After Nancy Reagan passed away Sunday morning at age 94, tributes from past presidents, senators, and friends who knew her offered many kind words.
Gathered below are 25 remembrances of Mrs. Reagan.
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1. George and Laura Bush — "Mrs. Reagan was fiercely loyal to her beloved husband, and that devotion was matched only by her devotion to our country,"
said the former president. "During her time as first lady and since, she worked to fight drug abuse and raise awareness about breast cancer. When we moved into the White House we benefited 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."
2. George and Barbara Bush — "Nancy Reagan was totally devoted to President Reagan, and we take comfort that they will be united once more," said the former first lady.
3. The Obamas — "Nancy Reagan once wrote that nothing could prepare you for living in the White House," the Obamas wrote in a joint statement on Sunday,
Reuters reported. "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."
4. Bill Clinton — "Hillary and I were deeply saddened to learn of Nancy Reagan's passing," the former president said in a statement,
CNN reported. "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."
5. Hillary Clinton — "Nancy's strength of character was legendary, and her advocacy — especially for Alzheimer's research — was tireless. Praying for her family,"
the Democratic presidential front-runner and former first lady tweeted.
6. Jimmy Carter — "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," the former president 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."
7. Mitch McConnell — "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," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, said in a statement.
8. Ted Cruz — "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,"
the senator and presidential candidate tweeted.
9. Donald Trump — "Nancy Reagan, the wife of a truly great President, was an amazing woman. She will be missed!"
the billionaire and current GOP presidential front-runner wrote on Twitter.
11. Bernie Sanders — "No matter your party or political ideology, this is a sad day for America. Nancy Reagan was an exemplary first lady,"
said the senator and Democratic presidential candidate. "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."
12. Newt Gingrich — "She was a remarkable sidekick to Ronald Reagan. She supported him totally at every stage,"
former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Sunday. "Those who know her well know how magnificently she rose to the challenge of Alzheimer's and how much she did to try to make the president's last years comfortable."
13. George Will — "You have a political party. You have legislative caucus. Most of all, you have your spouse,"
columnist George Will said Sunday. "They were the most married couple I ever met."
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14. James Baker — "She didn't have policy views that she held viscerally,"
said former White House Chief of Staff James Baker. "If it was good, if she thought it was good for the president politically, that's what she would be for. If she thought it was good for his legacy, that's what she would be for. And she's done a reasonably credible job, if you look at what history has written about his two terms as president."
15. Tom Brokaw — "She encouraged him to make the deal,"
the NBC News reporter said of Nancy's role while the president navigated the U.S. relationship with the Soviet Union. "Not just on their terms, but on our terms." Brokaw added that Nancy was among "the two or three most important" advisors the president listened to.
16. Colin Powell — "She was looking to us as the force that would stabilize the White House," former Secretary of State Colin Powell, who served as a national security adviser under Ronald Reagan,
told MSNBC. "She made sure that's what we were doing . . . She didn't shout at anybody. But if there was a dissatisfaction anywhere in the White House, it was made known to us, and we fixed it."
Powell also told NPR, "She would occasionally go off to New York to visit with friends and to do shopping, and she'd be gone for several days. By day two, we could see the president starting to fret. By day three, we would chat with each other and somebody would say, 'Call New York and get her home,' doing it in the most polite, proper way, of course."
17. Jerry Brown — "Nancy Reagan lived a remarkable life and will be remembered for her strength and grace. On behalf of all Californians, Anne and I extend our deepest condolences to the Reagan family,"
said the California governor.
18. Barbara Boxer — "She made a lasting contribution to the fight against Alzheimer's," Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-California, said in a statement Sunday, NBC News reported. "She set an example as a first lady who truly stood on her own as a force."
19. Arnold Schwarzenegger — "Nancy Reagan was one of my heroes. She served as first lady with unbelievable power, class, and grace and left her mark on the world. She's with her Ronnie now, but those of us she left behind will miss her dearly," the former California governor
wrote on Twitter.
20. Reince Priebus — "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,"
said Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus.
21. Peter Robinson — "A smile and a wave from Nancy. They were all Ronald Reagan needed,"
recalled Reagan speechwriter Peter Robinson in the New York Post. "She took care of him — and then he went out and cut taxes, rebuilt our armed forces, and stood up to the Soviet Union."
22. Edward J. Rollins — "She was an extraordinary woman and his closest adviser,"
wrote the Fox News contributor and former assistant to President Reagan. "Nancy Reagan was class personified and had great political instincts, maybe even better than his. As he told me one time, he would not be president without her encouragement and guidance. After he lost to President Ford by 117 delegates at the 1976 republican convention, he told me he had no desire to run again. Nancy felt differently and convinced him that for the good of the country he had to try again."
23. Doug Wead — "Nancy Reagan was more than a classy lady, a good dresser, a charming hostess; she was a very politically astute woman,"
wrote presidential historian Doug Wead. "Her husband's image only grew after his own death and that was not an accident. Nancy Reagan knew how to burnish that image and how to walk the tight rope of political-media issues."
24. Michael Beschloss — "One thing you ask about a historical figure is, would history have been different if this person had not been there?"
said presidential historian Michael Beschloss. "Would Ronald Reagan have become president if he had not married Nancy? Probably not."
25. Michael Reagan — "Nancy is where she has always wanted to be,"
Nancy's stepson wrote Sunday, "with her Ronnie."
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