6 Ways Nancy Reagan Changed America

Former first lady Nancy Reagan, here in 1988, will be remembered for the "Just Say No" campaign and more. (Photo: Andrew D. Bernstein/Contributer/Getty Images)

Posted March 6, 2016 at 4:23pm

Former first lady Nancy Reagan died Sunday morning at 94.

<div style=”display:none”><section><h2>6 Ways Nancy Reagan Changed America</h2><p><div>As first lady during Ronald Reagan’s presidency from 1981-1989, and in the years following, Nancy Reagan lent her voice to domestic and international policy initiatives. </div><div>(Photo: &nbsp;Don Rypka/Getty Images)</div></p></section><section><h3>1982: “Just Say No” to drugs campaign</h3><p><div>The effort was born as part of the Reagans’ efforts to combat drug abuse. Later it was expanded internationally. By 1988, more than 12,000 “Just Say No” clubs had formed throughout the world. Nancy Reagan focused on the campaign during much of her husband’s time in the White House, and while direct results are unknown, it’s attributed to raising awareness to the scourge of drug use.</div></p></section><section><h3>1980s: A trusted adviser</h3><p><div>The first lady had an innate feel for the staff surrounding the president, and was known as his unofficial personnel director. She was credited with forcing the departures of at least three cabinet secretaries, two national security advisers and&nbsp;—&nbsp;most notably&nbsp;—&nbsp;the president’s chief of staff Donald T. Regan, with whom she had fought on her insistence that he apologize for the Iran Contra scandal. She eventually won that battle&nbsp;&nbsp;— Regan was replaced and the president’s acknowledgement of the “mistake” was credited with saving his presidency.</div></p></section><section><h3>1987: Soviet relations</h3><p><div>It was Nancy who defied the State Department to promote the idea of Ronald Reagan entering a dialogue with Soviet&nbsp;President Mikhail Gorbachev, according to the First Ladies’ National Library.&nbsp;The thawed relationship resulted in the&nbsp;1987 INF Treaty, “which called for a mutual destruction of intermediate range nuclear missiles.”</div></p></section><section><h3>1991: Gun control</h3><p><div>After steadfastly opposing gun control efforts throughout his presidency&nbsp;—&nbsp;even after the assassination attempt on his life&nbsp;—&nbsp;Ronald Reagan came out publicly in favor of the Brady Bill, legislation that would require federal background checks for criminal records and instances of mental health disturbances.&nbsp;Friends of the couple said Nancy played an instrumental role in his reconsideration of the issue.</div><div>(Photo: James Brady, Reagan’s former press secretary who was injured in the assassination attempt, pictured with Bill Clinton)</div></p></section><section><h3>1994: Alzheimer’s advocacy</h3><p><div>Ronald Reagan is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Nancy is the primary caregiver and the two lend their name to a branch of the National Alzheimer’s Association, called&nbsp;Ronald &amp; Nancy Reagan Research Institute.</div></p></section><section><h3>2004: Stem-cell research</h3><p><div>After her husband’s death, Nancy publicly supported stem-cell research to better understand Alzheimer’s. This position marked a break from the Republican Party’s stance on stem cells, and its presidential candidate at the time — George W. Bush.</div></p></section></div>

Sources: Reagan Foundation, First Ladies’ National Library, Los Angeles Times, New York Times.

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