The last of the great DC Mall Concert/Firework shows as far as I'm concerned.

Soon after this show James G. Watt, President Reagan's Secretary of the Interior, cancelled the planned Beach Boys show because they attracted an "undesirable element". Watt was one of the precursors of politically appointed hacks such as Michael Brown (of Katrina fame). Know for his brilliant sayings such as:

"I have a black, a woman, two Jews and a cripple. And we have talent." (1983 - he resigned within weeks of issuing this statement)

"If the troubles from environmentalists cannot be solved in the jury box or at the ballot box, perhaps the cartridge box should be used." (1991)

"Everything Cheney's saying, everything the president's saying - they're saying exactly what we were saying 20 years ago, precisely ... Twenty years later, it sounds like they've just dusted off the old work." (2001 - my personal favorite and so true)

I must say that it warmed my heart a bit to hear that Watts spent a significant amount of time in court battling his indictment for influence peddling. Unfortunately he eventually plea bargained himself out of these charges with (only) but with 5 years probation, a fine of a few thousand dollars and several hundreds of hours of public service.

Heck of a job Wattie, heck of a job!

"Everything Cheney's saying, everything the president's saying - they're saying exactly what we were saying 20 years ago, precisely ... Twenty years later, it sounds like they've just dusted off the old work." (2001)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_G._Watt