July Fourth for presidents has been a day for golf, fishing, speeches and one perilous stomachache

By CALVIN WOODWARD
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Through history, the Fourth of July has been a day for some presidents to declare their independence from the public. They’ve bailed to the beach, the mountains, the golf course, the farm, the ranch. Other presidents have inserted themselves front and center on Independence Day. Teddy Roosevelt drew hundreds of thousands of people for his July Fourth oratory. John F. Kennedy commanded a huge crowd from Philadelphia’s Independence Hall. In 2019, Donald Trump marshaled war machinery for a celebration that typically avoids military muscle. In 2021, Joe Biden raised eyebrows when he gathered hundreds of people for a holiday event held when the coronavirus pandemic was far from played out.