BUSH

President Bush will be in Newport Thursday — his first visit to Rhode Island during his presidency — to speak at the Naval War College, a White House spokesman confirmed for the first time yesterday.

The spokesman said the president will deliver a speech on the war on terror at 11 a.m. More details about the president’s visit are expected to be forthcoming over the weekend.

As recently as last Thursday, the War College’s public affairs officer would not comment on rumors that Mr. Bush would be in Newport on June 28 as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the college’s Naval Command College, a school for military officers from around the world.

The five-day symposium and reunion for the 1,600 alumni of the Naval Command College will be held June 25-29. An exhaustive schedule for the celebration posted online by the War College lists in detail each day’s events, including presentations, speeches and meals. No events, however, had been scheduled for next Thursday.

Mark Stahl, coordinator for the Rhode Island Community Coalition for Peace, sent out e-mails this week announcing plans for a demonstration. He said yesterday that protesters planned to be outside the college during the president’s speech.

The reunion also coincides with the arrival of the Tall Ships to Newport. A flotilla is expected to be sailing into and around Newport Harbor — which the Naval War College overlooks — from Wednesday through Sunday, July 1.

akuffner@projo.com