Who was US President Ronald Reagan's first wife?

Jane Wyman (born Sarah Jane Mayfield; January 5, 1917 – September 10, 2007) was an American actress, singer, dancer and philanthropist whose career spanned seven decades. She was also the first wife of 40th President of the United States Ronald Reagan; they married in 1940 and divorced in 1949.

In 1938, Wyman co-starred with Ronald Reagan in "Brother Rat" (1938), and its sequel "Brother Rat and a Baby" (1940). They were engaged at the Chicago Theatre, and married on January 26, 1940, at the Wee Kirk o' the Heather Church, Glendale, California. She and Reagan had three children; Maureen Elizabeth Reagan (1941–2001), their adopted son Michael Edward Reagan (born March 18, 1945), and Christine Reagan (born prematurely on June 26, 1947, and died later the same day). This event soured their marriage irreparably. Wyman, who was a registered Republican, stated that their break-up was due to a difference in politics (Ronald Reagan was still a Democrat at the time). She filed for divorce in 1948; the divorce was finalized in 1949. Ronald Reagan was the first U.S. president to have been divorced, making Wyman the first former wife of a United States president who was still living at the time that her former husband became president.

In spite of her divorce, she still voted for her former husband in the 1980 and 1984 presidential elections, according to her former personal assistant.

More Info: en.m.wikipedia.org

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84 Comments

Jane Bowen

I think Reagan was a great president one of the best. I'm sure many Americans feel the same.

Irene Howard

Reagan made a better actor then president! I lived through the high taxes and the high interest rates!

Ian MacBrown

I never knew they lost a child. We all have our sorrows to bear. So sad.

wordster

Jane Bowen, the correct answer is that he was one of the worst, double-dealing on Iran hostages, interfering in the affairs of another country without just cause, and lying to Congress about it, among other things (all impeachable offenses, by the way). The "many Americans" you think feel the same as you are also the ones who saddled us with the Trump disaster, a narcissistic sexist racist pig and incompetent fool who know NOTHING about this country, its history and values, and is a traitor to boot, which makes him hands down the worst ever.

Pig Benis

Jane Bowen, Reagan lied to Congress about Iran-Contra. He should have been impeached. I know had Obama done the same under a Republican Congress he would have been impeached.

ninakamwene

Got it. I am a Californian.

billyboy915

Jane Bowen, No, only Republicans who view the world through rose-colored glasses think so. With Reagan came deregulation and runaway business practices by big business and banks, which allowed the financial crash that ruined so many, the tax breaks for the rich that began the widening of the wealth disparity in the country, and the eventual decline and shrinkage of the middle class. If you think he was a great president, it is for one of several reasons: either you are wealthy and benefitted from the tax breaks, or you were lucky enough, unlike so many, not to feel the negative impact on the middle class of his policies, or you are too uninformed to even realize how you paid a price.

cgrhm

deannajohncox, he signed three executive orders to keep him and Oliver North out of prison. They had no respect for the Constitution. Which they both swore an oath to.uphold.

Kent Smith

So many people say that he's their favorite president. His failure to act caused many thousands to die from AIDS.

carolyn myler

it was as Jane Wyman

robitaille

A good one.

eslahaye

Dam! I hit the wrong button. I knew it was Nancy.

kathyrobertson

I don't know he had a first wife

alandwolcott

I wonder what he would think of the world today if he were alive!

johnolson

Irene, you are confusing Reagan and Carter. Reagan inherited the economic mess Carter created but managed to correct it.

Alicia Rodriguez

He sure was

loriedaisy

Linda Drayer, sorry, he along with both Brown Sr and Brown Jr released the patients from the hospitals essentially closing them.

deannajohncox

I loved Reagan, he was an amazing president! I helped get him elected by helping my uncle who was then the editor of the Republican newspaper in Miami Florida. I passed out thousands and thousands of newspapers. It was fun getting to go to the parties and meet the congressmen and their wives.

Carmelina Piperni

I ALWAYS LIKED RONALD REAGAN (AND I'M NOT AMERICAN) WHEN HI WAS AN ACTOR AND AFTER WHEN HE WAS A PRESIDENT.............

addisdavis

Reagan was and still is my favorite president....by far.

Linda Drayer

Reagan opened the Mental Hospitals as a cost savings when he was the Governor of California, putting hundreds of people out on the streets! Nobody sites this!