Michael K. Deaver
Reagan Aide
Age at the Time: 42

Originally published Jan. 13, 2001

I went over to Blair House about 8:15 or 8:30 in the morning and Nancy was getting ready, and I said, "Where's the governor?"

"I don't know," she said. "Maybe still in the bedroom."

I opened the door and it was completely dark in there. All I could see was this heap in the bed. I said, "Governor, in another three hours or so, you're going to be inaugurated as the 40th president of the United States. Don't you think it's about time you got up?"

He quipped: "Do I have to?"

Later we went over to the White House for the traditional coffee with the President. Carter popped in, and he was just ashen. Reagan later told me that Carter spent most of the trip in the limousine on the phone. He really wanted to get those hostages out while he was still president -- and who can blame him?

Up on the podium before he went out to speak, Reagan said if we got word they had been released and were out of Iranian airspace, he wanted me to hand him a note. He said that no government should be allowed to embarrass any president of the United States. He said, "If they are released, I'm going to interrupt the speech. I'm going to bring President Carter up here."

After the ceremony, Reagan and I were still wearing our cutaways -- I think they call them morning coats -- and we went into the Oval Office. It was the first time Reagan was there as president. "Have you got goose bumps?" Reagan asked. "I do."

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