February 14, 2013
New U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is coming to the University of Virginia to deliver his first foreign policy speech since taking the job.
UVa officials say they see Kerry's visit as a great honor. The speech will be on Wednesday, Feb. 20.
His visit is partly a symbolic move. He is coming to Thomas Jefferson's University, and Jefferson was the nation's first Secretary of State.
But members of the UVa Center for Politics say there may be some political reasons for the visit, too.
"Charlottesville is an area that's obviously supportive of the president and the Democratic party," said Kyle Condik, with the center. "You would think maybe if this were a Republican Secretary of State, maybe they'd choose a different location."
Kerry is expected to speak about the importance of diplomacy around the world, and how conflicts overseas affect Americans at home, especially the budget.
Not long after his visit to UVa, John Kerry is planning to leave on his first overseas trip as Secretary of State. He plans to visit Europe and the Middle East.
