Celebration in Washington

RICHARD NIXON will be the smiling star in the most satisfying event in his long political career, but Washington itself will be the centerpiece of the Inaugural weekend. The two-mile-long mall from the Lincoln Memorial to Capitol Hill has been cleared of temporary buildings for the first time in 50 years. The bureaucratic mastodons along Constitution Avenue and the restored old homes around Lafayette Square stand as handsome pieces of scenery in the quadrennial drama. Washington has never been more impressive.

To help out-of-town visitors, including scores of Nixon relatives, find their way around Washington, the Inaugural Committee is issuing 175,000 copies of a 32-page manual that lists festivities, their location and starting times; it even tells participants what to wear. The schedule includes 13 separate events during the weekend, not counting the parade, five balls and the Inauguration itself.

The main themes of the celebration will be traditional America and the nation's multi-ethnic heritage. The President was specific about wanting his second Inaugural "not to be just for the fat cats and big names, but for everybody, with an emphasis on the ethnics and young people," says Ray Caldiero, the Inaugural Committee's director of entertainment. The young will be treated to a rock concert and an Inaugural ball of their own. Ethnic food, music and art will be featured in a "Salute to America's Heritage" reception in the Corcoran Gallery of Art near the White House. "The big difference is that this is not a Washington society party, as it has been in the past," says Inaugural Committee Co-Chairman Mark Evans, a vice president of Metromedia, Inc. "I'm flabbergasted at the interest from all over."

Although only 19 of the 50 state Governors are Republicans, at least 40 are expected for the Inauguration. Japan's former Premier Eisaku Sato has accepted an invitation and will probably rub shoulders with names from business like Henry Ford and Kimball C. Firestone, and show-business types such as Zsa Zsa Gabor, Charlton Heston, Jimmy Stewart and Rosalind Russell. Comedian Bob Hope, Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra will star at the entertainments to be held in the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Other performances will range from the Philadelphia Orchestra, with Pianist Van Cliburn, to Soul Singer James Brown and Pat Boone.

Anticipating the nation's 200th anniversary, which will come at the end of Nixon's term, the Kennedy Center roof terrace will be done up in an 18th century decor. Hostesses wearing hoopskirted American Revolution-era costumes will serve the crowds from the concerts. After the Inauguration, more than 30,000, at a cost of $80 per couple, will crowd into the five Inaugural balls. Ballgoers will pay $1.50 for their drinks while waiting for the President and the First Lady to make their appearance at each. Besides receiving the plastic drink tumblers emblazoned with the Inaugural seal, the celebrators will also be given cuff links for the men and charms for the women.