In this photograph, taken on July 28, 1984, President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan pose with Romanian gymnast Nadia Comăneci and Juan Antonio Samaranch, president of the International Olympic Committee, in the press box of the Los Angeles Memorial Colosseum in Los Angeles, California. President Reagan was in attendance to provide opening remarks for the 1984 Summer Olympic Games. This was the first time a sitting American president opened an Olympic Games, establishing a tradition of presidents appearing at the Olympics when they are held in the United States. Formerly, Olympic Games in the United States would be formally opened by local political leaders or representatives of the president. As governor of New York, Franklin D. Roosevelt opened the 1932 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York, while Vice President Richard M. Nixon attended the opening ceremonies at the 1960 Winter Olympic Games in Squaw Valley, California.

In this photograph, taken on August 13, 1984, President Ronald Reagan poses alongside gymnast Mary Lou Retton and other medalists from the 1984 United States Summer Olympic Team at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, California. During the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, the American team earned 174 medals, including 84 gold medals. President Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan attended the breakfast at the Century Plaza Hotel to congratulate the athletes on their impressive showing. Reagan also delivered opening remarks during the opening ceremonies of the 1984 Summer Olympics on July 27, 1984. Reagan was the first sitting American president to open the Olympic Games.

In this photograph, taken on July 28, 1984, President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan watch over the opening ceremonies of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games from the press box of the Los Angeles Memorial Colosseum in Los Angeles, California. This was the first time a sitting American president opened an Olympic Games, establishing a tradition of presidents appearing at the Olympics when they are held in the United States. Formerly, Olympic Games in the United States would be formally opened by local political leaders or representatives of the president. As Governor of New York, Franklin D. Roosevelt opened the 1932 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York, while Vice President Richard M. Nixon attended the opening ceremonies at the 1960 Winter Olympic Games in Squaw Valley, California.