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. In the middle of the Depression, Franklin Roosevelt was sailing to Hawaii on a fishing and working vacation.It's also been a day for some presidents to insert themselves front and center in the fabric of it all.In the video player above: A look at which president is said to have had an influence on the tradition of fireworks for the Fourth of JulyTeddy Roosevelt drew hundreds of thousands for his July Fourth oratory. In 2019, Donald Trump marshaled tanks, bombers and other war machinery for a celebration that typically avoids military muscle.Richard Nixon enraged the anti-war masses without even showing up. As the anti-Nixon demonstrations of 1970 showed, Independence Day in the capital isn't always just fun and games. It has a tradition of red, white and boo, too.In modern times, though, presidents have tended to stand back and let the people party.George W. Bush had a ceremony welcoming immigrants as new citizens. Barack Obama threw a South Lawn barbecue for troops. Bill Clinton went to the shores of Chesapeake Bay to watch a young bald eagle named Freedom be released to the wild.In 2021, Joe Biden gathered more than 1,000 people on the White House South Lawn to eat burgers and watch fireworks. That event was noteworthy because such gatherings were unthinkable in the first year of the pandemic. Many wished Biden had not thought of doing it even then — the rampage of the omicron COVID-19 variant was still to come.Still, the burgers were an improvement from July 4, 1850, when Zachary Taylor wolfed down apparently spoiled cherries and milk (and died five days later. )A look at what some presidents have done on the Fourth of July:1777: On the first anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, with the Revolutionary War underway, a future president, John Adams, describes a day and night of spontaneous celebration in Philadelphia in a letter to his wife, Abigail. After hours of parading troops, fireworks, bonfires and music, he tells her he strolled alone in the dark."I was walking about the streets for a little fresh air and exercise," he writes, "and was surprised to find the whole city lighting up their candles at the windows. I walked most of the evening, and I think it was the most splendid illumination I ever saw; a few surly houses were dark; but the lights were very universal. Considering the lateness of the design and the suddenness of the execution, I was amazed at the universal joy and alacrity that was discovered, and at the brilliancy and splendour of every part of this joyful exhibition."Video below: A historian discusses why July 2 is also a significant date as it relates to America declaring its independence1791: Two years after becoming the first president, George Washington celebrates in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, "with an address, fine cuisine, and walking about town," says the National Park Service. Philadelphia was the interim capital as the city of Washington was being readied. Lancaster had hosted the Continental Congress for a quick, on-the-run session during the revolution.1798: Now president, Adams reviews a military parade in Philadelphia as the young nation flexes its muscle.1801: Thomas Jefferson presides over the first Fourth of July public reception at the White House.1822: James Monroe hangs out at his farm in Virginia.1826: Adams, the second president, and Jefferson, the third, both die on this July Fourth.1831: James Monroe, who was the fifth president, dies on this July Fourth.1848: James Polk witnesses the laying of the cornerstone of the Washington Monument with Abraham Lincoln, then an Illinois congressman, attending. A military parade follows.1850: Taylor attends festivities at the grounds of the Washington Monument and falls ill with stomach cramps after eating cherries and drinking iced milk and water. He dies July 9. A theory that someone poisoned him with arsenic was debunked in 1991 when his body was exhumed and tested.1861: Lincoln sends a message to Congress defending his invocation of war powers, appealing for more troops to fight the South and assailing Virginia for allowing "this giant insurrection to make its nest within her borders." He vows to "go forward without fear."1868: Postwar, Andrew Johnson executes a proclamation granting amnesty to those who fought for the Confederacy.1902: Teddy Roosevelt speaks to 200,000 people in Pittsburgh.1914: "Our country, right or wrong," Woodrow Wilson declares at Independence Hall in Philadelphia.1928: Calvin Coolidge (born July 4, 1872) goes trout fishing in Wisconsin.1930: Herbert Hoover vacations by the Rapidan River in Virginia.1934: Franklin Roosevelt is in or near the Bahamas after leaving Annapolis, Maryland, on a monthlong voyage and visit to Hawaii via the Panama Canal. On July 4, the U.S.S. Houston's log refers to the "fishing party" leaving the ship for part of the day.1946: With World War II over the year before, Harry Truman relaxes in Maryland's Catoctin Mountains at Roosevelt's Shangri-La retreat, later renamed Camp David.1951: With the U.S. at war in Korea, Truman addresses a huge crowd at the Washington Monument grounds, on the 175th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.1953 and 1957: Dwight Eisenhower = golf.1968: Lyndon Johnson, who favored his Texas ranch on the holiday, speaks in San Antonio about the lack of independence for the poor, minorities, the ill, people "who must breathe polluted air" and those who live in fear of crime, "despite our Fourth of July rhetoric."1970: Nixon, in California, tapes a message that is played to crowds on the National Mall at an "Honor America Day" celebration organized by supporters and hotly protested by anti-war masses and civil rights activists. Tear gas overcomes protesters and celebrants alike, Viet Cong flags mingle with the Stars and Stripes, and demonstrators — some naked — plunge into the Reflecting Pool.1976: As the United States turns 200, Gerald Ford speaks at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, then Independence Hall, and reviews the armada of tall ships in New York harbor.1987: Ronald Reagan, at Camp David, makes a straight political statement in his holiday radio address, pitching an economic "bill of rights" and Robert Bork for the Supreme Court. On a Saturday, it served as his weekly radio address, which he and other modern presidents used for their agendas.2008: Bush, like several presidents before him, hosts a naturalization ceremony. More than 70 people from 30 countries are embraced as new citizens.2010: Obama brings 1,200 service members to the South Lawn for a barbecue. The father of a July Fourth baby, Malia, he would joke that she always thought the capital fireworks were for her.2012: Obama combines two Fourth of July traditions — celebrating troops and new citizens — by honoring the naturalization of U.S. military members who came to the country as immigrants.2017: Trump goes to his golf club, then hosts a White House picnic for military families.2021: Biden tells a crowd on the South Lawn that "we're closer than ever to declaring our independence from a deadly virus." It was the largest event of his presidency since taking office. COVID-19 cases and deaths had dipped to or near record lows at that point but would rebound as the omicron variant spread.2023: Biden plans to host a barbecue and holiday celebration at the White House for members of the military, veterans and their families.___Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON —

