When Ronald Reagan was elected President of the United States, he and Nancy had to get used to the Executive Mansion on their own. President Carter had broken with recent tradition and had not given the Reagans a tour of the White House. If you remember, during those days it was a difficult campaign with Carter and Reagan both bitterly fighting out what was to be a runaway election landslide for Reagan.

The Carters greeted the Reagans a few days before the Inauguration, and then turned them over to White House staff for them to have a tour of the White House. In the limousine on the way to Reagan's swearing in, Carter didn't say one word, exhausted and depressed after staying up all night dealing with trying to get the hostages released in Iran.

The Inauguration also broke precedent beca…