President Gets Blazer From First Lady for Christmas
WASHINGTON — President Reagan, a perennial pick on the best-dressed list, received a sport coat from his fashion-minded wife, Nancy, during the First Couple’s fifth Christmas Day in the White House.
The Reagans spent a quiet day in the family quarters before being joined in late afternoon by relatives and longtime friends, including actress Claudette Colbert, for a traditional turkey dinner.
A Gift for Rex
Elaine Crispen, the First Lady’s press secretary, said that Mrs. Reagan, who received a King Charles spaniel puppy named Rex as a surprise gift from her husband earlier this month, gave a blue blazer to the President and a red sweater to Rex.
And for “those dressy outings,†Crispen said, Rex received a leash with a black bow tie.
In the past, the Reagans’ gifts to each other have included such items as a chain saw and pickup truck--all for use during vacation stays at their 688-acre ranch near Santa Barbara.
Ringing in Holiday
The at-home Christmas maintained a tradition set by the Reagans in 1981, as did their Christmas Eve trip to the home of U.S. Information Agency Director Charles Z. Wick to ring in the holiday with close friends.
The seasonal pattern continues Friday, when the Reagans take off on their annual end-of-the-year trip to California to spend New Year’s at the sprawling Palm Springs estate of publishing magnate Walter H. Annenberg.
The Wick family was on the guest list for dinner Wednesday, along with presidential daughter Maureen Reagan, husband Dennis Revell, the First Lady’s friend Nancy Reynolds and her son, Michael, and Colbert.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
