Monticello has announced that comedienne Tracey Ullman will be the featured speaker at its annual naturalization ceremony on July 4. Those hoping for her dead-on impersonation of Arianna Huffington, David Beckham or Rachel Maddow, will likely have to wait. Ullman became a naturalized citizen in 2006, in order to be able to vote, after 25 years of living in the United States. Expect in her speech something lively, affectionate, and comparatively straightforward.
As Monticello’s speaker, on a day that will see scores of new Americans take the oath of citizenship, Ullman joins a long list of naturalization ceremony speakers from the arts and politics. They include Madeleine Albright, Andrew Young, I.M. Pei, and, two years ago to mild protest, President George W. Bush.
Since 1963, more than 3,000 people from all over the world have been sworn in as new American citizens at Monticello. The morning event is free and open to the public.