Nancy Reagan's 1981 Inaugural Ball Gown

Nancy Davis Reagan (1981–1989)

For the 1981 inaugural balls, Nancy Reagan wore this beaded, one-shouldered white sheath gown of lace over silk satin, designed by James Galanos. With it Mrs. Reagan wore white gloves by Galanos and beaded shoes by David Evins and carried a purse designed by Judith Leiber. The inaugural gowns are made by teams of talented and skilled people. Bessie Nelson is one of the people who worked to create Mrs. Reagan’s dress.

Nancy Reagan brought formality and a touch of Hollywood glamour to the White House, where finding the right level of “grandeur” has been an issue since the founding of the republic. As first lady she made the Just Say No anti-drug campaign her signature program. The first lady’s concerns for her husband’s safety and legacy prompted her to become more involved with West Wing scheduling and staffing decisions. Most significantly, Mrs. Reagan countered the hard-line influence of some of the president’s foreign policy advisors and encouraged Ronald Reagan in his efforts to build a peaceful relationship with the Soviet Union.