Nancy Reagan Left Lasting Impression In Sacramento
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – Political leaders across the world – and those who knew her here in Sacramento – are remembering the former First Lady after her passing on Sunday.
When the Reagan's first arrived, the Capitol threw a parade.
It was a big election victory – and there would be more of that to come.
As California's first lady, Nancy Reagan made Sacramento her home.
Just as their children were growing, the pair brought some of their star power from Los Angeles here. They picked an East Sacramento Fabulous 40s house for their home.
Raising their children, and also throwing lavish backyard parties with big name stars.
Following President Reagan's death in 2004, CBS13 interviewed Dennis Williams. He served on one of Ronald Reagan's first security teams.
"John Wayne, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra were always somewhere around when we were there," Williams said.
Jeff Wells was a teenager who lived on the Reagan's East Sacramento block. He recalled Nancy Reagan inviting neighborhood kids to one party to watch Jack Benny perform.
"And she says, 'If your children are very quiet, you can come in and watch the show.' And she proceeds to lead us straight in, to the front row," Wells said.
Former White House Reagan aide Doug Elmets' Sacramento home is filled with photos of the Reagans. He recently worked with Nancy Reagan to create the new Ronald Reagan statue in the Capitol.
"One of the things that I recall from the sculpture was that she said the glint in his eye and the twist in his smile needs to be changed, it needs to be more prominent," Elmets said. "Only a soul mate could truly appreciate that."
Nancy will be buried at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley next to her husband, the Reagan library said in a statement.
