[ad_1]
In February, however, he found another way – by essentially resuming the annual July 4th event in Washington. In a message posted on Twitter, he announced a "Hi to America" on Independence Day, with "a great fireworks, entertainment and a speech by your favorite president, me!".
His administration decided to move the fireworks from the West Potomac National Park to West Potomac Park, near the Potomac River, and he could add a second platform, but it was not until Wednesday that the plan of the President of give a speech was confirmed.
July 4, marking the signing of the Declaration of Independence, is not a holiday before 1870, and the federal government does not consider it a holiday until 1938.
In the decades that followed, the celebration on the mall became a popular event for residents and tourists, who filled the space between the Capitol and the monuments, preparing blankets for picnics, throwing Frisbees and enjoying the music of bands like the Beach Boys.
A parade on Constitution Avenue usually includes fanfares, a body of fifes and drums, floats, exercise teams and many flags. The National Symphony Orchestra traditionally plays Tchaikovsky's "1812 opening", completed by gunfire, just before the fireworks start, around 9 pm, broadcast live across the country since 1947. In addition to the hundreds of thousands of people gathered in the center from the rooftops of the area or from boats on the nearby Potomac River.
Presidents have generally stayed away, leaving the city or welcoming guests to the White House or on the South Lawn, where they could watch the fireworks. President Harry S. Truman, who delivered a speech in 1951 in front of the Washington Monument on the occasion of the country's 175th birthday, was an exception to the rule. In 1987, President Ronald Reagan delivered a speech at the Jefferson Memorial on July 3 to propose an economic initiative, but did not get involved in the big party the next day.
The event has sometimes produced political sensations. When James G. Watt, Reagan's secretary of the interior, banned the Beach Boys and other rock bands in 1983, an outcry was declared. Nancy Reagan and Vice President George Bush also protested against this decision. The following year, Mr. Watt had left office and the Beach Boys were back.
[ad_2]
Source link