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| The real Nancy Reagan was the epitome of American pride and influence The real Nancy Reagan was the epitome of American pride and influence | |
| (4 months later) | |
| Nancy Reagan was very dignified, very glamorous and smart, and totally loving of her husband. She was his whole support system and they had something of a storybook marriage. | Nancy Reagan was very dignified, very glamorous and smart, and totally loving of her husband. She was his whole support system and they had something of a storybook marriage. |
| In 1952, when they married, both were out-of-work actors. Fourteen years later, he was governor of the largest state in the union, California, and she had a lot to do with that. She was key to his political life because she made sure he had the right people around him. | In 1952, when they married, both were out-of-work actors. Fourteen years later, he was governor of the largest state in the union, California, and she had a lot to do with that. She was key to his political life because she made sure he had the right people around him. |
| Ronald Reagan liked everybody, but Nancy Reagan edited. Stuart Spencer, manager of Ronald Reagan’s two gubernatorial campaigns and his first presidential run, said Nancy was the personnel director of every Reagan operation. | Ronald Reagan liked everybody, but Nancy Reagan edited. Stuart Spencer, manager of Ronald Reagan’s two gubernatorial campaigns and his first presidential run, said Nancy was the personnel director of every Reagan operation. |
| When she was first lady she was under such strong criticism from the press that she came across sometimes as uptight – but in real life she was not at all uptight. She was flirtatious and she liked a good joke. She liked to dance, she liked to dress well. Like Jackie Kennedy, she believed the White House should represent the best of everything in American life and politics and culture. | When she was first lady she was under such strong criticism from the press that she came across sometimes as uptight – but in real life she was not at all uptight. She was flirtatious and she liked a good joke. She liked to dance, she liked to dress well. Like Jackie Kennedy, she believed the White House should represent the best of everything in American life and politics and culture. |
| Her campaign against drugs came out of her personal experience of having friends with children who became involved in drugs and she worked very hard on that. It was directed toward elementary school children and to that extent it was very successful. | Her campaign against drugs came out of her personal experience of having friends with children who became involved in drugs and she worked very hard on that. It was directed toward elementary school children and to that extent it was very successful. |
| Later in life, she got involved with stem cell research, and even stood up to President George W Bush on it despite being a good friend, because she thought it could help people with Alzheimer’s. She knew it was too late for her husband but she could see what a horrible disease it was first-hand – as well as the toll it took on caregivers like herself. | Later in life, she got involved with stem cell research, and even stood up to President George W Bush on it despite being a good friend, because she thought it could help people with Alzheimer’s. She knew it was too late for her husband but she could see what a horrible disease it was first-hand – as well as the toll it took on caregivers like herself. |
| It annoyed her a little bit that the press dwelled on her clothes and questioned who paid for her dresses. But she understood that Republican first ladies are supposed to wear cloth coats, going back to Mamie Eisenhower, while Democratic first ladies can wear fur coats – it’s part of the bias of the press and the perception that the Republican party is the rich people’s party and the Democrats are the people’s party. She was investigated by the IRS over clothes, and she returned a lot she had borrowed to designers. | It annoyed her a little bit that the press dwelled on her clothes and questioned who paid for her dresses. But she understood that Republican first ladies are supposed to wear cloth coats, going back to Mamie Eisenhower, while Democratic first ladies can wear fur coats – it’s part of the bias of the press and the perception that the Republican party is the rich people’s party and the Democrats are the people’s party. She was investigated by the IRS over clothes, and she returned a lot she had borrowed to designers. |
| Her position was that first ladies should be dressed by American designers. When she came under criticism – for looking good, basically – Oscar de la Renta circulated a petition. First ladies do three or four appointments a day and the same outfit is not necessarily appropriate. But if they look frumpy and wrinkled, they’re criticised too. | Her position was that first ladies should be dressed by American designers. When she came under criticism – for looking good, basically – Oscar de la Renta circulated a petition. First ladies do three or four appointments a day and the same outfit is not necessarily appropriate. But if they look frumpy and wrinkled, they’re criticised too. |
| Things turned around after Nancy left the White House, when she stood by her husband all through his illness and wasn’t seen to be flying off Europe to parties. That showed the real Nancy Reagan. | Things turned around after Nancy left the White House, when she stood by her husband all through his illness and wasn’t seen to be flying off Europe to parties. That showed the real Nancy Reagan. |
| I think that she will be compared to Jackie Kennedy for her belief in entertaining as a tool of diplomacy. Like Jackie, she gave many state dinners and they were beautifully executed. She hosted a great cross section of interesting and inspiring Americans – not just from politics but from culture. She gave that advice to Mrs Bush and Mrs Obama, to entertain a lot and give a lot of state dinners, but unfortunately we’ve had two presidencies that are almost anti-social. | I think that she will be compared to Jackie Kennedy for her belief in entertaining as a tool of diplomacy. Like Jackie, she gave many state dinners and they were beautifully executed. She hosted a great cross section of interesting and inspiring Americans – not just from politics but from culture. She gave that advice to Mrs Bush and Mrs Obama, to entertain a lot and give a lot of state dinners, but unfortunately we’ve had two presidencies that are almost anti-social. |
| Nancy had much more a of a political influence than Jackie, though. She will be compared to Edith Wilson or Eleanor Roosevelt because she had so much influence on who was working with her husband. She always preferred the more pragmatic people, like chief of staff James Baker and secretary of state George Schultz, so she will be seen as important political player as well as an important style and social icon. | Nancy had much more a of a political influence than Jackie, though. She will be compared to Edith Wilson or Eleanor Roosevelt because she had so much influence on who was working with her husband. She always preferred the more pragmatic people, like chief of staff James Baker and secretary of state George Schultz, so she will be seen as important political player as well as an important style and social icon. |
| Everyone I’ve spoken to for my articles and books say Ronald Reagan said he could never have become president without Nancy. He knew what he wanted to do – and she made it possible. | Everyone I’ve spoken to for my articles and books say Ronald Reagan said he could never have become president without Nancy. He knew what he wanted to do – and she made it possible. |