President Obama called jobs the top priority during his State of the Union message Wednesday, but also pledged to continue fighting for health care and urged members of both parties to work together on the nation's challenges.

"Despite our hardships, our union is strong," Obama said. "We do not give up. We do not quit. We do not allow fear or division to break our spirit. In this new decade, it's time the American people get a government that matches their decency, that embodies their strength."

Here is how Obama's evening unfolded:

9:06 p.m. -- The sergeants-at-arms utter those immortal words: "Madame Speaker, the president of the United States!"

The Cabinet secretary not attending the speech is Housing secretary Shaun Donovan, though that doesn't mean much: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is currently out of the country. She is higher up on the order of presidential succession, should the worst happen.

9:08 p.m. -- President Obama -- red tie, white shirt -- walks down the aisle, meeting and greeting members of both parties.

9:09 p.m. -- Obama arrives at the podium, greets Vice President Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who formally introduces the president.

9:13 p.m.-- The president opens by reciting past national challenges -- the Civil War, World War II, the Great Depression, the beatings of civil rights demonstrators.

"Again, we are tested," he says. "And again, we must answer history's call."

9:15 p.m. -- Obama reminds the crowd of what he inherited -- fears of a Great Depression: "One year later, the worst of the storm has passed; but the devastation remains."

9:17 p.m. -- Obama said he understands the struggles Americans are facing, either through letters or personal contact. Says he understands their frustration over Wall Street bailouts, and political polarization.

Calls on both parties to work together: "What the American people hope -- what they deserve -- is for all of us, Democrats and Republicans, to work through our differences; to overcome the numbing weight of our politics."

9:18 p.m. -- Money graf cites American optimism:

It is because of this spirit -- this great decency and great strength -- that I have never been more hopeful about America's future than I am tonight. Despite our hardships, our union is strong. We do not give up. We do not quit. We do not allow fear or division to break our spirit.

9:21 p.m. -- Obama dives into the economic section of his speech, starting with something everyone can agree on: No one likes the bank bailouts. "I hated it. You hated it. It was about as popular as a root canal."

But the bailouts were necessary to save the financial system, he adds -- and now it's time for banks to repay Americans. Then he touts the ideas of new bank fees on firms that got federal help; proposal draws no applause from Republicans.

9:23 p.m. -- Obama cites his record as a tax cutter, from small businesses to working families -- and twits Republicans in the process. "I thought I'd get some applause on that one," he tells critics.

9:24 p.m. -- The Recovery Act -- also known as the stimulus bill -- gets love from the president, who argues that it saved the nation from another Great Depression. "Because of the steps we took, there are about 2 million Americans working right now who would otherwise be unemployed," he says.

9:25 p.m. -- And here's our theme for tonight: "Jobs must be our No. 1 focus in 2010, and that is why I am calling for a new jobs bill tonight."

9:30 p.m. -- Obama goes through aspects of his jobs plan: $30 billion to help banks loan more money to small-business owners; tax incentives for businesses that hire more people and invest in more equipment; new infrastructure programs, including high-speed rail, to provide new jobs and make existing ones more productive; rebates to people who weatherize their homes.

"I want a jobs bill on my desk without delay," he says.

9:33 p.m. -- Obama moves on to programs he says are designed to lay "a new foundation for long-term economic growth." It includes education, energy, financial reform -- and health care. Notes that other countries are ahead in many of these areas, and draws big Democratic applause with this line: "I do not accept second place for the United States of America."

9:38 p.m. -- Urges the Senate to follow the lead of the House and pass new regulation for Wall Street. Then moves on to plans to create new "clean energy" jobs -- including nuclear power plants and more oil and gas developments, both of which are Republican favorites.

Then he mentions a Democratic favorite -- a global warming bill, including caps on carbon emissions. Again: He notes that the House has passed a bill, but the Senate has not. We see a pattern here: House, good; Senate, not so much.

Also addresses global warming skeptics: "I know that there are those who disagree with the overwhelming scientific evidence on climate change. But even if you doubt the evidence, providing incentives for energy efficiency and clean energy are the right thing to do for our future."

9:40 p.m. -- Extols free trade -- which some fellow Democrats aren't crazy about -- but says he will hold other countries to the same rules, which mollifies some of the critics.

9:42 p.m. -- The education section of the speech, calling for more money at the elementary, high school and college levels.

9:44 p.m. -- A section we've been waiting for: health care. He says:

It is precisely to relieve the burden on middle-class families that we still need health insurance reform. (Big applause and cheers from Democrats). Now let's clear a few things up -- I did not choose to tackle this issue to get some legislative victory under my belt. And by now it should be fairly obvious that I didn't take on health care because it was good politics.

