European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 19, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Daily Magazine growing influence of Nancy Reagan the trusted by Bernard Weinraub new York times after White House state dinners while Coffee is being Nancy Reagan Waits patiently while her husband answers several questions from reporters hovering on the at a the Flicker of her a staff member glides to the presidents Side and escorts him Back to the walking beside her husband at an event outside the White Reagan clutches his hand As questions come pouring Forth from she gives a not gentle tug to his the president shrugs and moves Reagan noted with some glee that women among the reporters at his televised news conference March 21 were wearing red reagans favorite wearing red has proved to be a Way of getting reagans everyone laughs at the red but its an Indica Tion of How seriously people Are taking Nancy influx said former White House to outsiders All this May seem but it underscores both reagans evolving and growing role in her husbands second administration and her concerns about How her husband is beyond these and other incidents reflect the dual nature of reagans role in the a role that combines what her friends Call a powerful protective Streak for her husband and her own input in the Day today Workings of the president Reagan and first lady Nancy celebrate their 33rd anniversary with a a photos president taking oath of office in january 1985 from chief Justice Warren Burger Shes the presidents Best his closest confidante and his most trusted said Nancy Rey a Washington lobbyist who is a close family since the reelection Shes More relaxed and More confident than Ive Ever seen several factors have emerged in recent months to provide Reagan with new influence and turn her into a person in her own right and not just the wife of the a White House aide perhaps More she has altered the image from the Early Days of the first Reagan administration that portrayed her As a woman whose interests appeared to focus a great Deal on designer expensive China and wealthy according to White House reagans influence is partly the result of the vacuum created by staff especially the forthcoming departure in May of Michael the Deputy White House chief of who has overseen the presidents often under reagans who is leaving for a Public relations often spoke with Reagan three or four times a Edwin the presidential has become attorney replacing William French who is returning to As is William the former Interior her anchors Are said a former White House Reagan will rely More and More on her As the Sec Ond term said another former White House Many of the californians Are and he wont have the old timers with although Reagan rarely involves herself in specific policy her influence is now entered on what one official termed personnel and tone and How people see the even such a close Friend As Deaver irritated her recently when newspaper reports disclosed that he had purchased a Bow automobile at a discount Price while on official business in a White House official said Reagan was also concerned about potential embarrassment to the presi Dent As a result of the highly publicized divorce and remarriage of the ambassador to Helene von a longtime Reagan Reagan was described by one official As relieved when Raymond Donovan resigned As labor Secretary after a new York judge refused to dismiss a conspiracy Case against in it was an open secret in the White House that she wanted Donovan to depart after reagans she is said to feel similarly toward Margaret the health and human services Secretary some officials have expressed disappointment in hecklers although the president gave her a vote of Confidence after the elec Reagan has expanded her political contacts to a Range of friends As Well As although she is said to still speak often Over the phone to such friends As Betsy the los Angeles and Mary Jane the wife of Charles the director of the information she is also said to talk frequently and candidly to such outsiders As William the editor and conservative columnist Mike the television personality Joseph a Blun spoken Public relations specialist and former assistant to Nelson and Stuart a Californi abased consultant who has served As a Reagan Campaign Strat according to Reagan has struggled hard to remove the gilded image that marked her Early years in the White House the friends deeply upset Sheila her former press Secre says As Early As Reagan insisted to aides that she wanted to get involved in drug abuse programs but was Uncertain How to do we kept saying the Issue is a but she said who added that the delay in shaping reagans role was partly the result of the shooting of Reagan in 1981 and his reagans involvement in drug rehabilitation programs among the Young was one of the reasons cited by Richard the White House for a 20point increase in her approval which climbed to 82 percent in a recent poll of april 1985 the stars and 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