Nancy Reagan Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! === White House glamour === ==== Renovation ==== [[File:President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan waving from the limousine during the Inaugural Parade (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|The new president and his wife wave to the crowd during the Inaugural Parade, January 20, 1981, the same day that 52 Americans held [[Iran hostage crisis|hostage]] by Iran for 444 days were set free]] Reagan became the first lady of the United States when Ronald Reagan was [[First inauguration of Ronald Reagan|inaugurated as president in January 1981]]. Early in her husband's presidency, Reagan stated her desire to create a more suitable "first home" in the [[White House]], as the building had fallen into a state of disrepair following years of neglect.<ref name="NR American" /> White House aide [[Michael Deaver]] described the second and third-floor family residence as having "cracked plaster walls, chipped paint [and] beaten up floors";<ref name="md78">Deaver, Michael (2004), p. 78.</ref> Rather than use government funds to renovate and redecorate, she sought private donations.<ref name="First Lady Nancy Reagan">{{cite web|url=http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=41|title=First Lady Biography: Nancy Reagan|access-date=June 2, 2007|publisher=National First Ladies Library|archive-date=May 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509085730/http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=41|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1981, Reagan directed a major renovation of several White House rooms, including all of the second and third floors<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whitehousehistory.org/whha_timelines/timelines_first-ladies-40.html |title=Nancy Reagan |publisher=The White House Historical Association |access-date=January 27, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111122104900/http://whitehousehistory.org/whha_timelines/timelines_first-ladies-40.html |archive-date=November 22, 2011 }}</ref> and rooms adjacent to the Oval Office, including the [[James S. Brady Press Briefing Room|press briefing room]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whitehousemuseum.org/west-wing/press-briefing-room.htm|title=Brady Press Briefing Room|access-date=February 1, 2008|publisher=The White House Museum}}</ref> The renovation included repainting walls, refinishing floors, repairing fireplaces, and replacing antique pipes, windows, and wires.<ref name="md78" /> The closet in the master bedroom was converted into a beauty parlor and dressing room, and the West bedroom was made into a small gymnasium.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whitehousemuseum.org/floor2/west-bedroom.htm|title=West Bedroom|access-date=February 1, 2008|publisher=The White House Museum}}</ref> The first lady secured the assistance of renowned interior designer Ted Graber, popular with affluent West Coast social figures, to redecorate the family living quarters.<ref name="graber">{{cite news|title=Ted Graber, 80, Decorator for Reagans, Dies|access-date=July 21, 2009|date=June 12, 2000|newspaper=The New York Times|last=Nemy|first=Enid|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/12/us/ted-graber-80-decorator-for-reagans-dies.html}}</ref> A Chinese-pattern, handpainted wallpaper was added to the master bedroom.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whitehousemuseum.org/floor2/master-bedroom.htm|title=Master Bedroom|access-date=February 1, 2008|publisher=The White House Museum}}</ref> Family furniture was placed in the president's private study.<ref name="graber" /> The first lady and her designer retrieved several White House antiques, which had been in storage, and placed them throughout the mansion.<ref name="graber" /> In addition, many of Reagan's collectibles were put out for display, including around twenty-five [[Limoges Box]]es, as well as some porcelain eggs and a collection of plates.<ref>Brower, Kate Andersen (2015), pp. 134–135.</ref> The extensive redecoration was paid for by private donations.<ref name="First Lady Nancy Reagan" /><ref name="graber" /> Many significant and long-lasting changes occurred as a result of the renovation and refurbishment, of which Reagan said, "This house belongs to all Americans, and I want it to be something of which they can be proud."<ref name="graber" /> The renovations received some criticisms for being funded by tax-deductible donations, meaning some of it eventually did indirectly come from the tax-paying public.<ref>Loizeau, P.M. (2005), [https://books.google.com/books?id=j_mlxi6J6xkC&pg=PA93 p. 93]</ref> ==== Fashion ==== Reagan's interest in fashion was another one of her trademarks. While her husband was still [[President-elect of the United States|president-elect]], press reports speculated about Reagan's social life and interest in fashion.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2GFQAAAAIBAJ&pg=6976,3582744|title=Nancy Reagan To Run The White House In Grand Style, Social Pundits Say|date=November 13, 1980|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=St. Petersburg Independent|page=5A}}</ref><ref name="stylenyt">{{cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1980/11/09/111811929.pdf|title=Word From Friends: A New White House Style Is on the Way|date=November 9, 1980|author=Nemy, Enid|newspaper=The New York Times|page=80}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XlANAAAAIBAJ&dq=nancy%20reagan%20fashion&pg=5805%2C4581550|title=Fashion Designers Look Ahead to '81|date=December 23, 1980|author=Proven, Grace|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|page=18}}{{Dead link|date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In many press accounts, Reagan's sense of style was favorably compared to that of a previous first lady, [[Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis|Jacqueline Kennedy]].<ref name="burns-148">Burns, Lisa (2008), p. 148.</ref> Friends and those close to her remarked that, while fashionable like Kennedy, she would be different from other first ladies; close friend Harriet Deutsch was quoted as saying, "Nancy has her own imprint."<ref name="stylenyt" /> White House photographer [[Mary Anne Fackelman-Miner]], who was assigned to Reagan, said of her, "She always photographed so easily and was at ease in front of the cameras."<ref name="tate">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ldKMDwAAQBAJ |title=Lady in Red: An Intimate Portrait of Nancy Reagan |last=Tate |first=Sheila |year=2019 |publisher=Crown Publishing Group |isbn=9781524762209 |page=213 |language=en}}</ref> Reagan's wardrobe consisted of dresses, gowns, and suits made by luxury designers, including [[James Galanos]], [[Bill Blass]], and [[Oscar de la Renta]]. Her white, hand-beaded, one shoulder Galanos 1981 inaugural gown was estimated to cost $10,000,<ref name="Nancy's Closet" /> while the overall price of her inaugural wardrobe was said to cost $25,000.<ref name="spbt">{{cite news|author=Bennetts, Leslie|title=Nancy Reagan's inaugural wardrobe gives notice of new White House opulence|date=January 25, 1981|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times}}</ref> She favored the color red, calling it "a picker-upper", and wore it accordingly.<ref name="Nancy's Closet" /> Her wardrobe included red so often that the fire-engine shade became known as "Reagan red".<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2016/03/nancy-reagan-white-house-style |title=ow Nancy Reagan Returned Unapologetic Glamour to the White House |access-date=August 13, 2019 |magazine=Vanity Fair |date=March 7, 2016 |author=Keogh, Pamela}}</ref> She employed two private hairdressers, who would style her hair on a regular basis in the White House.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0DE0D81338F930A1575BC0A960948260|title=Washington Talk: Briefing; A Do Ado|author1=King, Wayne |author2=Warren Weaver, Jr. |name-list-style=amp |date=August 23, 1986|access-date=June 18, 2008 | work=The New York Times}}</ref> [[File:Nancy Reagan in the Red Room during a photo session with Vogue Magazine.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Reagan models for ''[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]]'' in the [[Red Room (White House)|Red Room]], 1981]] Fashion designers were pleased with the emphasis Reagan placed on clothing.<ref name="spbt" /> [[Adolfo (designer)|Adolfo]] said the first lady embodied an "elegant, affluent, well-bred, chic American look",<ref name="spbt" /> while Bill Blass commented, "I don't think there's been anyone in the White House since Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis who has her flair."<ref name="spbt" /> William Fine, president of cosmetic company Frances Denney, noted that she "stays in style, but she doesn't become trendy."