This second volume of the final report of the 1981 White House Conference on Aging presents a historical overview of the Conference, tracing its history from its inception as a joint resolution in Congress in 1979 through the nationwide preparatory activities, to its culmination with the gathering of delegates and observers in late November of 1981. Previous conferences are outlined and the economic climate at the time of the 1981 Conference is described. Enabling legislation and early preparations for the conference are reviewed, and the conference process is described in detail. The texts of welcoming speeches and keynote addresses to the Conference delegates are also presented. Reports of the 14 Conference committees are summarized. The appendices present the text of the 1981 White House Conference on Aging Act and provide lists of the National Advisory Committee, the state White House Conference on Aging coordinators, state White House Conferences on Aging, the technical committees, the mini-conferences, delegates, observers, international observers, official rules of procedure, Conference committee leadership, and the 1981 White House Conference on Aging staff. (JAC)