually exclusive.

The president hailed a massive growth of the nation’s energy industry, which has seen domestic production rapidly increase during his presidency, while saying that it had been tempered by a diversification of productions methods that had lowered the country’s carbon footprint.

He emphasized the latter points, saying sternly that “climate change is a fact,” a line that was sure to rankle some on the Republican side who have publicly staked out a position against tackling climate change if it adversely impacts the economy.

On education, Obama called for a concerted effort to bolster Pre-K programs nationwide and increase funding.

He called the inequality of pay between men and women a national “embarrassment” and declared that when “women succeed America succeeds.”

Despite a disastrous roll out out last fall of his landmark health care law, a topic that has drawn the ire of Republicans and which led them to shutter the federal government for 16 days in October, Obama defended it vigorously and called it a resounding victory for the American people.

The speech had much less focus on foreign policy, a topic that has largely been drowned out by the bipartisan emphasis on economic matters as being the overarching national priority, possibly because of its resonance with voters ahead of 2014 midterm elections.

But the president did mark out some space on a few areas abroad that the administration has trumpeted as particular bright spots, particular in efforts of diplomacy.

Obama hailed the recent international diplomatic efforts over Iran’s nuclear program, calling the recent interim deal to put curbs on the controversial program an achievement borne of “American diplomacy, backed by pressure.”

He invoked historical precedent, using the example of the Cold War to give credence to his message.

“If John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan could negotiate with the Soviet Union, then surely a strong and confident America can negotiate with less powerful adversaries today,” he said.

He urged Congress to refrain from instituting a new round of sanctions on Iran while diplomatic efforts were ongoing, saying the current efforts to achieve a long-term deal were necessary "for the sake of our national security."

He spoke more generally about the country's future security efforts, saying America "must move off a permanent war footing."

To that end, Obama hailed U.S. efforts in achieving its goals in Afghanistan, praising the ongoing drawdown of U.S. troops and pointing to success in defending the country against terrorism.

Though he has long called for the closure of the prison as Guantanamo Bay and been stifled by Congressional opposition, he again urged for a final shuttering of the detainee site.

In response to the president's address, House Republican Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who delivered the official Republican response to the State of the Union, said that "the president’s policies are making people’s lives harder."

She urged the country to embrace a Republican vision for the country that embraced free markets over government intervention.

She said that the vision from her party is one that "trusts people to make their own decisions, not a government that decides for you."

"Because our mission – not only as Republicans, but as Americans, is to once again to ensure that we are not bound by where we come from, but empowered by what we can become," she said.