Mrs Reagan, who had been living in Bel Air, Los Angeles, died of congestive
heart failure, the Reagan library said.
Her 52-year marriage to Ronald Reagan was once described as the US
presidency's greatest love affair.
From 1981-89 she was one of the most influential first ladies in US history;
initially criticised for an expensive renovation of the White House, but later
becoming a much-loved figure.
Mrs Reagan, who had been living in Bel Air, Los Angeles, died of congestive
heart failure, the Reagan library said.
Her 52-year marriage to Ronald Reagan was once described as the US
presidency's greatest love affair.
From 1981-89 she was one of the most influential first ladies in US history;
initially criticised for an expensive renovation of the White House, but later
becoming a much-loved figure.
Like Ronald, she was a former Hollywood performer who made it all the way to
the White House.
As Nancy Davis, she was an actress during the 1940s and 1950s and married
Reagan, a prominent film actor, in 1952.
She served as first lady of California during her husband's stint as
California governor from 1967 to 1975 before moving into the White House after
his decisive victory over Democratic President Jimmy Carter in 1980.
As first lady, she sought to emulate the style of one of her predecesso
To this end, she extensively redecorated the White House, accepted designer
dresses worth $1m (£600,000) and a 4,732-piece set of china worth $209,000.
But this spending spree provoked a huge outcry from people outraged by what
they saw as profligacy and waste while millions of Americans were losing their
jobs.
Public opinion was also swayed by accusations that Mrs Reagan had a frosty
personality, often consulted astrologers, and ordered the dismissal of White
House chief of staff Donald Regan in 1987.
"I see the first lady as another means to keep a president from
becoming isolated," she once said.
"I talk to people. They tell me things. And if something is about to
become a problem, I'm not above calling a staff person and asking about it. I'm
a woman who loves her husband and I make no apologies for looking out for his
personal and political welfare."
BBC
