NANCY REAGAN
Name: Nancy Davis Reagan
Born: 6 July 1921 Flushing, New York, U.S.
Nancy Davis Reagan (born Anne Frances Robbins on July 6, 1921) is the widow of
former United States President Ronald Reagan and served as an influential First
Lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989. Born in New York, her parents
divorced soon after her birth; she grew up in Maryland, living with an aunt and
uncle while her mother pursued acting jobs. As Nancy Davis, she was an actress
in the 1940s and 1950s, starring in films such as Donovan's Brain, Night into
Morning, and Hellcats of the Navy. In 1952 she married Ronald Reagan, who was
then president of the Screen Actors Guild; they had two children. Nancy became
the First Lady of California when her husband was Governor from 1967 to 1975.
She became the First Lady of the United States in January 1981 following her
husband's victory, but experienced criticism early in his first term largely due
to her decision to replenish the White House china. Nancy restored a Kennedy-esque
glamor to the White House following years of lax formality, and her interest in
high-end fashion garnered much attention, as well as criticism for accepting
unreported loans and gifts from fashion designers. She championed recreational
drug prevention causes by founding the "Just Say No" drug awareness campaign,
which was considered her major initiative as First Lady. More controversy ensued
when it was revealed in 1988 that she had consulted an astrologer to assist in
planning the president's schedule after the 1981 assassination attempt on her
husband's life.
The Reagans retired to their home in Bel Air, Los Angeles, California in 1989.
Nancy devoted most of her time to caring for her ailing husband, diagnosed in
1994 with Alzheimer's disease, until his death in 2004. Nancy Reagan has
remained active in politics, particularly in relation to stem-cell research.
Name: Nancy Davis Reagan
Born: 6 July 1921 Flushing, New York, U.S.
Nancy Davis Reagan (born Anne Frances Robbins on July 6, 1921) is the widow of
former United States President Ronald Reagan and served as an influential First
Lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989. Born in New York, her parents
divorced soon after her birth; she grew up in Maryland, living with an aunt and
uncle while her mother pursued acting jobs. As Nancy Davis, she was an actress
in the 1940s and 1950s, starring in films such as Donovan's Brain, Night into
Morning, and Hellcats of the Navy. In 1952 she married Ronald Reagan, who was
then president of the Screen Actors Guild; they had two children. Nancy became
the First Lady of California when her husband was Governor from 1967 to 1975.
She became the First Lady of the United States in January 1981 following her
husband's victory, but experienced criticism early in his first term largely due
to her decision to replenish the White House china. Nancy restored a Kennedy-esque
glamor to the White House following years of lax formality, and her interest in
high-end fashion garnered much attention, as well as criticism for accepting
unreported loans and gifts from fashion designers. She championed recreational
drug prevention causes by founding the "Just Say No" drug awareness campaign,
which was considered her major initiative as First Lady. More controversy ensued
when it was revealed in 1988 that she had consulted an astrologer to assist in
planning the president's schedule after the 1981 assassination attempt on her
husband's life.
The Reagans retired to their home in Bel Air, Los Angeles, California in 1989.
Nancy devoted most of her time to caring for her ailing husband, diagnosed in
1994 with Alzheimer's disease, until his death in 2004. Nancy Reagan has
remained active in politics, particularly in relation to stem-cell research.