The woman who was known in Massachusetts for her independent thinking and outspoken opinions now chooses her words carefully in the glare of national press scrutiny. She is still a long way from emulating the Nancy Reagan gaze of wifely adoration.
Pat Nixon held the title for most stoic [Washington] wife until Maureen Dean gave an Oscar-winning performance during her husband's Watergate testimony, sitting primly behind him, blond hair pulled back, holding the Nancy Reagan gaze before there was a Nancy Reagan gaze.
Still she tried, in effect, to act as if she had suddenly developed a self-esteem problem, perfecting a version of the Nancy Reagan Gaze of Devotion. Hillary's experience is an object lesson for women about the liabilities inherent in marrying power instead of getting it oneself.
1992, Laureen Hobbs, "The Industry & The Webs", Spy, December 1992/January 1993 p. 18 ISSN 0890-1759:
Peter Chernin, the head Fox TV programmer, [...] will titularly replace Roth and serve as Murdoch's malleable functionary. He looks at his boss with a sort of adoring Nancy Reagan gaze.
2003, Nancy K. Peske & Beverly West, Cinematherapy for Lovers: The Girl's Guide to Finding True Love One Movie at a Time, Bantam Dell (2003), →ISBN, unnumbered page:
And Johnny appreciates Janes[sic]Nancy Reagan gazes and desperately wants to do right by her, but before long it seems he's turned her into a household drudge and failed as her provider.
While it is certainly new to have a deputy Opposition leader willing to focus upon the leader a look which can only be described as her best Nancy Reagan gaze of adoration, something more substantial will be needed to give this duo credibility as an alternative leadership team.
Joan’s attention appeared to be wandering from her leader. Instead of fixing him with the requisite Nancy Reagan gaze, she kept sneaking glances out the window.