Bush works as country has day off

The nation took the day off, but George Bush was hard at work. In a trip laden with symbolism, he spent his first Fourth of July as US President in Philadelphia, the city where the Declaration of Independence was signed 225 years ago.

In a speech at Independence Hall, Mr Bush singled out equality and freedom of religion for special mention. As well as trying to capture some of the gravitas of the Founding Fathers, Mr Bush used the occasion to relaunch his initiative on faith-based organisations – a project designed to channel public money towards social projects organised by church and other religious groups.

Mr Bush's choice of Philadelphia and his decision to work through the country's premier national holiday were widely seen as responses by the White House to his flagging approval ratings.