WASHINGTON — Republicans invited the nation to celebrate the inauguration of George W. Bush this month at a four-day party of public and private events.

        “It is our goal to have a presidential inaugural worthy of our great nation, its citizens and the man being sworn in,” said William O. DeWitt Jr., who is co-chairing the inauguration committee with Mercer Reynolds III.

        The two are partners in a Cincinnati investment firm and longtime friends of the next president.

        Mr. DeWitt and Mr. Reynolds, joined by their wives, unveiled the theme — “Celebrating America's Spirit Together” — at a news conference that outlined the scope of the events. Details, including a telephone number where the public can order tickets, will be released later this week.

        The party will open Jan. 18 with a ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial and three candlelight dinners — at $2,500 a ticket or $25,000 a table.

        On Jan. 19, Laura Bush, the next first lady, will honor American authors, while Vice President-elect Dick Cheney will recognize the nation's veterans. A youth concert is scheduled for that afternoon, followed by a Wyoming State Society party — Mr. Cheney is from Wyoming — and the Texas Black Tie & Boots Ball, which is considered the hottest ticket because Mr. Bush is the former governor of Texas.

        The official inauguration ceremony is set for Jan. 20, with a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue afterward. Eight inaugural balls — at $125 a ticket — are planned for that evening. On Jan. 21, the White House will be open for public tours, although it is usually closed on Sundays.

        Mr. Reynolds said the theme was chosen so the public could “share in this effort to celebrate America's heritage.”

        Jeanne Johnson Phillips, the inauguration committee's executive director, said the committee was about a third of the way toward its private fund-raising goal of $20 million to $30 million.

        “We're really celebrating what we're all about as a people and all of the things that brought us here and the things we've done together through the centuries,” she said.

        Ms. Phillips said the committee hopes to have its Web site up and running this week. It is to include information on people who have contributed to the committee.

        The weekend will have only about 80 percent of the activities of recent inaugurals because of the election controversy that reduced planning time by a month, Inaugural committee communications director Ed Gillespie said.

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