The Red Dress symbol was again brought to life at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in California from February 16 to May 13, 2007, with The Heart Truth's First Ladies Red Dress Collection.  Mrs. Nancy Reagan unveiled the exhibit on February 16, along with Larry King of CNN, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Director Elizabeth G. Nabel, and Entertainment Tonight's Mary Hart.  The exhibit featured red gowns and suits worn by America's living First Ladies who have joined The Heart Truth to raise awareness of the #1 killer of women—heart disease.  This display also marked the west coast premiere of designer red dresses worn by some of today's most celebrated women who participated in The Heart Truth's Red Dress Collection 2007 Fashion Show.  This showing of the collection was made possible with the support of Quaker Oatmeal.

Heart Truth ambassador Mrs. Laura Bush unveiled the original exhibit at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in May 2005 with Mrs. Nancy Reagan, DHHS Secretary Michael Leavitt, NHLBI Director Elizabeth Nabel, and Kennedy Center President Michael Kaiser.  The one-of-a-kind exhibit debuted before a gathering of the campaign's partners and Washington, DC's most recognizable faces, including NIH Director Elias Zerhouni, spouses of Congressional leaders and Cabinet Secretaries, and members of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees.  In addition to the First Ladies' gowns and suits, the exhibit also featured 11 designer dresses from The Heart Truth's Red Dress Collection.

The 2007 First Ladies Red Dress Collection included dresses, gowns, and suits from:

MRS. LAURA BUSH First Lady, 2001-present Mrs. Bush, the ambassador for The Heart Truth, wore her red embroidered and sequin Oscar De La Renta gown to the Kennedy Center Honors Reception at the White House on December 3, 2006. SENATOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON First Lady, 1993-2001 Senator Clinton's cashmere mock turtleneck dress designed by Cliff Chally was worn to one of President Clinton's major speeches to a Joint Session of Congress in 1993 and that same year on Valentine's Day. MRS. BARBARA BUSH First Lady, 1989-1993 Mrs. Bush's red evening gown with gold floral overlay by designer Arnold Scassi was worn while hosting a White House State Dinner for the President of the Republic of Argentina in 1991. MRS. NANCY REAGAN First Lady, 1981-1989 Mrs. Reagan wore her red lace Oscar de la Renta evening gown when President Reagan was presented with the Order of the Bath by Queen Elizabeth II in 1989 in London, England. MRS. ROSALYNN CARTER First Lady, 1977-1981 Mrs. Carter wore her Lady Bowden-designed double-breasted suit frequently during President Carter's days in The White House. MRS. BETTY FORD First Lady, 1974-1977 Mrs. Ford's red crepe Neiman Marcus suit with its flared skirt was one of her favorites, and was worn many times throughout her husband's Presidency. MRS. CLAUDIA (LADY BIRD) JOHNSON First Lady, 1963-1969 Mrs. Johnson wore her red evening gown, designed exclusively for her by Mary McFadden, at her 80th birthday celebration at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.

First Ladies Red Dress Collection at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.   Nancy Reagan and Larry King at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.  First Ladies Red Dress Collection ribbon cutting ceremony.

Press information about the The Heart Truth campaign, can be found in the Press Room.  For additional information about First Ladies Red Dress Collection, including downloadable images and photography, email media@hearttruth.org.  Photos and graphics related to The Heart Truth campaign and its First Ladies Red Dress Collection are also available in the Image Library.

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