Nancy Reagan was the wife of President Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States. She served as First Lady from 1981 to 1989.
Early Life
Anne Frances Robbins was born on July 6, 1921, in New York City. Her parents divorced in 1928. While her mother pursued acting jobs, Anne lived with her aunt and uncle in Maryland. In 1929, her mother married Loyal Edward Davis, a well-known doctor. He formally adopted her in 1938, and her name was legally changed to Nancy Davis
After graduating from Chicago’s Girls’ Latin School, Nancy attended Smith College, where she majored in theater. After college, Nancy became a professional actress, performing on Broadway before moving to Hollywood. She performed in 11 films from 1949 to 1956. Her big screen debut was Shadow on the Wall. Her other films included The Next Voice Your Hear and East Side, West Side. In her final performance, Hellcats of the Navy, she starred alongside her husband.
Marriage to Ronald Reagan
Nancy first met Ronald Reagan in 1951, when he was president of the Screen Actors Guild. They were married on March 4, 1952, in a small ceremony at the Little Brown Church in Los Angeles. “My life really began when I married my husband,” Nancy once stated. The couple went on to have two children: a daughter, Patricia Ann, and a son, Ronald Prescott.
Ronald Reagan entered politics when he became Governor of California, serving from 1967 to 1975. As First Lady of California, Nancy Reagan became involved with causes of her own, including the Foster Grandparents Program. She also visited veterans, the elderly, and the handicapped, and worked with several charities.
First Lady of the United States
With Ronald Reagan’s election win in 1980, Nancy Reagan became First Lady of the United States. She soon became known for her elegant wardrobe, glamorous events, and ease in front of the camera, often drawing comparisons to First Lady Jackie Kennedy. She also received criticism for her extravagant taste, particularly as the country grappled with a recession.
Nancy’s love of the arts was reflected in her causes as First Lady. The Reagans invited talented young performers to perform at the White House, with the performances broadcast in the PBS television series “In Performance at the White House.” She also oversaw a significant renovation of the second- and third-floor quarters of the Executive Mansion.
Nancy Reagan was also devoted to fighting against drug and alcohol abuse among young people. In 1985, she held a conference at the White House for First Ladies of 17 countries to generate international attention on the problem. In the United States, she founded the famous “Just Say No” drug awareness campaign.
Later Life
After leaving the White House, the Reagan’s returned home to California. In 1989, Nancy published a book, My Turn, which detailed her life in the White House. The same year, she also established the Nancy Reagan Foundation, which sought to educate young people about the dangers of substance abuse.
Nancy spent a great deal of her time caring for her husband, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 1994. He died in 2004. Nancy Reagan died on March 6, 2016, at her home in Los Angeles. She is buried with her husband at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.