<ref name="spbt" /> Though her elegant fashions and wardrobe were hailed as a "glamorous paragon of chic",<ref name="spbt" /> they were also controversial subjects. In 1982, she revealed that she had accepted thousands of dollars in clothing, jewelry, and other gifts, but defended her actions by stating that she had borrowed the clothes and that they would either be returned or donated to museums,<ref name="Nancy's Closet" /><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/01/16/us/for-mrs-reagan-gifts-mean-high-fashion-at-no-cost.html | title=For Mrs. Reagan, Gifts Mean High Fashion At No Cost | publisher=Associated Press for [[The New York Times]] | date=January 16, 1982 | format=fee required | access-date=February 1, 2008}}</ref> and that she was promoting the American fashion industry.<ref name="nyt021782" /> Facing criticism, she soon said she would no longer accept such loans.<ref name="nyt021782">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/02/17/us/nancy-reagan-gives-up-dress-designer-loans.html | title=Nancy Reagan Gives Up Dress Designer Loans | first=Hedrick |last=Smith | work=The New York Times | date=February 17, 1982 | format=fee required | access-date=February 1, 2008 |author-link=Hedrick Smith}}</ref> While often buying her clothes, she continued to borrow and sometimes keep designer clothes throughout her time as first lady, which came to light in 1988.<ref name="time102488">{{cite magazine | url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,968774-1,00.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022184824/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,968774-1,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=October 22, 2012 | title=Why Mrs. Reagan Still Looks Like a Million | first=Ed |last=Magnuson | magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] | date=October 24, 1988 | access-date=February 1, 2008}}</ref> None of this had been included on financial disclosure forms;<ref name="time102488" /> the non-reporting of loans under $10,000 in liability was in violation of a voluntary agreement the White House had made in 1982, while not reporting more valuable loans or clothes not returned was a possible violation of the [[Ethics in Government Act]].<ref name="time102488" /><ref name="wapo120589">{{cite news | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1226713.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104103013/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1226713.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=November 4, 2012 | title=IRS Looking into Gifts to Reagans; Borrowed Designer Dresses Subject of Tax Inquiry | author=Kurtz, Howard | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=December 5, 1989 | access-date=February 2, 2008 | format=fee required}}</ref><ref name="nyt101888" /> Reagan expressed through her press secretary "regrets that she failed to heed counsel's advice" on disclosing them.<ref name="nyt101888">{{cite news | url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE4DA1E3AF93BA25753C1A96E948260 | title= First Lady Expresses 'Regrets' on Wardrobe | first=Steven V. |last=Roberts | work=The New York Times | date=October 18, 1988 | access-date=February 1, 2008 |author-link=Steven V. Roberts}}</ref> Despite the controversy, many designers who allowed her to borrow clothing, noted that the arrangement was good for their businesses,<ref name="time102488" /> as well as for the American fashion industry overall.<ref name="bg101988">{{cite news | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8084313.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104103019/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8084313.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=November 4, 2012 | title=Nancy Reagan's Dress Blues: Borrowing Clothes From Top Designers May Be Chic, But Is It Proper? | first=John |last=Robinson | work=[[Boston Globe]] | date=October 19, 1988 | access-date=February 7, 2008 | format=fee required}}</ref> In 1989, Reagan was honored at the annual gala awards dinner of the [[Council of Fashion Designers of America]], during which she received the council's lifetime achievement award.<ref name="honorednyt">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/10/style/fashion-amid-the-rustle-of-finery-fashion-celebrates-its-own.html|title=Fashion; Amid the Rustle of Finery, Fashion Celebrates Its Own|author=Hochswender, Woody|date=January 10, 1989|access-date=July 22, 2009|work=The New York Times}}</ref> [[Barbara Walters]] said of her, "She has served every day for eight long years the word 'style.'"<ref name="honorednyt" /> ==== Extravagance ==== Approximately a year into her husband's first term, Nancy explored the idea of ordering new [[White House china|state china service]] for the White House.<ref name="apchina">{{cite news|author=Santini, Maureen|title=Nancy Reagan's White House china: $209,508|date=September 12, 1981|agency=Associated Press, published in The St. Petersburg Times}}</ref> A full china service had not been purchased since the [[Presidency of Harry S. Truman|Truman administration]] in the 1940s, as only a partial service was ordered in the [[Lyndon B. Johnson|Johnson]] administration.