The date was January 20, 1985. The place, Washington DC. The temperature, 7 degrees, wind chill 25 below. So cold that few were outside and Ronald Reagan was inside the Capitol rotunda. He was being sworn in as President for the second time.

 

Outside in the freezing cold was an anchorman for KATU-TV in Portland, Oregon named Bill O’Reilly. He was chilly, especially his feet. But he did his live shot back to Oregon and just whined a little.

 

Only once before had I been that frosty. Standing on a dock in Montevideo, Uruguay waiting for the HMS Sheffield to bring wounded British sailors ashore after an Exocet had destroyed their vessel during the brief Falklands war. That day, I froze my butt off for six hours before the Sheffield arrived.

 

With President Reagan, it was only about an hour.

 

Tonight, I will cover the inauguration from a warm studio. But, as usual, the entire No Spin News broadcast will be hot! See you beginning at six eastern.