Political world mourns Nancy Reagan
The political world mourned Nancy Reagan on Sunday, with Republican presidential candidates current and former honoring the former first lady and calling her death the end of an influential era in the party.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz tweeted: "Nancy Reagan will be
remembered for her deep passion for this nation and love for her husband,
Ronald. The Reagan family is in our prayers."
Donald Trump, the GOP front-runner, said on Twitter,
"Nancy Reagan, the wife of a truly great President, was an amazing woman.
She will be missed!"
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio tweeted: "Today our nation mourns
the loss of Nancy Reagan, a true example of integrity and grace. My prayers are
with the entire Reagan family."
And at a campaign stop in Idaho Falls, ahead of
Tuesday's Idaho primary, Rubio said that "Nancy's passing reminds me that
we're coming to the end" of the Reagan era. "This is not just about
nostalgia. Ronald Reagan was the conservative movement at its best."
Rubio being honored at the former first lady's
invitation to speak at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, Calif., early in his
Senate term. "I grew up and was a child of the Reagan revolution,"
Rubio recalled.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich called Reagan "a woman of
strength and wit" in a statement mourning her death.
"President Reagan has been reunited with his
wife and partner but America and the Reagan family have lost a woman of grace
and strength," Kasich said. "A woman of strength and wit, Nancy
Reagan's dedication to our country was matched only by that of her husband.
Theirs was one of our nation's great love stories and a model of shared devotion
to our country. America is stronger and better for their service."
The office of Bill Clinton released a statement on
behalf of the former president and his wife, Hillary, who is currently pursuing
the White House.
"Hillary and I were deeply saddened to learn of
Nancy Reagan's passing," the statement said. "Nancy was an
extraordinary woman: a gracious First Lady, proud mother, and devoted wife to
President Reagan -- her Ronnie. Her strength of character was legendary,
particularly when tested by the attempted assassination of the President, and
throughout his battle with Alzheimer's. She leaves a remarkable legacy of good
that includes her tireless advocacy for Alzheimer's research and the Foster
Grandparent Program."
Hillary Clinton also tweeted: "Nancy's strength of
character was legendary, and her advocacy—especially for Alzheimer's
research—was tireless. Praying for her family.
Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton's Democratic rival,
also praised the former first lady.
"No matter your party or political ideology,
this is a sad day for America. Nancy Reagan was an exemplary first lady,"
he said. "A devoted partner, she was her husband's most trusted adviser
and, as such, served our country well. Even after her time in the White House,
she was an outspoken advocate for stem-cell research to find a cure for
Alzheimer's. Nancy Reagan had a good heart, and she will be dearly
missed."
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama
said Sunday said Nancy Reagan had made their transition to the White House
easier with her "warm and generous advice."
"Nancy Reagan once wrote that nothing could
prepare you for living in the White House. She was right, of course. But we had
a head start, because we were fortunate to benefit from her proud example, and
her warm and generous advice," they said.
Reagan "redefined the role" of first lady,
they said.
"Later, in her long goodbye with President
Reagan, she became a voice on behalf of millions of families going through the
depleting, aching reality of Alzheimer's, and took on a new role, as advocate,
on behalf of treatments that hold the potential and the promise to improve and
save lives," the Obamas said.
And Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican nominee, praised
Reagan on Twitter and Facebook, saying on both that "God and Ronnie have
finally welcomed a choice soul home."
"With the passing of Nancy Reagan, we say a
final goodbye to the days of Ronald Reagan," Romney wrote on Facebook.
"With charm, grace, and a passion for America, this couple reminded us of
the greatness and the endurance of the American experiment. Some underestimate
the influence of a First Lady but from Martha and Abigail through Nancy and
beyond, these women have shaped policy, strengthened resolve, and drawn on our
better angels. God and Ronnie have finally welcomed a choice soul home."
Barbara Bush, the former first lady and wife of
ex-President George H.W. Bush, said in a statement that she and the 41st
president send "prayers and condolences" to the family of the 40th president
and first lady.
"Nancy Reagan was totally devoted to President
Reagan, and we take comfort that they will be reunited once more. George and I
send our prayers and condolences to her family," Barbara Bush said.
Former President George W. Bush and Laura Bush also
mourned Nancy Reagan, saying in a statement that they are "saddened"
by her death.
"Mrs. Reagan was fiercely loyal to her beloved
husband, and that devotion was matched only by her devotion to our
country," the 43rd president said.
"Her influence on the White House was complete
and lasting. During her time as first lady and since, she worked to fight drug
abuse and raise awareness about breast cancer," he said. "When we
moved into the White House, we benefitted from her work to make those historic
rooms beautiful. Laura and I are grateful for the life of Nancy Reagan, and we
send our condolences to the entire Reagan family."
Reince Priebus, the chairman of the Republican
National Committee, praised Reagan in a statement.
"Nancy Reagan embodied what it means to
represent America as First Lady and her dignified and warm demeanor inspired
America," Priebus said.
"Mrs. Reagan will go down in history as a woman
who left her own mark on the White House and our country. She was a longtime
friend and supporter of many in our party, and will be sorely missed," he
said. "My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Reagan family and all
those who she so deeply touched over the years."
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky,
recalled the scene in 2004, when Nancy Reagan kissed Ronald Reagan's casket
while the nation watched.
"In many ways the Reagan love story was classic
Hollywood, but it was unmistakably human too. Hands intertwined, Nancy and Ron
rose to the pinnacle of political power, weathered cancer and personal
heartbreak, and braved the depths of Alzheimer's cold embrace -- always
together. I know every American felt Nancy's immense pain when she, kissing
Ronnie's casket, mouthed a tearful farewell to the best friend she once said she
couldn't imagine life without," McConnell said in a statement.
Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Illinois, recalled Reagan's
"Just Say No" anti-drug campaign.
"Nancy Reagan will always be remembered for
confronting drug abuse. I join the nation in mourning her death. May she rest
in peace," Kirk tweeted.
Democrats praised Nancy Reagan's early-2000s support
for stem cell research.
"A loving and nurturing wife and mother, Nancy
Reagan devoted herself to caring for President Reagan during his battle with
Alzheimer's. In 2001, Mrs. Reagan courageously spoke out in support of
stem-cell research, channeling her family's private struggle into public
advocacy on behalf of the millions of Americans fighting this disease,"
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said in a statement.
Pelosi added: "In June 2009, as Speaker and as a
Californian, I was honored to welcome Mrs. Reagan to the Capitol and see her
joy as we dedicated the statue of President Reagan in the Rotunda."
The Democratic National Committee chairwoman, Debbie
Wasserman Schultz, praised Reagan's "grace and dignity" as first lady
in a statement.
"As we celebrate her life and legacy as a
partner, confidant and adviser to President Reagan, and as a leader and
philanthropist in her own right, we should also honor her passing by reflecting
on the progress we can make when our elected officials work together across the
aisle, as the Reagan administration did on issues ranging from immigration to
nuclear arms control, making our people more prosperous and our nation more secure,"
she said.
Former President Jimmy Carter, a Democrat who was
defeated in his bid for a second term by Reagan in 1980, praised Nancy Reagan's
efforts to prevent drug use and for advocating stem cell research.
"Rosalynn and I are saddened by the passing of
former First Lady Nancy Reagan. She will always be admired for her strength of
conviction and her lifelong devotion to her husband," he said. "Her
'just say no' campaign prevented many young people from falling prey to the
allure of drug use; and her advocacy for stem cell research raised public
awareness and influenced decision makers about vital research for Alzheimer's
disease. We extend our condolences to her family at this difficult time."
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