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. In the middle of the Depression, Franklin Roosevelt was sailing to Hawaii on a fishing and working vacation.

It's also been a day for some presidents to insert themselves front and center in the fabric of it all.

In the video player above: A look at which president is said to have had an influence on the tradition of fireworks for the Fourth of July

Teddy Roosevelt drew hundreds of thousands for his July Fourth oratory. In 2019, Donald Trump marshaled tanks, bombers and other war machinery for a celebration that typically avoids military muscle.

Richard Nixon enraged the anti-war masses without even showing up. As the anti-Nixon demonstrations of 1970 showed, Independence Day in the capital isn't always just fun and games. It has a tradition of red, white and boo, too.

Gary Gardiner

In modern times, though, presidents have tended to stand back and let the people party.

George W. Bush had a ceremony welcoming immigrants as new citizens. Barack Obama threw a South Lawn barbecue for troops. Bill Clinton went to the shores of Chesapeake Bay to watch a young bald eagle named Freedom be released to the wild.

J. Scott Applewhite

In 2021, Joe Biden gathered more than 1,000 people on the White House South Lawn to eat burgers and watch fireworks. That event was noteworthy because such gatherings were unthinkable in the first year of the pandemic. Many wished Biden had not thought of doing it even then — the rampage of the omicron COVID-19 variant was still to come.

Still, the burgers were an improvement from July 4, 1850, when Zachary Taylor wolfed down apparently spoiled cherries and milk (and died five days later. )

A look at what some presidents have done on the Fourth of July:

1777: On the first anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, with the Revolutionary War underway, a future president, John Adams, describes a day and night of spontaneous celebration in Philadelphia in a letter to his wife, Abigail. After hours of parading troops, fireworks, bonfires and music, he tells her he strolled alone in the dark.

"I was walking about the streets for a little fresh air and exercise," he writes, "and was surprised to find the whole city lighting up their candles at the windows. I walked most of the evening, and I think it was the most splendid illumination I ever saw; a few surly houses were dark; but the lights were very universal. Considering the lateness of the design and the suddenness of the execution, I was amazed at the universal joy and alacrity that was discovered, and at the brilliancy and splendour of every part of this joyful exhibition."

Video below: A historian discusses why July 2 is also a significant date as it relates to America declaring its independence

1791: Two years after becoming the first president, George Washington celebrates in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, "with an address, fine cuisine, and walking about town," says the National Park Service. Philadelphia was the interim capital as the city of Washington was being readied. Lancaster had hosted the Continental Congress for a quick, on-the-run session during the revolution.

