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! ==== 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. 134β135.</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> 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