Was Nancy Reagan a snob? You better believe it. And when you get called a snob in the posh, competitive, snooty Hollywood hills that this woman roamed and later, ruled, as a Hollywood star - well, that's something to either be ashamed of, or if you're a bleeding-red Republican, be very proud of -- and that tag of hauteur and holier-than-though that attached itself like a magnet to Nancy Reagan in California followed her to the White House, as well. To the dismay and criticism of many, in 1981, as a new First Lady, Nancy Reagan announced the executive mansion needed an upgrade and began redecorating. The Reagans were lambasted for frivolous spending on their "new digs" during a time of economic recession. Nancy Reagan also faced an onslaught of negative press. Though private funds were raised to upgrade the White House and much of her official wardrobe was donated, she was accused of living lavishly and not caring about Americans who were suffering.
In 1982, some collateral damage repair was done when Nancy took on a drug abuse awareness and education program. The big credo was "Just Say No," and although some leading experts in the field of addiction blasted this as too simplistic at the time, today the leading addiction specialists are discovering that partaking in even one snort off a crack pipe or one fix with a needle to inject opiates is far too much. "Just Say No" really needs to make a comeback. The First Lady was right. Yes, yes she was. Simple and basic as it sounds, children and adolescents need to have it drilled into their heads to "Just Say No" and that they can't take any drugs. None. Nada.
This First Lady led a crusade against narcotics throughout the United
States and even visited several foreign countries for this cause. Nancy Reagan also went to drug and alcohol prevention programs and
stopped by rehabilitation centers. Even in this quest, she was very much a 'hands on' type of lady.
In 1985, she hosted an international conference on
youth drug abuse at the White House. Though her "Just Say No"
campaign was criticized as simplistic, her efforts culminated in legislation. The "National Crusade for a Drug Free America" act, signed into law
by President Reagan in October 1986, was a landmark order. Continuing her efforts, Nancy addressed
the United Nations General Assembly in 1988, speaking in support of
strengthening international drug interdiction and trafficking laws. While all
of this was going on, in October 1987, she was diagnosed with breast cancer,
and underwent a mastectomy. More proof that Nancy Reagan's seeming story book
life was never an easy one. Hers was indeed a very hard life littered with obstacles to overcome. But this diminutive little lady had a lot of tiger and wolf inside. She was a woman who had some real dragons to slay,
and in her own way, she took them on with much aplomb and courage. She can be an inspiration to those who don't like her very conservative political views or her Steel Magnolia type of personality.
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 itinerary, 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 Ragan's resignation.
To be honest, I never liked Ronald Reagan as a President. I'm not giving you an inventory here. Just suffice it to say I am a liberal-progressive and he was a staunch conservative. And when I heard, as a much younger man, about that whole shtick about some of his policies coming as a result of Nancy's meetings with an astrologer, I became livid. This was more than enough for an impeachment, as far as I was concerned. But I'm an old-school type of print journalist who has always sort of had a 'hands off" approach when it comes to First Ladies. And despite the fact that President Reagan has even been accused of living out his own movies in real time as a U.S. President, I admire, maybe in a sick way, his lady for standing behind him. In a day and age when people give up on their mates too quickly, I sort of admire Nancy Reagan's blind devotion to her man. Besides that, I'm partial to brunettes.
(Article changed on March 7, 2016 at 15:35)
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