1798: Now president, Adams reviews a military parade in Philadelphia as the young nation flexes its muscle.

1801: Thomas Jefferson presides over the first Fourth of July public reception at the White House.

1822: James Monroe hangs out at his farm in Virginia.

1826: Adams, the second president, and Jefferson, the third, both die on this July Fourth.

1831: James Monroe, who was the fifth president, dies on this July Fourth.

1848: James Polk witnesses the laying of the cornerstone of the Washington Monument with Abraham Lincoln, then an Illinois congressman, attending. A military parade follows.

Ron Edmonds

1850: Taylor attends festivities at the grounds of the Washington Monument and falls ill with stomach cramps after eating cherries and drinking iced milk and water. He dies July 9. A theory that someone poisoned him with arsenic was debunked in 1991 when his body was exhumed and tested.

1861: Lincoln sends a message to Congress defending his invocation of war powers, appealing for more troops to fight the South and assailing Virginia for allowing "this giant insurrection to make its nest within her borders." He vows to "go forward without fear."

1868: Postwar, Andrew Johnson executes a proclamation granting amnesty to those who fought for the Confederacy.

1902: Teddy Roosevelt speaks to 200,000 people in Pittsburgh.

1914: "Our country, right or wrong," Woodrow Wilson declares at Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

1928: Calvin Coolidge (born July 4, 1872) goes trout fishing in Wisconsin.

1930: Herbert Hoover vacations by the Rapidan River in Virginia.

Ed Betz

1934: Franklin Roosevelt is in or near the Bahamas after leaving Annapolis, Maryland, on a monthlong voyage and visit to Hawaii via the Panama Canal. On July 4, the U.S.S. Houston's log refers to the "fishing party" leaving the ship for part of the day.

1946: With World War II over the year before, Harry Truman relaxes in Maryland's Catoctin Mountains at Roosevelt's Shangri-La retreat, later renamed Camp David.

1951: With the U.S. at war in Korea, Truman addresses a huge crowd at the Washington Monument grounds, on the 175th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

1953 and 1957: Dwight Eisenhower = golf.

1968: Lyndon Johnson, who favored his Texas ranch on the holiday, speaks in San Antonio about the lack of independence for the poor, minorities, the ill, people "who must breathe polluted air" and those who live in fear of crime, "despite our Fourth of July rhetoric."

Charles Tasnadi

1970: Nixon, in California, tapes a message that is played to crowds on the National Mall at an "Honor America Day" celebration organized by supporters and hotly protested by anti-war masses and civil rights activists. Tear gas overcomes protesters and celebrants alike, Viet Cong flags mingle with the Stars and Stripes, and demonstrators — some naked — plunge into the Reflecting Pool.

1976: As the United States turns 200, Gerald Ford speaks at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, then Independence Hall, and reviews the armada of tall ships in New York harbor.

1987: Ronald Reagan, at Camp David, makes a straight political statement in his holiday radio address, pitching an economic "bill of rights" and Robert Bork for the Supreme Court. On a Saturday, it served as his weekly radio address, which he and other modern presidents used for their agendas.

IRA SCHWARZ

2008: Bush, like several presidents before him, hosts a naturalization ceremony. More than 70 people from 30 countries are embraced as new citizens.

2010: Obama brings 1,200 service members to the South Lawn for a barbecue. The father of a July Fourth baby, Malia, he would joke that she always thought the capital fireworks were for her.

2012: Obama combines two Fourth of July traditions — celebrating troops and new citizens — by honoring the naturalization of U.S. military members who came to the country as immigrants.

Evan Vucci

2017: Trump goes to his golf club, then hosts a White House picnic for military families.

2021: Biden tells a crowd on the South Lawn that "we're closer than ever to declaring our independence from a deadly virus." It was the largest event of his presidency since taking office. COVID-19 cases and deaths had dipped to or near record lows at that point but would rebound as the omicron variant spread.

2023: Biden plans to host a barbecue and holiday celebration at the White House for members of the military, veterans and their families.

___

Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.

