Reagan Bush Inauguration

Two color oval photograph portraits at lower center with black text surrounding.  American flags at left and right edge, red banner at the top, with white text and black illustration of an eagle and shield at the bottom of the button, with a red ribbon with gold text attached to the back

On January 20^th 1981, Ronald Reagan was sworn in as the 40^th president of the United States. The inauguration coincided with the ending of the Iran hostage crisis, which freed fifty-two American diplomats and citizens who had been confined for 444 days to the U.S. Embassy in Iran's capital, Tehran. The hostage crisis was a central focus of the presidential race, and negatively impacted President Jimmy Carter's chances of reelection. Mention of the hostage crisis was absent from the President Reagan's inauguration speech, however, which instead focused on limiting the powers of the Federal Government and bringing an end to unemployment and inflation. At 69, Reagan became the oldest man to assume Presidency.