Existing comment:
Inauguration of Ronald Reagan on the West Front of the Capitol
The Washington Post (Washington, DC)
January 21, 1981
"Freed Americans Land in W. Germany; Reagan Sworn in as the 40th President"
Front page news of Ronald Reagan's first inauguration was shared with the news of the release of 52 American hostages freed by Iran after 444 days of captivity. In addition to being the first inauguration held on the West Front of the Capitol, this was the first one broadcast with closed-captioning for the hearing impaired. President Reagan spoke about the new location of the inauguration in his address: "Standing here, one faces a magnificent vista, opening up on this city's special beauty and history. At the end of this open mall are those shrines to the giants on whose shoulders we stand." |