Obama to bring French president to Jefferson's Monticello home

Reuters
U.S. President Barack Obama waves to reporters as he returns from a daytrip in North Carolina, to the White House in Washington, February 13, 2013. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama will kick off the state visit of French President Francois Hollande next week with a visit to Monticello, the Virginia home of Thomas Jefferson, the third U.S. president and a one-time envoy to France. "Monticello reflects Jefferson's affection for the people of France, the long-standing relations between our two democracies, and the shared values we hold dear: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," the White House said in a statement. "President Obama looks forward to sharing this piece of our shared history with President Hollande," it said. The two men will visit Jefferson's house on Monday. (Reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)