<ref name="apchina" /> She was quoted as saying, "The White House really badly, badly needs china."<ref name="apchina" /> Working with [[Lenox (company)|Lenox]], the primary porcelain manufacturer in America, the first lady chose a design scheme of a red with etched gold band, bordering the scarlet and cream colored ivory plates with a raised presidential seal etched in gold in the center.<ref name="apchina" /> The full service comprised 4,370 pieces, with 19 pieces per individual set.<ref name="apchina" /> The service totaled $209,508.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.lenox.com/index.cfm?ss=services&cat=about&lp=whitehouse|title= Lenox: White House|access-date= June 2, 2007|publisher= Lenox, Inc|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090111183137/http://www.lenox.com/index.cfm?ss=services&cat=about&lp=whitehouse|archive-date= January 11, 2009|df= mdy-all}}</ref> Although it was paid for by private donations, some from the private [[Joseph P. Knapp|J. P. Knapp Foundation]], the purchase generated quite a controversy, for it was ordered at a time when the nation was undergoing an [[Early 1980s recession|economic recession]].<ref>Klapthor, Margaret Brown (1999), p. 184,</ref> Furthermore, news of the china purchase emerged at the same time that her husband's administration had proposed school lunch regulations that would allow [[ketchup as a vegetable|ketchup to be counted as a vegetable]].<ref name="time-2016"/> [[File:Reagans with Jackie Kennedy.jpg|thumb|right|President Reagan, First Lady Nancy Reagan and former first lady [[Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis]] at a fundraiser for the [[Kennedy Presidential Library]], 1985]] The new china set, White House renovations, expensive clothing, and her attendance at the [[Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer|wedding of Charles and Diana, Prince and Princess of Wales]],<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/diana/background/wedding1.htm|title=Britain Celebrates, Charles Takes a Bride|access-date=November 16, 2007 |newspaper= The Washington Post|date=July 30, 1981|author=Downie, Leonard Jr.}}</ref> gave her an aura of being "out of touch" with the American people during the recession.<ref name="First Lady Nancy Reagan" /> This built upon the reputation she had coming to Washington, wherein many people concluded that Reagan was a vain and shallow woman,<ref name="time-2016">{{cite news | title=Remembering Nancy Reagan: The End of a White House Love Story | magazine=Time | date=March 6, 2016 | first=Nancy | last=Gibbs | url=http://time.com/4248899/nancy-reagan-death-obituary/}}{{subscription required}}</ref> and her taste for splendor inspired the derogatory nickname "Queen Nancy".<ref name="First Lady Nancy Reagan" /> While Jacqueline Kennedy had also faced some press criticism for her spending habits, Reagan's treatment was much more consistent and negative.<ref name="burns-148" /> In an attempt to deflect the criticism, she self-deprecatingly donned a [[baglady]] costume at the [[Gridiron Club|1982 Gridiron Dinner]] and sang "Second-Hand Clothes", mimicking the song "Second-Hand Rose".<ref name="Husband's Past will shape Nancy Reagan's future">{{cite news |url= https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2004-06-13-nancy-reagan_x.htm|title= Husband's Past will shape Nancy Reagan |access-date=March 8, 2007 |work= USA Today|date=June 13, 2004|author=Page, Susan}}</ref> The skit helped to restore her reputation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2007/aug/19/local/me-deaver19?pg=4|page=5|title=Michael K. Deaver: 1938–2007 – Image guru set the stage for Reagan|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=July 29, 2009|date=August 19, 2007|author1=Neuman, Johanna |author2=David Willman |name-list-style=amp }}</ref> Reagan reflected on the criticisms in her 1989 autobiography, ''[[My Turn (memoir)|My Turn]]''. She described lunching with former [[Democratic National Committee]] chairman [[Robert S. Strauss]], wherein Strauss said to her, "When you first came to town, Nancy, I didn't like you at all. But after I got to know you, I changed my mind and said, 'She's some broad!'" Reagan responded, "Bob, based on the press reports I read then, I wouldn't have liked me either!"<ref>Reagan, Nancy (1989), p. 56.