People

By Ellie McGrath

Hard on the heels of last month's visit by the Prince and Princess of Wales, Nancy and Ronald Reagan are now entertaining a King Charles at the White House. A King Charles spaniel, that is. Rex, as he is regally named, should reign longer as First Dog than did his recently deposed predecessor, Lucky, whose 65 lbs. and high spirits got him exiled to the Reagan ranch in California after only a year at the White House. Fully grown at 16 lbs., Rex promises to be more compatible with the diminutive First Lady. Furthermore, he has impeccable conservative papers. His sister is the pet of William F. Buckley Jr. The First Lady fell in love with the Buckleys' dog last fall, and when the Reagans came to New York City last week to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Buckley's National Review, the President had arranged to pick up Rex as a surprise Christmas present. The housebroken pooch, says a White House spokesman, "has been promised total access to the Oval Office," something for which many aides would gladly lead a dog's life.