HR1082 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1082 LRB099 21017 MST 46061 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of former First Lady, Anne Frances "Nancy" Reagan, who passed away on March 6, 2016 at the age of 94; and

WHEREAS, Nancy Reagan was born in New York, New York on July 6, 1921; she lived with her aunt and uncle in Bethesda, Maryland for a short while, eventually moving to Chicago to live with her mother and adoptive father; and

WHEREAS, Nancy Reagan attended the Girls Latin School in Chicago from 1929 to 1939; she attended Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts from 1939 to 1943, where she earned a bachelor's degree in dramatic arts; and

WHEREAS, Following graduation, Nancy Reagan returned to Chicago and held jobs as a sales clerk in Marshall Field's department store and as a nurse's aide; and

WHEREAS, Nancy Reagan began her acting career when she was cast in a non-speaking role in the TV series, "Ramshackle Inn"; after another minor role in the musical, "Lute Song", she landed a contract with Metro Goldwyn Mayer for parts in 11 feature films, including "The Doctor and the Girl", her first film; and

WHEREAS, Nancy Reagan married Ronald Reagan, a native of Tampico, and then President of the Screen Actors Guild on March 4, 1952; and

WHEREAS, Nancy Reagan and Ronald had two children, Patricia Ann Reagan and Ronald Prescott Reagan; after her marriage, she continued her acting career in three more films; and

WHEREAS, After Ronald Reagan was elected Governor of California in 1967, Nancy Reagan began working on numerous causes, including lobbying and fundraising efforts on behalf of Vietnam War servicemen who were Prisoners of War or Missing in Action; she also looked after the welfare of returned and wounded Vietnam War veterans; and

WHEREAS, Nancy Reagan donated her salary to the National League of Families of American POW-MIA; she regularly visited state institutions that cared for physically and emotionally handicapped children and for the elderly, where she first made contact with the therapy-based "Foster Grandparent Program", which she went on to promote throughout California and the nation; she also authored her own syndicated column; and

WHEREAS, In 1980 and 1984, Nancy Reagan made appearances and speeches on behalf of her husband's presidential candidacy, reflecting the increased role of candidates' spouses; and

WHEREAS, As First Lady, Nancy Reagan focused on updating the White House floors, doors, and other areas that needed attention such as a new china set in an effort to formalize entertaining; after completing these projects, she focused her efforts on social issues such as the Foster Grandparents Program and drug education and prevention programs; and

WHEREAS, Nancy Reagan traveled nearly 250,000 miles throughout the United States and around the world to visit various prevention programs and rehabilitation centers and to meet with individuals and make television appearances; she recorded public service announcements and authored guest articles; and

WHEREAS, Those trips lead to the creation of her "Just Say No" drug prevention campaign; she invited the wives of other world leaders to attend a White House conference on drug use education in April of 1985; these events lead to the October 27, 1986 signing of the "National Crusade for a Drug Free America Act" by her husband; and

WHEREAS, In 1988, Nancy Reagan became the first First Lady to address the United Nations General Assembly speaking about drug interdiction and trafficking laws; her most important role as First Lady was as her husband's personal protector after the assassination attempt on March 30, 1981; she began reviewing his personal schedule in an effort to diminish any potential dangers; and

WHEREAS, After her time as First Lady, Nancy Reagan established the Nancy Reagan Foundation to support after-school drug prevention programs; she retired with her husband in Bel-Air, California; and

WHEREAS, After President Reagan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease in 1994, the couple lent their support to the Ronald and Nancy Reagan Research Institute in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, After President Reagan's passing in June of 2004, Nancy Reagan shifted her social efforts to supporting stem cell research in a scientific effort to provide hope for patients of Alzheimer's and other illnesses; and

WHEREAS, With continuing attention to her husband's legacy, Nancy Reagan was awarded many prestigious honors, such as the Order of the White Eagle from the government of Poland, an honorary degree from her husband's alma mater, Eureka College, and was present at the 2009 signing of the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act; and

WHEREAS, Nancy Reagan is survived by her two children, Patricia and Ron; her stepson, Michael; and three grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Nancy Reagan and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who loved and knew her; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Nancy Reagan as an expression of our deepest sympathy.