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Nancy Reagan biography

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Quick Facts

  • NAME: Nancy Reagan
  • OCCUPATION: Film Actress, U.S. First Lady
  • BIRTH DATE: July 06, 1921 (Age: 91)
  • EDUCATION: Sidwell Friends School, Smith College, Girls Latin School
  • PLACE OF BIRTH: New York City, New York
  • Full Name: Nancy David Reagan
  • Originally: Anne Frances Robbins
  • AKA: Nancy Reagan
  • Maiden Name: Nancy Davis
  • ZODIAC SIGN: Cancer

Best Known For

Nancy Reagan is a former first lady of the United States, the widow of Ronald Reagan, who founded the "Just Say No" drug awareness campaign.

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While all of this was going on, in October 1987, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and underwent a mastectomy.

Perhaps Nancy Reagan's most important role as first lady was as the president's personal protector. This partly grew out of the March 30, 1981 assassination attempt on his life. Thereafter, Nancy made it her concern to know all aspects of his schedule,

even employing the advice of an astrologer before his scheduled was finalized. This created friction between the first lady and White House Chief of Staff Donald Regan. When the Iran-Contra affair was revealed, the two argued, leading to Regan's resignation.

Later Years

After Nancy Reagan left the White House, she established the Nancy Reagan Foundation to support after-school drug prevention programs. She and Ronald Reagan retired to Bel-Air, Los Angeles, living there and at the "Reagan Ranch" in Santa Barbara, California, and dedicating much of their time to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. In November 1991, a dedication ceremony was held, and five presidents and six first ladies attended.

When Ronald Reagan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 1994, the couple lent their support to the Ronald & Nancy Reagan Research Institute in Chicago, Illinois. Over the next decade, Nancy was the primary care-giver for her husband, making only limited appearances in the Los Angeles area.

Following Ronald Reagan's death in 2004, Nancy became an outspoken public advocate for stem-cell research. She continued to bring attention to her husband's legacy and was awarded many distinguished awards and honors, including the Order of the White Eagle from the government of Poland, an honorary degree from Ronald Reagan's alma mater, Eureka College, and was present when President Barack Obama signed the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act. 

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