#25: Nancy Reagan

“Nancy Reagan was really the human resources department for her husband. She decided who would be in and who was out.”

The former actress, Nancy Reagan, played a pivotal role in her husband Ronald Reagan’s journey to the White House, meticulously overseeing campaign preparations and personnel management. She aimed to restore a sense of glamour after the more “down-home” Ford years, enlisting the help of Letitia Baldrige, Jacqueline Kennedy’s former social secretary.

Critics often accused her of expanding the First Lady’s role into an “associate presidency.” Following her husband’s assassination attempt, the media scrutinized her for donning stylish gowns, initiating an opulent White House renovation, and consulting an astrologist, leading to perceptions of being out of touch. Nancy used her position to raise awareness about drug abuse, even as the Reagan administration faced criticism for cutting federal support for such programs.