Reagan, Nancy Davis (1921-2016), was first lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989, when her husband, Ronald Reagan, was president. As first lady, she became known for her efforts to publicize the dangers of illegal drugs and urge people to shun them.
Mrs. Reagan was born in New York City on July 6, 1921. Her given and family name was Anne Frances Robbins. Her mother nicknamed her Nancy. Nancy’s mother was an actress, and her father was a salesman. Her father left the family shortly after Nancy’s birth, and the parents divorced in 1928. In 1929, Nancy’s mother married Loyal Davis, a Chicago surgeon. Nancy was legally adopted by Davis, and her last name was changed from Robbins to Davis.
Nancy Davis graduated from Smith College in 1943, where she majored in drama. She became an actress, first appearing professionally on stage in Ramshackle Inn in the mid-1940’s. She appeared in 11 motion pictures from 1949 to 1958. Her major films include East Side, West Side (1949), Night into Morning (1951), Donovan’s Brain (1953), and Hellcats of the Navy (1957), which starred Ronald Reagan, who was then an actor.
Nancy Davis and Ronald Reagan had met in 1951. Nancy had been receiving unwanted Communist literature in the mail. Reagan was then president of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG)—now called SAG-AFTRA. He and Nancy met when she sought advice from him about the literature.
Ronald Reagan had been married to actress Jane Wyman from 1940 to 1948. He and Nancy Davis married on March 4, 1952. They had two children, Patricia Ann, in 1952; and Ronald Prescott, in 1958.
Ronald Reagan, who had been governor of California from 1967 to 1975, was elected president in 1980. As first lady, Nancy Reagan spoke out against the use of illegal drugs, especially by young people. The slogan of the effort, “Just Say No,” became nationally known.
Nancy Reagan favored formal White House social events. The Reagans brought back the trumpeters and color guards that announce the appearance of the presidential family at receptions. The Carters, who preceded the Reagans in the White House, had stopped that practice. Many dinners in the White House while Nancy Reagan was first lady were elaborate events and called for formal dress. Mrs. Reagan became known for designer gowns she wore to some White House events.
After Ronald Reagan’s presidency ended in 1989, the Reagans moved to their ranch near Santa Barbara, California. Nancy Reagan continued her efforts to reduce drug abuse.
In 1994, Ronald Reagan revealed that he was suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. The disease causes an increasing loss of memory and other mental processes. During the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, Mrs. Reagan won widespread admiration for her devoted care of her husband. She also became known as a supporter of research on stem cells to find a treatment or cure for Alzheimer’s disease (see Stem cell). Ronald Reagan died of pneumonia complicated by Alzheimer’s disease in 2004. Nancy Reagan died on March 6, 2016.
See also Reagan, Ronald Wilson.
