Olympic Hockey Snub: U.S. Champions Skip President's Speech

Only one of America's two gold medal-winning hockey teams attended the President's State of the Union address in Washington this week. The 1980 "Miracle on Ice" team, famous for its Cold War-era victory, accepted the presidential invitation. The 1960 Olympic champions, however, did not make the trip. No official reason was given for the 1960 team's absence. The event honored U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes ahead of the upcoming Summer Games. The 1980 team's underdog story remains a powerful national symbol. Their presence contrasted with the empty seats reserved for their earlier counterparts.