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Nancy Reagan
Nancy Reagan > Her Life & Times

1921 July 6
Born in New York, New York, as Anne Frances Robbins (nicknamed Nancy) to Kenneth Robbins and Edith Luckett Robbins.
1923 Moved to Bethesda, Maryland, to live with Aunt Virginia and Uncle Audley Galbraith.
1929

May
Mother remarried to Loyal Davis.

Summer
Moved to Chicago with mother and step-father.

1935 Legally adopted by her stepfather and became Nancy Davis.
1939 December 28
Had her coming out party.
1943 Summer
Graduated Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, with
major in drama.
1945 Won part in play, Ramshackle Inn, first break in acting career.
1949

Signed seven-year contract with MGM.

Fall
Met Ronald Reagan.

1952 February
Announced engagement with Ronald Reagan.

March 4
Married Ronald Reagan.
1956 Made last film, Hellcats of the Navy, at Columbia in which both she and her husband appeared.
1967 Began visiting wounded Vietnam veterans; became active with POWs and MIAs.
1970 Championed Foster Grandparents program.
1985

February 22
Launched Teens in Action booklet as part of campaign against drug use.

April 24, 25
Hosted First Ladies Conference on Drug Abuse in Washington, D.C., and Atlanta, Georgia.

October 21
Hosted second First Ladies Conference on Drug Abuse at the United Nations.

1986 October 27
Drug Bill ("National Crusade for a Drug Free America") signed into law; considered a personal victory as the issue's importance became recognized.
1988 October
Addressed the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly; was first U.S. First Lady to do so.
1989

January
Established the Nancy Reagan Foundation to educate people about dangers of substance abuse.

October
Published memoirs titled My Turn (Random House).

1994 Nancy Reagan Foundation and BEST Foundation For A Drug-Free Tomorrow developed the Nancy Reagan Afterschool Program.
2000 I Love You, Ronnie, a book of Nancy and Ronald Reagan's love letters, is published.



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