Wilson Duet Strikes Chord With Crowd : Inaugural: Governor and his wife serenade Republicans gathered to revel in his second term.

On a weekend of few surprises, when several thousand of California’s Republicans journeyed to the Capitol to revel in Pete Wilson II, The Second Term, there was one notable exception: The taciturn governor let his hair down. He sang.

In public, in front of 4,000 people.

Joined by his wife, Gayle, herself a good amateur singer, and under the spotlight in an otherwise darkened Arco Arena, the governor launched into a harmonious and polished duet that brought down the house and stole the thunder from Friday night’s headliner, Grammy Award-winning singer Natalie Cole.

“We beat the California blues,” the Wilsons crooned to hearty applause from an audience that included corporate campaign contributors who paid $25,000 each to underwrite the $2-million-plus celebration that included Saturday’s inaugural ball.

The song recounted the “blues” of natural, political and other crises Wilson faced in his first term and set the stage for a weekend of celebrity-filled parties that were heavy with the message that Wilson’s second term would be easier than the first.

“How the past four years have slipped away,” he quipped to supporters from the platform of a vintage caboose at the state Railroad Museum. “I hope the hell the character-building part is over.”

At inaugural activities throughout the weekend, Wilson repeatedly cited a theme of victory over adversity to restore California as a model for “forging America’s future.”

Munching on snacks and sipping white California wine from plastic goblets, some of his backers interpreted Wilson’s theme as a potential campaign platform for a White House run next year. The governor has said he may consider a “favorite son” candidacy but otherwise has downplayed any serious bid for the presidency.

Included on Wilson’s list of first-term crises, all set against a backdrop of economic recession, were wildfires, the Los Angeles riots, earthquakes, drought, floods and his come-from-behind election victory over Democrat Kathleen Brown.

Despite the celebratory mood, the weekend festivities were relatively subdued affairs compared to his freewheeling first inauguration in 1991, when he arrived in Sacramento to succeed fellow Republican George Deukmejian.

Four years ago, the inaugural festivities included not only the traditional gubernatorial ball for mature folks but a special dance for young adults featuring their brand of contemporary music. Organizers said the program this time was scaled back a bit because Wilson & Co. are a fixed feature of the political scene and no longer the new arrivals.

As with the first inauguration, participation at most events was by invitation at $125 a ticket--in addition to the corporate donors--except for admission-free public tours of Wilson’s office Friday. Organizers said the celebration was privately financed, including by the sale of souvenir T-shirts at $15 each and cork-pullers at $5.

On Saturday, Wilson was sworn in publicly at the concert hall of the Sacramento Community Center, a ceremony moved from the Capitol steps because of threatened foul weather.

He and his wife were to host the traditional governor’s inaugural ball Saturday night in a cavernous exhibition hall on the state fairgrounds decorated by the Walt Disney Co. to reflect the geographic diversity of California. An estimated 5,000 people attended.

The first couple selected “Second Time Around” for their ceremonial first dance.

At the entertainment gala Friday night, the Wilsons turned out to be surprise “mystery” guest entertainers, upstaging other performers, including television’s Mary Hart and martial arts expert and actor Chuck Norris.

In their specially written duet, the governor and Gayle Wilson, who often sing at private gatherings with friends, cited Kathleen Brown as a vanquished challenger who “now can work on her tan and spend all day reading her plan.”

Hart, mistress of ceremonies for the second time, sang several show tunes and popped political one-liners designed to please Republicans. Norris told several jokes.

As the second-half headliner, Cole, accompanied by the Sacramento Symphony, sang a series of love songs, including her signature “Unforgettable,” a tribute to her late father, Nat King Cole.

Other performers included soloist Robbie Britt, Living Literature Colors United, which is a high school song and dance troupe from inner-city schools of Los Angeles, comedian Fred Travalena and a Marine Corps band from San Diego.

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Although Sacramento was filled mostly with out-of-town Republicans, some Democrats joined in the weekend party too. Peter M. Finnegan, an official in the Administration of former Democratic Gov. Edmund G. (Jerry) Brown Jr., joined tourists and schoolchildren in the public tour of the governor’s office.

“It’s all cleaned up,” Finnegan said in amazement, noting that during Brown’s tenure, the inner sanctum of the office suite could resemble a fraternity house game room. “I’m impressed. Look at those drapes. We couldn’t afford drapes. Too expensive.”

Marching into a large room that once served as Brown’s private office, Finnegan, a former liquor regulator and now a lobbyist, marveled at chairs, a long uncluttered table and other furniture. “We didn’t have chairs. We’d sit on the floor. Ha!” he said.