Ronald reagan cold war newspaper headlines

A drummer from Minnesota was ready for a frigid inauguration in He sprayed antifreeze on his snare before an outdoor parade rehearsal.

But the polar express that blasted into Washington for President Ronald Reagan’s second inaugural that year thwarted even Minnesotan wisdom.

Not long after Kent Nelson’s snare drum snapped and chairs toppled in the cold wind that froze choir members’ voices, the whole inaugural ceremony was moved indoors and the parade was canceled.

Ronald reagan cold war newspaper headlines

That meant that only about 1, VIPs had the golden tickets to get them indoors. And , hard-won tickets became little more than souvenirs.

Inaugural spokesman James Lake said officials were “broken-hearted” because thousands of youthful marchers would be denied a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

That meant the $1 million viewing stand constructed at the White House was useless; that thousands of marching band and choir members and even sled dogs had nothing to do.

Reagan issued a written statement about the