President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday that the United States is projected to reach the mark of 160 million fully vaccinated Americans by the end of this week and that his administration will engage in targeted outreach to get more people vaccinated, after the nation fell short of his initial July Fourth goals.Just over 67% of American adults have had at least one COVID-19 vaccine and more than 157 million Americans are fully vaccinated as of Tuesday morning, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Biden's goal was to have 70% of Americans with at least one shot and 160 million Americans fully vaccinated by July Fourth.During remarks at the White House on Tuesday afternoon, the President reiterated his plea for Americans to get vaccinated."The best thing you can do to protect yourself and your family and the people you care about the most is get vaccinated," Biden said. "The best things a community can do to protect themselves is to increase vaccination rates. You can do this."Biden outlined five key areas his administration is focused on as it works to get more Americans vaccinated and protect the population against the highly transmissible Delta variant.The President addressed his administration's targeted outreach to provide information about the safety and efficacy of the vaccines, getting vaccines to more primary care doctors and other health care providers, and stepping up efforts to get vaccines to pediatricians and other providers who serve younger people so that adolescents ages 12 to 18 can get vaccinated as they go for check ups ahead of returning to school.Biden discussed expanding mobile clinic efforts and making COVID-19 vaccines more accessible by setting up vaccination clinics at workplaces and helping to secure paid time off for employees to get vaccinated.Biden also stressed that the administration will continue to work with governors and local leaders and across the public and private sectors to get more Americans vaccinated.White House press secretary Jen Psaki said earlier Tuesday that the administration would continue building on efforts in which it has seen the most success."You don't just give up just because you haven't reached every single person," Psaki told reporters at a White House briefing. "We're going to continue to apply where we, what we've seen have been the best practices over the past several months."White House COVID-19 response coordinator Jeff Zients told reporters last week that the U.S. has more work to do to get younger Americans — particularly 18- to 26-year-olds — vaccinated. Zients told CNN on Sunday that the federal government would continue to make it easier for for the public to be vaccinated and the nation to increase the vaccination rate.Despite falling just short of his holiday goals, the president spent the weekend touting the progress the nation has made in its fight against the pandemic. He and First Lady Jill Biden hosted their biggest party yet at the White House and welcomed 1,000 essential workers and military personnel on the South Lawn to mark Independence Day.But the celebration came at a time when federal officials are warning about the Delta variant and doubling down on getting the rest of the U.S. population vaccinated and protected.In a sign of the heightened concern about the Delta variant, the White House recently announced it would be deploying response teams made up of officials from the CDC, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency across the U.S. to areas with a high spread of the virus because of the Delta variant and low vaccination rates. The teams will conduct surge testing, provide therapeutics like monoclonal antibodies and deploy federal personnel to areas that need support staff for vaccinations.In another sign the pandemic is far from over, officials said the administration plans to extend the public health emergency declaration for the pandemic that then-President Donald Trump announced in 2020 when it's due to expire this month.Earlier this year, the administration said 90% of Americans live within 5 miles of a vaccination site.

July Fourth came and went and the United States failed to meet the White House's vaccination deadline. The goal was to have 70% of American adults partially vaccinated by Independence Day. On July 4, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded 67.1 percent of adults had at least one dose.On Tuesday, the Ohio Department of Health reports 50.1% of Hamilton County residents have started their COVID vaccination journey. Cincinnati Health Department reports more than 53% of its residents have at least one dose of the vaccine."It's very alarming," Cincinnati Health Department Nursing Director Virginia Scott said of local and national efforts falling short of the deadline. She cites her concern due to the ever-present rise in cases and the increased presence of the delta variant. On Friday, CHD cited one confirmed case of the delta variant within city limits.Scott said her team's strategy to increase vaccination rates lies in intentionality: bringing clinics into individual neighborhoods, potentially ditching the white coat for more causal clothes, being open to any and all questions and providing multilingual staff to interact with patients."Maybe we go with a panel," Scott said as she spoke of her mindset to connect with present and future vaccine patients. "Even if it's me, and I talked about it before, do I come in there with gym shoes on and jogger pants? I do. I change up some things and go on there, because we do know that if you come in there with the white coat on and things like that, people kind of stereotype you. You just come in and. 'Make me take this vaccine.' And we really don't want to do that. So my goal now is to go out here, but a couple of my nurses, and just talk to people."Scott grew personal in her conversation with WLWT about her desire to increase vaccinations among Black and brown communities. "As an African American woman, I'm really concerned about our community," Scott said. "Especially since we do have one Delta variant here, we do know is more deadly. We do know it's more contagious. If we're sitting still around roughly almost 80% of African Americans that have not taken this . We want to ensure that you're not going to be the hardest. Our families are not going to be the hardest ones hit with this just delta variant when it comes through. And if we continue to go this route from here to here. That's gonna be the hardest population here."Currently, CHD said it is focusing efforts in the Price Hill and Winton Hills areas where vaccinate rates are reported below 20%. CHD said its current age demographic where vaccinations are the lowest centers on those ages 20-29.Hamilton County Public Health Commissioner Greg Kesterman said his office continues to see rises in vaccination in all ages groups. With the missed deadline, HCPH said it's seeing a slower uptick in vaccine intake from lower-income and minorities communities throughout Hamilton County.Kesterman said the future strategy is to continue to work with existing and future partners to disperse vaccine supplies and focus on getting vaccines into primary care offices. "I think there is still some hesitancy on some folks to get the vaccine and I think many are waiting to talk to your primary care physicians and others that they trust before jumping in and getting vaccinated," Kesterman said. He called the need to get vaccines into PCP offices, "crucial for getting everyone vaccinated."To learn about current and future vaccination sites with CHD, click here. To learn about current and future vaccination sites with HCPH, click here.

