When America declared its independence back in 1776, John Adams wrote wife Abigail that future generations should celebrate the day “with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other.”
Adams couldn’t have predicted how presidents themselves would come to mark the day, to use it to promote patriotism – or their political agendas.
Over the past 238 years, presidents – from George Washington and Adams himself to current commander-in-chief Barack Obama – have found a variety of ways to commemorate the Fourth of July and the ideals of the day.
Whether it’s a barbecue on the White House lawn – as Obama held again this year for military service members – or a visit to a historical shrine like Independence Hall in Philadelphia, presidents have sought to summon the patriotic spirit of the founders.
Many presidents have also fit July Fourth ceremonies to their times whether they involve civil war or threats of terrorism.
“They try to represent what is on the mind of the American people at that particular time,” said James Heintze, a librarian emeritus at American University who has studied presidential activities on July Fourth.
President George Washington and his successor, Adams, had relatively low-key Fourth of July commemorations, back when the national capital was located first in New York City and then in Philadelphia. Adams moved into the White House in late 1800.
In general, presidents like to meet with large groups of people on July Fourth. In the early days, they even threw open the doors of the White House to greet members of the public.
Thomas Jefferson, the third president and Adams’ successor, held the first Fourth of July reception at the Executive Mansion in 1801.
In more recent times, amid heavy security around the president, White House holiday events are by invitation only.
Presidents have used the holiday as a call for renewal of the nation’s heritage.
As the nation faced Civil War on July 4, 1861, President Abraham Lincoln called an extraordinary session of Congress to discuss the crisis and urge national unity.”
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