Regalia letter: Nancy Reagan
Think politics today is ugly and hateful? A soldier returning from Southeast Asia in 1960s made no policy; he got the wrong draft number. He was spat on. Nancy Reagan organized Welcome Home parties.
A fellow in San Francisco couldn’t get to his college classes when antiwar protesters blocked the street. He wrote to Gov. Reagan. Two days later the National Guard arrived; he graduated on time.
When her husband entered political life they derided her as a “ ’50s suburban housewife.” By the time he retired, they were accusing her of being “too powerful, a dragon lady, Queen Nancy.”
She was happiest in blue jeans on the ranch, cooking supper herself. As first lady she represented America, she dressed and entertained accordingly.
When they said “AIDS is God’s punishment for being homosexual,” pretty Nancy convinced the president to speak out.
Rest in peace, gracious lady.
Sara Regalia, Boise
This story was originally published March 30, 2016 at 6:32 PM with the headline "Regalia letter: Nancy Reagan."