March 19, 1979 LIVE TELEVISED COVERAGE OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
On this date, the U.S. House of Representaves inaugurated live televised "gavel-to-gavel" debate coverage on the House floor as public television and C-SPAN tapped into the House of Representa- ves television system, established in 1977 to give the House control over the broadcasng of its proceedings.
January 20, 1981 FIRST PRESIDENTIAL
INAUGURATION AT THE CAPITOL'SWEST FRONT
The decision tomove the inaugural ceremonies fromthe East Front wasmade in June 1980 by the Joint Commiee on Inaugural Ceremonies, ostensibly to savemoney since theWest Front steps could be used as a base for the ceremonial plaorm. TheWest Front also permied more spectators to aend the event and provided amore spectacular backdrop for televising the proceedings.
ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL 16 THE CAPITOL DOME
The impressive west front of the Capitol provided a majesc seng for the first inauguraon of President Ronald Reagan in 1981. Weather perming, all subsequent inauguraons have taken place at the west front.
SUMMER 2012
