This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2006, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
SALT LAKE CITY - President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reportedly will address the American Legion convention in Salt Lake City next month.
A report to Mayor Rocky Anderson, obtained by the Deseret Morning News, said the city's Department of Airports has "been informed by the Secret Service that President Bush and Condoleezza Rice will visit Salt Lake City on Aug. 30," the newspaper said in a copyright story Friday.
Anderson refused to comment on the document, dated June 23, which was included in the city's response to a recent open-records request.
However, Roy Williams, the airport's executive director, confirmed the visit and said he was surprised by the advance notice from the federal government. Williams said he knew about the visit shortly before the June 23 report to the mayor.
Williams said he does not know when the president is expected to arrive on Aug. 30, or how long Bush plans to stay.
Peter Watkins, a White House spokesman, said the president's schedule typically is not confirmed until about a week before a trip, and, therefore, he could not confirm the president will be visiting Utah.
Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman's spokesman Mike Mower said his office could not confirm or deny any White House visit.
As president, Bush has visited Utah twice before. He spent about nine hours in Utah for the Opening Ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics and even less time last Aug. 22, when he spoke at a convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
The American Legion's 88th annual national convention will be held at the Salt Palace from Aug. 25-31. On the day of the presidential visit, a general session is planned from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
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Information from: Deseret Morning News, http://www.deseretnews.com" Target="_BLANK">http://www.deseretnews.com