The high-profile first lady of our nation’s 20th president is remembered today for her guidance and character, as well as her confidence and courage. Nancy Reagan redefined the role of first lady with her remarkable influence on our country and admirable loyalty to her husband.
Reagan, age 94, died Sunday evening at her home in Los Angeles. According to Joanne Drake, a spokeswoman for Reagan, the former first lady’s cause of death was congestive heart failure. She will be buried at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, next to her husband.
As we mourn her death, U.S. citizens reflect on her life, and her outstanding goals and achievements. For starters, she was the perfect wife to her husband before and during his presidency. Ronald and Nancy Reagan were an example of a life-long love, married 52 years until Ronald’s death in 2004.
While Ronald Reagan was governor of California from 1967 to 1975, Nancy Reagan worked with numerous charitable groups, and spent hours visiting veterans, the elderly, and the emotionally and physically handicapped.
When her husband became president of the United States, First Lady Reagan continued her interest in these groups, and arguably became best known for her “Just Say No” program fighting against drug abuse among youth.
Reagan was also known for being a Girl Scout, and was named honorary president of the Girl Scouts as first lady. The Girl Scouts of America said in a statement that Reagan would be remembered for her “courage, confidence and character.”
Nancy Reagan will go down in history as a fierce role model. Her achievements and goals led to her redefining the role of first lady for hundreds of future women.