This July Fourth has been a celebration not only of Independence Day, but also a return to what feels like a normal summer.This time last year, many events were scrapped due to COVID-19 and people said they are happy to be back.There is an energy in the air.In Harrison, band students marched and played instruments in a parade through downtown."It's nice to be everyone together, no masks, and watch our kids. Our kids have been in the band and so it's nice to see them in person," parent Jon Roberts said.Some said this July Fourth feels especially meaningful."I think it makes everybody appreciate this year a little bit more. Not being able to do as much as we were able to last year," parent Kristin Claypoole said.Last year, COVID-19 fizzled out most Independence Day celebrations, but in places like Harrison, the tradition is back.Cars, people, floats and the band all made their way through town.Candy and other free giveaways were thrown into the streets and in the direction of people happy to pick them up."I really did miss it. I couldn't hang out with my friends on Fourth of July like I usually do and I just really missed them," 11-year-old Adriana Claypoole said.In Blue Ash, one of the biggest celebrations in Greater Cincinnati, Red, White and Blue Ash, was on."It's a day to celebrate and it brings happiness to me whenever I think about it and it's a day to feel proud," 12-year-old Avni Sharma said.People snagged their spots for a show they've come to expect."It does kind of feel like a fresh start, and it's nice to just be able to return to normalcy, slowly but surely," Alee Hawkins said.They said this Fourth of July is about celebrating a milestone and even better days ahead."We're back in business. That's what it means. I mean, this is life, everybody likes to enjoy themselves and they finally can," Brandon Barry said.There have been many celebrations across Greater Cincinnati this weekend.People were already setting off fireworks before the sun even set on Sunday.

"I was about to get in bed when somebody called to say, 'Miss Katrina, your daughter's shot.' I'm like, what? Like, you know, to me that's one of the worst calls that you can ever get in your life," Trina said.A bandaged left arm is a painful reminder for Trina and her 16-year-old daughter about what happened Sunday night at The Banks along Cincinnati's riverfront.That’s where five people were shot Sunday, two fatally. Police said two teenagers engaged in a shootout, with three innocent people caught in the crossfire. The two teens shooting were killed, officials said.Trina's daughter was among those struck by the gunfire. "I was hoping that it was really just an arm wound," Trina said. "I was hoping that it was really just a flesh wound."At first, Trina's teenage daughter thought she'd been hit by a firework that somehow veered off course. Then she realized she'd been hit by a bullet.The teen said she was on The Banks after spending a fun night with friends seeing a new action movie at Newport on the Levee.The group walked across the Taylor Southgate Bridge to get a ride home ahead of a midnight curfew.The teen said a snow-cone vendor caught her eye and as she walked to get a treat, the bullet found her.Trina, a medical professional, couldn't help but think the worst until she was able to find out how her daughter was doing."I don't know what it could have been," Trina said. "Because, you know, me, like, I see it all the time. It can go through the arm and go into the chest. So I didn't really know what was happening."Grateful her daughter is going to be okay, Trina hopes everyone, including other parents and mentors, will do more to help young people realize the futility of gun violence."I actually feel like we (sic) failing on our kids, to be honest," Trina said. "It’s scary. I'm happy that my daughter is still here."Trina also hopes city leaders will focus more on ways to help young people find meaningful job opportunities. She's a firm believer in the notion that idle hands can lead to very bad outcomes.