layover. We piled into a limousine and headed for Marshall Fields.
When we got back to the station, the train was late. We spent over an hour in an arcade at the station, watching the kids play Pac-Man. It’s as if we never left home!
June 30:
Arrived in New York and went to the Pierre Hotel, only to find one of our bags had vanished. All of Randy’s underwear was gone. Oh, well, the hazards of traveling.
Thank God they had a maid waiting to unpack for Candy. So far, it’s the best thing that’s happened to her on the trip.
He was right. White bread in Albuquerque and a rushed trip to a department store weren’t highlights. Now, if they had let me play Pac-Man with them, that could have been good family fun. By the way, I have two Pac-Man games in my house, Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man, and I do frequently play them.
July 1:
We all went to Bloomingdale’s to buy the things Randy lost. We thought it would take about an hour. Two-and-a-half hours later, the store had closed—and we were still there.
Long story short: It took a long time to get someone to approve our check, and we went through all our secret hiding places to find enough cash. It then took more than an hour to write up our purchases.
Aaron continued:
It was the pits. Candy and I may never speak to Betsy
Bloomingdale again.
We do. Sorry, Betsy.
The next day, we visited with executives at ABC. Then Aaron had a press conference for about forty magazine and newspaper reporters, who normally didn’t get to see him. That night, we surprised
La Cage Aux Folles
star Gene Barry backstage after the show on Broadway (Gene had starred in Aaron’s
Burke’s Law
series), went to the Plaza, ate at 21, and had what Aaron called “a very exciting hectic day.”
July 3:
A day of sight-seeing starting at FAO Schwarz for the kids. It took three hours to get out of there.
Yes, we shopped across country (and the continent). We ended that shopping day when Tori wanted a T-shirt that read, I LOVE N . Y . Randy, who wasn’t a big fan of shopping—especially now that he had underwear again—said he wanted one that said, I HATE N . Y . We never found one.
We spent July 4 on a yacht going to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Aaron continued in his journal:
There were surprises galore. First, they [ABC] had the Goodyear Blimp fly so close to our boat that it was scary. ABC had it flown in from Washington. Then Mayor Koch came by on a police boat to wave hello. Then a helicopter flew around us for ten minutes as its light spelled out, “Welcome Candy, Aaron, Tori and Randy from your friends at ABC. Bon Voyage!”
July 5:
Left for Washington on our train car. Trip was marvelous. We went to the Smithsonian Institute to see the airplane exhibit. Breathtaking. Later piled in the limo to see all the monuments lit up at night. We passed the White House. Just think, tomorrow we’ll be inside of it. I feel like a real American tourist—and I like the feeling.
We didn’t feel “regular” for long. Here’s Aaron’s account for July 6:
Arrive at the White House at 11 a.m., through security at 11:30. We went to the upstairs (just Candy and me) where we were met by the First Lady. Nancy took us to her private sitting room for coffee.
We were told that Nancy was rushed because it was her birthday, so she could only see us for half an hour. Well, she kept us for over an hour and then surprised us by sending for the kids and a photographer. Tori was a little princess. She did a lovely curtsy and said, “Hello, Mrs. Reagan.” Randy made a lovely bow and said, “Hello, Mrs. President.” Nancy broke up. She took us to the Oval Office, Ronnie’s study and Lincoln Bedroom. What a lady! No wonder she’s first!
Later, we all had lunch in the White House mess and toured the lower part of the mansion. We were then whisked off for a special guided tour of the Capitol building. My biggest thrill was the House of Representatives.
What a day. I’ve never
When we got back to the station, the train was late. We spent over an hour in an arcade at the station, watching the kids play Pac-Man. It’s as if we never left home!
June 30:
Arrived in New York and went to the Pierre Hotel, only to find one of our bags had vanished. All of Randy’s underwear was gone. Oh, well, the hazards of traveling.
Thank God they had a maid waiting to unpack for Candy. So far, it’s the best thing that’s happened to her on the trip.
He was right. White bread in Albuquerque and a rushed trip to a department store weren’t highlights. Now, if they had let me play Pac-Man with them, that could have been good family fun. By the way, I have two Pac-Man games in my house, Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man, and I do frequently play them.
July 1:
We all went to Bloomingdale’s to buy the things Randy lost. We thought it would take about an hour. Two-and-a-half hours later, the store had closed—and we were still there.
Long story short: It took a long time to get someone to approve our check, and we went through all our secret hiding places to find enough cash. It then took more than an hour to write up our purchases.
Aaron continued:
It was the pits. Candy and I may never speak to Betsy
Bloomingdale again.
We do. Sorry, Betsy.
The next day, we visited with executives at ABC. Then Aaron had a press conference for about forty magazine and newspaper reporters, who normally didn’t get to see him. That night, we surprised
La Cage Aux Folles
star Gene Barry backstage after the show on Broadway (Gene had starred in Aaron’s
Burke’s Law
series), went to the Plaza, ate at 21, and had what Aaron called “a very exciting hectic day.”
July 3:
A day of sight-seeing starting at FAO Schwarz for the kids. It took three hours to get out of there.
Yes, we shopped across country (and the continent). We ended that shopping day when Tori wanted a T-shirt that read, I LOVE N . Y . Randy, who wasn’t a big fan of shopping—especially now that he had underwear again—said he wanted one that said, I HATE N . Y . We never found one.
We spent July 4 on a yacht going to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Aaron continued in his journal:
There were surprises galore. First, they [ABC] had the Goodyear Blimp fly so close to our boat that it was scary. ABC had it flown in from Washington. Then Mayor Koch came by on a police boat to wave hello. Then a helicopter flew around us for ten minutes as its light spelled out, “Welcome Candy, Aaron, Tori and Randy from your friends at ABC. Bon Voyage!”
July 5:
Left for Washington on our train car. Trip was marvelous. We went to the Smithsonian Institute to see the airplane exhibit. Breathtaking. Later piled in the limo to see all the monuments lit up at night. We passed the White House. Just think, tomorrow we’ll be inside of it. I feel like a real American tourist—and I like the feeling.
We didn’t feel “regular” for long. Here’s Aaron’s account for July 6:
Arrive at the White House at 11 a.m., through security at 11:30. We went to the upstairs (just Candy and me) where we were met by the First Lady. Nancy took us to her private sitting room for coffee.
We were told that Nancy was rushed because it was her birthday, so she could only see us for half an hour. Well, she kept us for over an hour and then surprised us by sending for the kids and a photographer. Tori was a little princess. She did a lovely curtsy and said, “Hello, Mrs. Reagan.” Randy made a lovely bow and said, “Hello, Mrs. President.” Nancy broke up. She took us to the Oval Office, Ronnie’s study and Lincoln Bedroom. What a lady! No wonder she’s first!
Later, we all had lunch in the White House mess and toured the lower part of the mansion. We were then whisked off for a special guided tour of the Capitol building. My biggest thrill was the House of Representatives.
What a day. I’ve never
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