Lunching With Reagan? Don’t Worry About What to Say to Him

The ladies who lunch are buzzing about the ladies who lunched on Monday right beside the President of the United States at the palatial Coto de Caza home of developer William R. Lyon.

An attendee has confided that it was Judie Argyros--Lady Di-ish in a flower print dress and sweeping black hat--who was perched on one side of the Gipper, and hostess Willa Dean Lyon--low-key in lemon pique--who presided on the other.

Also at Table 1 with the President were Janice Johnson, wife of Western Digital CEO Roger Johnson; developer Don Koll; philanthropist Armand Hammer; film producer Jerry Weintraub, and Carolyn Randall, wife of William Lyon Co. president Dick Randall.

The First Lady held court at Table 2 with the spouses of those at Table 1. She was flanked by developer George Argyros and the host. (Lyon and Argyros owned Air Cal before it was sold to American Airlines.)

One guest who hadn’t slept a wink the previous night, worrying about what to say to the President, said: “There was no need to worry. He talked and talked and talked. About his horses, his career.

“He’s far younger than I pictured. Charming. Bright blue eyes that go right through you. Very articulate. A memory like you wouldn’t believe. He’s not senile. He’s totally there.”

Guests, who paid $100,000 per couple--proceeds will benefit the proposed presidential library in Ventura County--assembled in the orchid-bedecked Lyon home to await the First Couple, who arrived by helicopter promptly at noon.

Each couple posed for keepsake photos with the Reagans before they enjoyed lunch on the patio near the pool. A string quartet entertained.

A wall of secrecy was erected around the intimate affair, and those who attended are still jittery about going on record to share details.

“The Lyons are simply lovely people,” explained one. “And there are certain things you respect.”

A highlight of the 2 1/2-hour luncheon was a speech by Lyon, adored in social circles for his droll sense of humor.

After teasing Reagan about inflation and interest rates, he got serious when he told guests why Ronald is his middle name.

When it came time to graduate from high school, Lyon said, he was pressed to come up with a middle name for his diploma. He came up with Ronald because screen idol Ronald Reagan was his hero at the time.

“The President absolutely loved that,” one male guest said.

The envelope, please: Domenick and Barbara Roppolo, director of operations for Irvine Retail Properties, and Susan and Kevin Consey, director of the Newport Harbor Art Museum, will toss their second annual Academy Awards bash Monday night at the Consey home in Corona del Mar.

Guests such as video Wunderkind Stuart Karl of Big Canyon and Corona del Mar’s Howard F. Ahmanson (son of the late Howard Ahmanson of Los Angeles) will don black tie to dine on fancy hot dogs and sausages served up Cajun style, heaps of buttered popcorn and Haagen Dazs bon bons (Kevin Consey’s fave) while they watch the awards on televisions placed throughout the house.

Invitations to the party included ballots that guests were to return by mail to accountant Mike Meyer, who works for Kenneth Leventhal & Co. in Newport Beach. The winner will receive dinner for two at the Savannah Grill at Newport Center Fashion Island.

The guest list of 50 includes: Joanne and Warren Fix; Barbara and Jim Glabman; Ann and David Mudgett; Marilyn and Tom Neilsen; Maura Eggan (marketing director of South Coast Plaza); Kitty Leslie (fashion director for Newport Center); Judy and Rogue Hemley; Elizabeth and Tom Tierney; Betsy (a veep with Nordstrom) and Sandy Sanders, and Mary and Jim Rourke, Tustin city attorney.

Morsels: Renee and Henry Segerstrom are busy planning a luncheon at the Center Club in Costa Mesa for the April 27 visit of Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia. About 100 guests will dine at tables decorated with yellow and blue posies (Swedish flag colors) and enjoy food that is Californian right down to its wines and something orange for dessert. . . . Beginning April 15, the formerly ultra- prive Magic Island in Newport Beach will be open to non-members. . . . The Newport Harbor Yacht Club will come alive this weekend with themed parties marking the end of each day’s U.S. Yacht Club Challenge Cup regatta. . . . Pilar Wayne will welcome supporters of Orange County’s Special Olympics for handicapped children into her Newport Beach home on May 12 for bubbly, appetizers and a fashion show.