Most weeknight panel discussions in Washington don’t have a theme, let alone a dress code. But there it was on the invite for a Wednesday event hosted by GE and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation—dubbed "Turn Back Time: A Return to the Reagan Era," to honor President Reagan’s 100th Birthday: “80s Attire Encouraged.”
“We thought, why not throw it out there?” said Event Architects' Mary Fuller, who worked with GE's manager of external communications, Megan Parker, to produce a reception for 600 invited guests following a Tom Brokaw-hosted panel discussion, held at the Ronald Reagan Building, naturally.
“We wanted to make a fun kitschy play on the ’80s,” Fuller explained, enlisting ’80s cover band the Reagan Years to entertain guests from the media, Reagan foundation staffers, and former Reagan administrative staff. Models dressed in ’80s outfits interacted with guests, while flat-screens played clips from ALF, The Golden Girls, and Risky Business.
The theme had been a constant since planning for the event began in November, said GE’s Megan Parker. “It’s a natural fit. Reagan is the president of the ’80s, and everybody loves the ’80s,” she said. Parker oversaw the panel portion, while Event Architects coordinated of the reception. The Chicago-based firm has worked with GE on a number of events.
GE is the presenting sponsor for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation’s two-year-long Reagan Centennial Celebration, and Wednesday’s event was part of that partnership, drawing on Reagan’s long history with GE. Reagan hosted General Electric Theater and also served as a goodwill ambassador from 1954 to 1962. “The focus is on Reagan’s legacy with GE and as a communicator,” Parker said.
At 6:30 p.m., guests gathered for the panel discussion reflecting on Reagan’s communication strengths with remarks from GE chairman and C.E.O. Jeff Immelt and panelists like Politico’s Mike Allen, former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer, MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell, and John Heubusch, executive director of the foundation.
When the panel concluded at 8 p.m., the Reagan Years band started up with renditions of classics like “Footloose,” while guests played arcade games, snacked on sliders and macaroni and cheese, and perused silent-auction items whose sale benefited the Disabled American Veterans. Amaryllis provided provided Slinkys, Rubik’s Cubes, and Play-Doh as table centerpieces, while cans of Tab topped the bar and slap bracelets were doled out at the event check-in.
