Reagan became First Lady of the United States in January 1981 , following her husband 's victory in the 1980 presidential election . Early in his first term , she was criticized largely due to her decision to replace the White House china , which had been paid for by private donations . Following years of lax formality , she decided to restore a Kennedyesque glamour to the White House , and her interest in high-end fashion garnered much attention as well as criticism . She championed recreational drug prevention causes when she founded the " Just Say No " drug awareness campaign , which was considered her major initiative as First Lady . More discussion of her role ensued following a 1988 revelation that she had consulted an astrologer to assist in planning the president 's schedule after the attempted assassination of her husband in 1981 . She generally had a strong influence on her husband and played a role in a few of his personnel and diplomatic decisions
attempted assassination of her husband in 1981
Attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan
Nancy Reagan