Short Biography

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.

Miscellaneous Information

Friends and Family

Edith Davis [Mother]

Kenneth Robbins [Father]

Betsy Bloomingdale [Friend]

Claudette Colbert [Friend]

Lillian Gish [Friend]

Katharine Graham [Friend]

Jack Benny [Friend]

Red Skelton [Friend]

Danny Thomas [Friend]

James Cagney [Friend]

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