Title:
Washington: Day One — Ronald Reagan Inauguration, January 20, 1981
REEL ID:
L019R023
RUN TIME:
0:12:49
FORMAT:
16mm motion picture film
FILM TYPE:
Color (documentary production)
SOUND:
Sound-on-film (synchronized audio)
PRODUCTION:
Independent documentary production
Description:
This documentary reel, titled Washington: Day One, captures the events of January 20, 1981, documenting the inauguration of Ronald Reagan in Washington, D.C.. Shot on color 16mm film with synchronized sound, the footage provides a detailed, ground-level record of the ceremony and surrounding events marking the beginning of Reagan’s presidency.
The film opens in the early morning hours as Washington, D.C. prepares for Inauguration Day. Workers assemble staging and seating, security and logistical crews finalize arrangements, and vendors line the streets selling inauguration merchandise, including buttons and pins bearing Reagan’s likeness. The city fills gradually with spectators as anticipation builds.
Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan arrive for the ceremony, followed by Reagan’s formal swearing-in as President of the United States. The camera captures Reagan delivering a rousing inaugural address before a large crowd, emphasizing both the scale of the gathering and the symbolic transition of power.
Following the ceremony, the reel documents the inaugural parade as it moves through the capital, featuring marching units and celebratory displays. The film concludes with evening festivities at the White House, where a formal banquet or inaugural ball is underway. A performance by Glen Campbell appears during the celebration, underscoring the blend of politics, culture, and entertainment that defined the day.
Preserved as a documentary record, Washington: Day One offers a comprehensive visual account of Ronald Reagan’s 1981 inauguration—capturing not only the ceremony itself, but also the preparations, public participation, and formal celebrations that marked the start of a new presidential era.
Tags:
January 20, 1981, Ronald Reagan, Reagan inauguration, Inauguration Day, Washington D.C., U.S. presidency, American politics, 1980s America, Presidential ceremony, Inaugural speech, Nancy Reagan, Inaugural parade, White House event, Inaugural ball, Glen Campbell performance, Political documentary, Public ceremony, Vendor merchandise, Campaign buttons, Crowd scenes, Historic event footage, 16mm film, Color film, Sound film, Documentary footage, Analog film, Archival political footage, Americana