President Bush is the fourth sitting president to participate in Independence Day festivities at Monticello but the first to speak at a naturalization ceremony on July 4th.

President Gerald R. Ford spoke at the Monticello naturalization ceremony in 1976, the nation's bicentennial year, but the event was moved to July 5 to accommodate his schedule.

Other July 4th presidential visits came from Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936 and Harry S. Truman in 1947, before the naturalization ceremony became part of the annual observance.

This year was the 46th annual Independence Day Celebration and Naturalization Ceremony.