Reagan brings Hollywood touch to inauguration

Press, 12 January 1981, Page 8

Reagan brings Hollywood touch to inauguration

NZPA -Washington t The - January 20 • in- ' auguration of Ronald Reagan , as fourtieth President of the f United States promises to oe . a Hollywood-style mega-pro- , duction with a cast of thou- i sands and a budget without s parallel in White House history. -. _ . , 1 President Jimmy Carters < bill for his inauguration m ( 1976 came to $3.9 million. , Mr Reagan’s inaugural com- , mittee is already in - debt for , more than double that sum, j seeming to have few worries about paying back the $8.4 , million already earmarked , for the festivities. These will include a grand j procession along Pennsylva- . nia Avenue from the White House to the Capitol building, led by the President and , his Administration, with a full turn-out of Congress m formal attire and a glittering concourse of celebrities — the whole culminating in a fireworks display\comprising 8000 separate items. The show itself will be grandly entitled: “America: A'Great New Beginning” — an echo of the Reagan campaign’s battle cry at the Republican’ convention last

July. ... As the inaugural comm i t'tee’ s co-chairman, Char.les Wick, succinctly put it the other day: “The inauguration is an affirmation of this great country's vital-

ity in The . democratic process through the voice of the people' . ’ transferring poWer. from one; regime to another, without a military: coupe d’etat.”/' ; - Mr Reagan has ruled That

the actual swearing-in cere? mony will be held on the east front of the Capitol — an ostentatious departure from custom — and he has also stipulated that the ’5OO members of Congress in attendance shall turn out in strict morning dress.; This command, besides loosing a stampede on Washington’s hire wear establishments. brought a smattering of murmurs from Congressmen themselves that ■ they were being made to look like stuffed-shirts. President Carter will himself dutifully don ; white’ tie, striped trousers, and tails for the occasion, while Mr Reagan’s own canonicals — made to measure by one .of the sharpest tailoring firms in Los Angeles. — are reported to have set him back $l4lB. As sideshows to the main attraction; Washington’s hotels and auditoriums will feature a sumptuous series of galas and receptions, notably a two-hour all-star spectacular at the Capitol Centre with Frank Sinatra;at the top of"the; bi 11,.: plus 30 supporting acts including a turn by Bob Hope.