Bush salutes new citizens

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) - President Bush has invoked the memory of Thomas Jefferson in welcoming new U.S. citizens at a naturalization ceremony at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. On his final Fourth of July as president, Bush told an audience at the home of the author of the Declaration of Independence that he was honored to be present for the naturalization. Bush the crowd that "the words of the declaration have inspired immigrants around the world to set sail to our shores" and added that "they made America a melting pot of culture from all across the world." Since 1963, some 3,000 Americans have taken the oath of citizenship at Jefferson's home on the Fourth. This year, 76 men and women from 30 nations will join them. Protesters shouts interfered with Bush's remarks at the outset, and the president responded by saying he... [read full story]