Nancy Reagan Lauded by President at Dinner

Surrounded by many of the same friends and political supporters whose help propelled him to the White House eight years ago, President Reagan was welcomed back, black-tie style, to Southern California on Wednesday evening and responded by saluting the work of his wife, Nancy, in combating drug abuse.

“I have been deeply touched in the last few months when some people I greatly respect have praised the work of our Administration and compared it with a few select administrations of the past,” Reagan told those who attended the gala dinner at the Beverly Hilton. “But I must say that, to my way of thinking, the work Nancy has done can’t be compared to the work of anyone ever before.”

The dinner was held to benefit the Nancy Reagan Drug Abuse Center, an educational, research and treatment facility that is planned for Lake View Terrace in the San Fernando Valley. The event was expected to raise more than $1 million--to be added to the $3 million already collected for the $10-million facility.

Guests paid $1,000 apiece for tickets. Those who paid $25,000 for a table of 10, rather than $10,000, were invited to a predinner cocktail party with the Reagans.

Dinner organizers scored a social coup by grabbing the Reagans while the President is still in office. In addition to Reagan, the program included what was listed as “greetings from Gov. George Deukmejian, some humor from Don Rickles, songs from Frank Sinatra.” Merv Griffin, the former television talk show host and the owner of the hotel, was the host.

Sinatra, however, had to bow out of the evening because of a cold.

“His doctors have advised him to stay in bed,” a spokeswoman, Susan Reynolds, said. “He sent his regrets at not being able to join his friends, and he and his wife, Barbara, are sorry they can’t make it.”

‘Welcome Home’ Party

It was the first welcome home party for the returning Reagans, who have two weeks remaining, as of Friday, to their White House residency.

They are scheduled to complete a nearly two-week Southern California vacation this morning and return to Washington.

On Jan. 20, when George Bush takes office, the Reagans will complete their move back to Southern California, taking up residence in the $2.5-million Bel-Air home that was purchased for them by a small group of friends. The Reagans are leasing the home with an option to buy it.

Reagan made it clear Wednesday night that he was anxious to move back to California, saying that he will be on his way “in 15 days, 15 hours, 55 minutes and 40 seconds.”

Although the Reagans developed a reputation in the White House for elegant, black-tie dinners, their social life in Washington was often private.

On many nights, they dined alone, often watching television. And on others, they held intimate dinners for small groups of friends--with the gala, formal events often limited to the official state dinners held for visiting foreign leaders.

Thus, the dinner Wednesday night may be more the exception than the rule for the Reagans when they return to California for good.

Some of their friends say much of their socializing will be within the special circle of longtime acquaintances and wealthy political supporters with whom they have met over dinner for many years.

In addition to the presidential remarks at the “Celebration and Tribute from the People of California,” as the program was titled, the diners were served caviar with smoked salmon and blue corn blinis, tournedos of veal, a “bouquet of California garden vegetables” and three wines.

Reagan said that “right at the top of the list” of things he will remember “with pride and affection” about his presidency “will be the battle a certain lady began long before it was fashionable to get America’s young people to just say no to drugs.”

“Teddy Roosevelt used to talk about the White House as a ‘bully pulpit,’ but with her crusade against drug abuse, Nancy has shown that it’s not just the President who can use that bully pulpit for the good of America,” the President said.

The Nancy Reagan Center, which will be operated by Phoenix House, a long-established drug treatment institution, will focus on developing and testing new approaches to prevention and treatment of drug abuse.

According to the White House, the central program will be a residential high school for about 150 young people undergoing treatment for drug problems.

While the San Fernando Valley site has been selected, the ultimate location is not certain.

Critics in the community have objected, saying that the center will lead to increased traffic and crime, requiring more police activities in the neighborhood.

Seventeen representatives of Lake View Terrace homeowner’s groups marched outside the hotel, out of the view of most dinner guests, in opposition to the establishment of the drug treatment center near their residences.

Their numbers fell far short of the 100 protesters expected.

“Whether or not they see us, it feels good doing it,” said Lynne Cooper, president of the Lake View Terrace Improvement Assn.

“We’re here to show them when you take off all the glitzy wrappings . . . the fact is they cannot justify placing a drug rehabilitation program in a residential neighborhood,” said Lewis Snow, first vice president of the Lake View Terrace Home Owners Assn.

Times staff writer Amy Pyle contributed to this article.