9:49 p.m. -- Spends some time reciting the litany of problems with the health care system -- denial of insurance to people with pre-existing conditions, the soaring costs of medical care. Thanks his wife, Michelle, for taking on the problem of childhood obesity.

Obama takes some blame for not explaining his plans more carefully, but adds that "this problem will not go away" for too many people: "I will not walk away from these Americans, and neither should the people in this chamber."

Urges members to take another look at proposals in play:

Here's what I ask of Congress, though: Do not walk away from reform. Not now. Not when we are so close. Let us find a way to come together and finish the job for the American people. Let's get it done (big applause -- from Democrats).

9:54 p.m. -- Now comes the debt part of our program. First, Obama gives a history lesson: "By the time I took office, we had a one-year deficit of over $1 trillion and projected deficits of $8 trillion over the next decade," the result of policies from the previous (Bush) administration.

Obama says he added to those figures because of the economic emergency -- but now he wants to see a three-year freeze on some domestic programs. He also said he will appoint a special commission to recommend ways to reduce the massive federal debt. "I refuse to pass this problem on to another generation of Americans," he says.

9:56 p.m. -- Again calls for party cooperation, this time on reducing debt: "It's time to try something new. Let's invest in our people without leaving them a mountain of debt. Let's meet our responsibility to the citizens who sent us here. Let's try common sense."

10:00 p.m. -- Talks about another "deficit" -- a deficit of trust in government, calls for more restrictions on lobbyists and the influence of money on politics. Criticized Supreme Court justices -- some of whom are sitting in front of him -- for ruling that corporations can spend as much as they want on elections, and urges Congress to pass new laws in response. Urges Congress to reform pork barrel spending.

He adds: "Of course, none of these reforms will even happen if we don't also reform how we work with one another."

10:02 p.m. -- Obama jokes that he never believed his election would usher in "some post-partisan era." And AGAIN he urges lawmakers to work together (notice another theme here?). Also makes a wave at last year's Democratic loss in last week's Massachusetts Senate race:

"No, I will not give up on changing the tone of our politics," he says. "I know it's an election year. And after last week, it is clear that campaign fever has come even earlier than usual. But we still need to govern."

10:03 p.m. -- Obama then challenges Republican senators: "If the Republican leadership is going to insist that 60 votes in the Senate are required to do any business at all in this town, then the responsibility to govern is now yours as well. Just saying no to everything may be good short-term politics, but it's not leadership."

10:08 p.m. -- Now comes the foreign policy part of our program. Obama talks about counterterrorism policy in light of the Christmas Day bombing attempt; his new Afghanistan war policy; the fight against al-Qaeda; the on-track withdrawal from Iraq; and efforts to reduce the number of nuclear weapons worldwide, including new diplomatic pressures on North Korea and Iran.

North Korea now faces increased isolation, and stronger sanctions -- sanctions that are being vigorously enforced. That is why the international community is more united, and the Islamic Republic of Iran is more isolated. And as Iran's leaders continue to ignore their obligations, there should be no doubt: They, too, will face growing consequences.

10:12 p.m. -- Obama touts his new diplomatic approach: "As we have for over 60 years, America takes these actions because our destiny is connected to those beyond our shores. But we also do it because it is right." Talks about Haiti relief efforts.

10:16 p.m. -- Obama turns back to domestic concerns, including promotion of civil rights policies. He calls for repeal of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy regarding gays; also cites the need for new immigration laws. Doesn't dwell much on either proposal.

10:18 p.m. -- Begins to close with a discussion of values -- and how so many Americans feel we are losing them. Talks of "cynicism" and "disappointment" and harks back to his campaign pledge.

"I campaigned on the promise of change, change we can believe in, the slogan went," he says. "And right now, I know there are many Americans who aren't sure if they still believe we can change -- or at least, that I can deliver it."

But he never said change would come easily, he adds, and again he harks back to history: "The only reason we are here is because generations of Americans were unafraid to do what was hard; to do what was needed even when success was uncertain."

10:19 p.m. -- Big finish:

Our administration has had some political setbacks this year, and some of them were deserved. But I wake up every day knowing that they are nothing compared to the setbacks that families all across this country have faced this year. And what keeps me going -- what keeps me fighting -- is that despite all these setbacks, that spirit of determination and optimism -- that fundamental decency that has always been at the core of the American people -- lives on.

10:20 p.m. -- The wrap-up:

We have finished a difficult year. We have come through a difficult decade. But a new year has come. A new decade stretches before us. We don't quit. I don't quit. Let's seize this moment -- to start anew, to carry the dream forward, and to strengthen our union once more.

Thank you. God Bless You. And God Bless the United States of America.