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  Reagan, Nancy
CANDIDATE DETAILS
AffiliationRepublican  
<-  2011-01-01  
 
NameNancy Reagan
Address
, California , United States
EmailNone
WebsiteNone
Born July 06, 1921
DiedMarch 06, 2016 (94 years)
ContributorCOSDem
Last ModifedRBH
Dec 30, 2019 12:45pm
Tags Caucasian - Christian - Presbyterian -
Info"My life really began when I married my husband," says Nancy Reagan, who in the 1950's happily gave up an acting career for a permanent role as the wife of Ronald Reagan and mother to their children. Her story actually begins in New York City, her birthplace. She was born on July 6, 1921. When the future First Lady was six, her mother, Edith--a stage actress--married Dr. Loyal Davis, a neurosurgeon. Dr. Davis adopted Nancy, and she grew up in Chicago. It was a happy time: summer camp, tennis, swimming, dancing. She received her formal education at Girls' Latin School and at Smith College in Massachusetts, where she majored in theater.

Soon after graduation she became a professional actress. She toured with a road company, then landed a role on Broadway in the hit musical Lute Song. More parts followed. One performance drew an offer from Hollywood. Billed as Nancy Davis, she performed in 11 films from 1949 to 1956. Her first screen role was in Shadow on the Wall. Other releases included The Next Voice Your Hear and East Side, West Side. In her last movie, Hellcats of the Navy, she played opposite her husband.

She had met Ronald Reagan in 1951, when he was president of the Screen Actors Guild. The following year they were married in a simple ceremony in Los Angeles in the Little Brown Church in the Valley. Mrs. Reagan soon retired from making movies so she "could be the wife I wanted to be...A woman's real happiness and real fulfillment come from within the home with her husband and children," she says. President and Mrs. Reagan have a daughter, Patricia Ann, and a son, Ronald Prescott.

While her husband was Governor of California from 1967 to 1975, she worked with numerous charitable groups. She spent many hours visiting veterans, the elderly, and the emotionally and physically handicapped. These people continued to interest her as First Lady. She gave her support to the Foster Grandparent Program, the subject of her 1982 book, To Love A Child. Increasingly, she has concentrated on the fight against drug and alcohol abuse among young people. She visited prevention and rehabilitation centers, and in 1985 she held a conference at the White House for First Ladies of 17 countries to focus international attention on this problem.

Mrs. Reagan shared her lifelong interest in the arts with the nation by using the Executive Mansion as a showcase for talented young performers in the PBS television series "In Performance at the White House." In her first year in the mansion she directed a major renovation of the second- and third-floor quarters.

Now living in retirement with her husband in California, she continues to work on her campaign to teach children to "just say no" to drugs, though her husband and her home remain her first priority. In her book My Turn, published in 1989, she gives her own account of her life in the White House. Through the joys and sorrows of those days, including the assassination attempt on her husband, Nancy Reagan held fast to her belief in love, honesty, and selflessness. "The ideals have endured because they are right and are no less right today than yesterday."

Lived: 1921-

Mrs. Ronald Reagan.



JOB APPROVAL POLLS
DateFirmApproveDisapproveDon't Know
01/12/1989-01/15/1989 CBS News 56.00% ( 0.0) 18.00% ( 0.0) 24.00% ( 0.0)

BOOKS
Title Purchase Contributor

EVENTS
Start Date End Date Type Title Contributor

NEWS
Date Category Headline Article Contributor
Mar 06, 2016 07:00pm News Nancy Reagan dead at 94  Article ev 
Mar 27, 2012 08:30am Announcement Jane Fonda to play Nancy Reagan in movie  Article RP 
Mar 06, 2011 08:00pm General Nancy Reagan Praises Barack Obama  Article COSDem 
Jun 03, 2009 11:00am Interview Nancy Reagan can 'see Ronnie' at night: magazine  Article The Sunset Provision 
Mar 09, 2009 12:00pm News Nancy Reagan praises Obama  Article Monsieur 
May 02, 2007 01:00pm News Nancy Reagan to attend GOP debate  Article The Sunset Provision 

DISCUSSION
Importance? 9.20000 Average

FAMILY
Husband Ronald Reagan Mar 04, 1952-Jun 06, 2004
Daughter Patti Davis 1952-
Son Ron Reagan 1958-
Stepdaughter Maureen Reagan 1941-2001
Stepson Michael Reagan 1945-
Stepdaughter Christine Reagan 1947-1947

INFORMATION LINKS
Congressional Gold Medal Recipient First Lady Nancy Reagan  Discuss
Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient First Lady Nancy Davis Reagan  Discuss
Speech To The 1996 Republican National Convention  Discuss
RACES
  11/06/1984 US First Lady Won 97.58% (+95.17%)
  11/04/1980 US First Lady Won 90.89% (+81.78%)
  11/02/1976 US First Lady Lost 0.19% (-55.02%)
ENDORSEMENTS
CA US President - R Primary - Feb 05, 2008 R John McCain