</ref> [[File:George HW Bush, Nancy Reagan, Raisa Gorbachova 1987-12-08 C44086-07.jpg|thumb|left|Vice President [[George H. W. Bush]], Reagan, and [[Raisa Gorbacheva]] (spouse of [[Mikhail Gorbachev]]) in Washington, D.C., 1987]] After the presidency of [[Jimmy Carter]] (who dramatically reduced the formality of presidential functions), Reagan brought a [[John F. Kennedy|Kennedy]]-esque glamour back into the White House.<ref name="Nancy's Closet">{{cite news|first=Kevin|last=West|title=Nancy's Closet|url=http://www.wmagazine.com/society/2007/10/nancy_reagan|magazine=[[W (magazine)|W]]|access-date=May 15, 2009|date=October 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090925011727/http://www.wmagazine.com/society/2007/10/nancy_reagan|archive-date=September 25, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2009/01/18/features/ig-michelle18|author=Moore, Boothe|access-date=February 5, 2009|date=January 18, 2009|work=Los Angeles Times|title=Can she stay 'everywoman'?|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629170627/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/01/18/features/ig-michelle18|archive-date=June 29, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> She hosted 56 [[state dinner]]s over eight years.<ref name="dinners">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/nancy-reagan-i-still-see-ronnie-in-my-bedroom-1694535.html|title=Nancy Reagan: I still see Ronnie in my bedroom|author=Usborne, David|date=June 2, 2009|access-date=June 3, 2009|work=The Independent|location=London|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061112/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/nancy-reagan-i-still-see-ronnie-in-my-bedroom-1694535.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> She remarked that hosting the dinners is "the easiest thing in the world. You don't have to do anything. Just have a good time and do a little business. And that's the way Washington works."<ref name="dinners" /> The White House residence staff found Reagan demanding to work for during the preparation for the state dinners, with the first lady overseeing every aspect of meal presentations, and sometimes requesting one dessert after another be prepared, before finally settling on one she approved of.<ref>Brower, Kate Andersen (2015), pp. 110–112.</ref> In general, the First Lady's desire for everything to appear just right in the White House led the residence staff to consider her not easy to work for, with tirades following what she perceived as mistakes.<ref>Brower, Kate Andersen (2015), pp. 7, 75, 134, 274.</ref> One staffer later recalled, "I remember hearing her call for her personal maid one day and it scared the dickens out of me—just her tone. I never wanted to be on the wrong side of her."<ref>Brower, Kate Andersen (2015), pp. 132–133.</ref> She did show loyalty and respect to a number of the staff.<ref>Brower, Kate Andersen (2015), pp. 133, 167–168.</ref> In particular, she came to the public defense of a maid who was indicted on charges of helping to smuggle ammunition to Paraguay, providing an affidavit to the maid's good character (even though it was politically inopportune to do so at the time of the [[Iran–Contra affair]]); charges were subsequently dropped, and the maid returned to work at the White House.<ref name="upi-maid">{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19861104&id=hwBRAAAAIBAJ&pg=6721,3644423&hl=en | title=Charges Against Nancy Reagan's Maid Dropped | first=Paul | last=Grant | agency=[[United Press International]] | newspaper=[[St. Petersburg Times]] | date=November 4, 1986 | page=14A | access-date=May 10, 2015}}</ref><ref>Brower, Kate Andersen (2015), p. 117.</ref> In 1987, [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] became the first Soviet leader to visit Washington, D.C. since [[Nikita Khrushchev]] made the trip in 1959 at the height of the [[Cold War]]. Nancy was in charge of planning and hosting the important and highly anticipated state dinner, with the goal to impress both the Soviet leader and especially his wife [[Raisa Gorbacheva]].<ref name="sj165">Schifando and Joseph (2007), p. 165.</ref><ref>Brower, Kate Andersen (2015), pp. 112–113.</ref> After the meal, she recruited pianist [[Van Cliburn]] to play a rendition of "[[Moscow Nights]]" for the Soviet delegation, to which Mikhail and Raisa broke out into song.<ref>Schifando and Joseph (2007), pp. 169–172.</ref> Secretary of State [[George P. Shultz]] later commented on the evening, saying "We felt the ice of the Cold War crumbling."<ref>Schifando and Joseph (2007), p. 175.</ref> Reagan concluded, "It was a perfect ending for one of the great evenings of my husband's presidency."<ref>Schifando and Joseph (2007), p. 173.</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page