Former First Lady Barbara Bush died at the age of 92 on Tuesday.
Bush reportedly had been battling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart problems in recent years.
The death was announced in a statement released by the office of her husband, former U.S. president George H.W. Bush.
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The couple were married in 1945. They had six children and were married longer than any presidential couple in American history.
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Mrs. Bush’s plainspoken manner and utter lack of pretense made her more popular at times than her husband. She brought a grandmotherly style to buttoned-down Washington, often appearing in her trademark fake pearl chokers and displaying no vanity about her white hair and wrinkles.
“I had the best job in America,” she wrote in a 1994 memoir describing her time in the White House. “Every single day was interesting, rewarding, and sometimes just plain fun.”
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In her 1994 autobiography, Barbara Bush: A Memoir, Mrs. Bush said she did her best to keep her opinions from the public while her husband was in office. But she revealed that she disagreed with him on two issues: She supported legal abortion and opposed the sale of assault weapons.
“I honestly felt, and still feel, the elected person’s opinion is the one the public has the right to know,” Mrs. Bush wrote.
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Barbara Bush was dubbed “The Silver Fox” by her husband and children. She was known for her snow-white hair and for being fiercely protective of her family.
Mrs. Bush was also the mother of former U.S. president George W. Bush.
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“My dear mother has passed on at age 92. Laura, Barbara, Jenna, and I are sad, but our souls are settled because we know hers was,” George W. Bush said in a statement Tuesday. “Barbara Bush was a fabulous First Lady and a woman unlike any other who brought levity, love, and literacy to millions. To us, she was so much more. Mom kept us on our toes and kept us laughing until the end. I’m a lucky man that Barbara Bush was my mother. Our family will miss her dearly, and we thank you all for your prayers and good wishes.”
George P. Bush, son of former Florida governor Jeb Bush, praised his grandmother as “an inspiration and an example for all.”
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On Sunday, a spokesperson for the family announced that she was in failing health and wouldn’t be seeking additional medical treatment.
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Bush is one of only two first ladies who was also the mother of a president. The other was Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams and mother of John Quincy Adams.
The death announcement said that funeral details will be available “as soon as is practical.”
Canadian Prime Minister recognized Bush for being a “friend to Canada” who will leave a lasting legacy.
Donald Trump issued a statement on Twitter Tuesday night which laid praise to the former first lady.
“As a wife, mother, grandmother, military spouse, and former First Lady, Ms. Bush was an advocate of the American family,” the statement read. “Amongst her greatest achievements was recognizing the importance of literacy as a fundamental family value that requires nurturing and protection.”
Former U.S. president Bill Clinton spoke of her “grit & grace.”
Bush’s impact was not just among politicians as tributes flowed in from all manner of athletes, singers and celebrities.
*With files from the Associated Press and Reuters
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