Nancy Reagan, former First Lady, died Sunday, March 6. She spent her final years supporting research of embryonic stem cells, particularly in the case of Alzheimers disease, which robbed her husband’s final years following his presidency.
No matter what you thought of the Reagan years, Nancy Reagan threw her entire being into supporting Ronald Reagan. Her extreme dedication to helping her husband through the assassination attempt stands out as one of many incidents where her protective instincts prevailed. It is rare when one individual so completely identifies and supports another, but Mrs. Reagan was that individual.
Her signature policy issue was substance abuse, known by her “Just Say No” campaign, which continued even after leaving the White House. She also was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent mastectomy surgery, which cause a swell in the number of American women being checked for breast cancer.
Often known for returning elegance and formality to the White House, Mrs. Reagan’s interest in fashion had a more business-like expression in renovating the White House facilities. She is remembered for controversially replacing the china, but she also brought many White House antiques out of storage and repaired them for use in public spaces. Walls were repaired, ancient pipes replaced, substandard wiring upgraded, changes that voided years of facilities neglect and preserved the White House for future citizens.
Mrs. Reagan made her personal contribution to the White House, saying, “This house belongs to all Americans, and I want it to be something of which they can be proud.”
