"My job," she said in a 1975 interview, "is being Mrs. Ronald Reagan."

Cue the eye roll. Even then, Nancy sounded old-fashioned. But she never changed her position on the matter. When "60 Minutes" journalist Mike Wallace followed up on that interview in 2002, he asked Nancy if she ever considered herself as a separate person from her husband. "No," she said, "I never do. Always as Nancy Reagan. My life began with Ronnie."

Her devotion was returned. In a letter to Nancy on their 31st wedding anniversary in 1983, a then-President Ronald Reagan wrote, "I more than love you; I'm not whole without you. You are life itself to me."

But Nancy's time as the nation's first lady was not always easy. We know she was traumatized by the day her husband was shot in 1981, and that she was lampooned as "Queen Nancy" for being out of touch.

She had a famously difficult relationship with her children (just read the dedication in her no-holds-barred memoir, "My Turn": To Ronnie, who always understood, and to my children, who I hope will understand). After the White House years, we witnessed her courage as she stood by her husband in his battle with Alzheimer's, during what she called "the long goodbye."

But what we don't know quite as well is how absolutely crucial Nancy was to her husband's presidency. In fact, without Nancy Reagan, there wouldn't have been a President Ronald Reagan at all.

Below, join us for a "First Ladies" viewing party as we break down 10 of our favorite moments and key takeaways from this episode.

1. The gaze

Kate Andersen Brower: There is no better example of a president who could not have possibly gotten elected without his wife than Ronald Reagan. They were completely dependent on each other -- she had people fired who she thought were not looking out for his best interests. Everyone knew not to cross her; I don't think any modern first lady loved the job more than Nancy Reagan did.

I also don't think there's another first lady who looked at her husband quite like Nancy did.

Kate Bennett: Honestly, this is the first time I'm seeing it, "the gaze." I think I always got that she was the brains of the operation. She had a shrewdness about her, and I don't necessarily mean that in a negative way. Sometimes it's the most important trait to have in politics.

Brower: Reagan is the first celebrity president. Remind you of anyone?

Bennett: Ha! Yep. I love this old Hollywood footage. What other president has this?! Ronald Reagan really was a big star before he got into politics in the '60s, and I think people tend to forget that.

Brower: I know, it's amazing. Ronald Reagan and Marilyn Monroe??

Bennett: He hobnobbed with the glamorous people; you could tell by who showed up at their first inauguration.

And Nancy Reagan was there in red -- iconic. In the same way Mamie Eisenhower had "Mamie Pink," Nancy owned the color red. It was a way to brand themselves in a purely visual medium. It's pretty genius.

Brower: Reagan red! I personally love it. Which designer was her favorite? Scaasi? Bill Blass?

Bennett: