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It was a chilly, overcast greeting connected Jan. 20, 1981, successful Washington D.C. arsenic President Ronald Reagan stood with Nancy by his side, his near manus connected a Bible and his close raised arsenic helium repeated the Oath of Office led by Chief Justice Warren Earl Burger. For the archetypal clip successful U.S. history, the inauguration was connected the occidental steps of the U.S. Capitol. A ample assemblage stretched earlier him.
Beyond was a presumption of the National Mall flanked by museums and memorials starring to the Washington Monument, the Reflecting Pool, the Lincoln Memorial, the Potomac River and the full of the United States to the west. Reagan turned to the podium and took successful the commanding presumption arsenic helium patiently waited for the thunderous applause to quiet.
“To a fewer of america present today, this is simply a solemn and astir momentous occasion, and yet successful the past of our nation, it is simply a commonplace occurrence. The orderly transportation of authorization arsenic called for successful the Constitution routinely takes place, arsenic it has for astir 2 centuries, and fewer of america halt to deliberation however unsocial we truly are. In the eyes of galore successful the world, this every-four-year ceremonial we judge arsenic mean is thing little than a miracle.”
On the president’s platform, Ken Khachigian and his woman Meredith watched the clouds springiness mode to rays of airy and warmth arsenic words helium shaped and Reagan molded were heard astir the globe. The humanities infinitesimal was not mislaid connected Khachigian.
“He was a agelong mode from Dixon, and I was a agelong mode from Visalia,” Khachigian said successful his caller publication “Behind Closed Doors: In the Room with Reagan and Nixon” (Post Hill Press, 2024).
Fresno State presents “An Evening with Ken Khachigian” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, astatine the Satellite Student Union. Parking is escaped successful tons P6 oregon P15 utilizing parking codification #266607. At the escaped event, Khachigian volition sermon his caller publication “Behind Closed Doors” successful a question-and-answer league with Jim Boren of Fresno State’s Institute for Media and Public Trust. Admission is free, but reservations are required. Copies of “Behind Closed Doors” tin beryllium signed aft the programme erstwhile reserving a seat.
“It’s not often that we tin bring idiosyncratic to field with Mr. Khachigian’s governmental expertise connected issues erstwhile helium was successful the country proceeding it straight from the mouths of presidents,” Boren said. “We’re apt to perceive insights that person ne'er been shared before. This treatment volition supply invaluable accusation and position to the nationalist astir the upcoming statesmanlike predetermination and connection penetration that volition payment our community.”
A Central Valley native, Khachigian was Reagan’s main speechwriter, trusted governmental advisor and “go-to” counsel for the president and archetypal woman successful campaigns and governmental crises. As main speechwriter, Khachigian shaped galore of Reagan’s astir salient addresses opening with the archetypal inaugural. In 1985, erstwhile the president was confronted with his archetypal idiosyncratic crisis, Khachigian wrote what has been called the “greatest code of Reagan’s career” astatine Bergen Belsen.
Khachigian besides served successful President Richard Nixon’s White House and arsenic a main adjutant to Nixon arsenic the erstwhile president emerged from Watergate. During Nixon’s comeback, helium assisted with his memoirs and led the mentation for the historical interviews with David Frost.
“An Evening with Ken Khachigian” is sponsored by Valley Children’s Hospital, the Office of the President, The Kenneth L. Maddy Institute, the Armenian Studies Program and the Institute for Media and Public Trust astatine Fresno State.
