Back then it was the Ron and Nancy ceremony with old Blue Eyes Frank Sinatra singing their praises.
We were working as ski bums up in the Sierra Nevada mountains at a flash resort, and decided to take the trek down to Sacramento - the Capitol of California, just a hoot and a holler from San Francisco, to see if we could see old Blue Eyes sing.
The security was tighter than our budget of bugger all to get there to watch the puppet show.
Reagan reminded me of one of those head-bobbing dog puppets Americans set up in the back windows of their cars.
Just who was pulling the strings we will never know.
Every single person was patted down and I could not help thinking to myself afterwards, "was the over the top security to keep the crazies out or to keep the crazies in?"
There were very white, very red-necked crazies everywhere in the crowd.
Patsy Clyne should have been singing her theme song Crazy instead of Frank, who some say was singing for his mate's Mrs more than the about to be elected President Ronald Reagan himself.
It truly was bizarre, surreal and scary all at the same time.
None more scary than Nancy "just say no to drugs" Reagan - as she will be remembered by, with her Kolynos smile and rocket red dress - much like the movie Jackie showing at cinemas today.
It is almost impossible to draw any comparisons with Melania Trump and Nancy Reagan.
She was much more like Melania's husband Donald J Trump.
Nancy was, as they say in her trade, always on.
During her husband's funeral procession in 2004, she rode down Pennsylvania Avenue in his hearse, gazing out the window with a sunny expression, waving at the crowds that had come to pay homage.
Much the same as Trump did on the same street on Saturday.
Just like the Don Dream Team of today, the Ron Team was cut from the same colonial cloth.
Very white-free, women-free and business-based.
This is why we are seeing women, like my daughter and her daughter, march. For equality for all.
Perhaps they see something others do not - yet.
Perhaps they see the Trump Dream Team as something nightmares are made of, and like the growing global voice of hope for equality who are awakening and marching, hope Washington will also wake up from the nightmare.
Before it is too late.
One thing is for sure, the White House just got a whole lot whiter and the rights of women, gays and minorities have been back-benched, by a promise of a brighter future for all.
Really?
Not according to my daughter, her mum and my moko - and Meryl Streep, who say "Love Trumps Hate".
And not according to Wayne Barret, a highly acclaimed investigative journalist who passed away the very day before Trumps inauguration.
Barrett had been following and covering Donald Trump since the 70s and knew more about him than most.
In his final interview his comments are sobering because they come from a man who knew the back stage version, and not the front of house - we shall "over comb" version, of the most powerful man on the planet.
Quote;
"Donald Trump represents not just a danger to America but a shocking threat to the world."
The question now being asked is, "How long will it take before we see the blame game start and the back stage personae come shining through - when things don't go the Don's way?"
Sooner rather than later is my guess. Maybe as soon as Super Bowl Saturday coming up in February.
His corporate ladder style of leadership - you're hired and quickly fired if you bring me bad press style of leadership, will kick in.
Then, the voice of discontent across the divided states of America - and across the world will holler louder than ever.
This is when push back politics will kick in and marching in solidarity across the planet could well be all we will have left.
Tommy Kapai is a best-selling author and writer.
broblack@xtra.co.nz
