--- title: Presidents From Trump to Carter Honor Barbara Bush's Legacy description: Politics was put aside as people honored the extraordinary life of Barbara Bush, noting her literacy legacy, public service and humor canonical: https://time.com/5244218/barbara-bush-death-reaction/ author: Sophia Rosenbaum article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2018-04-18T01:15:13.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-03-25T08:35:42.546Z article:section: Politics og:title: Presidents From Trump to Carter Honor Barbara Bush's Legacy og:description: Many highlighted her public service and commitment to her family og:url: https://time.com/5244218/barbara-bush-death-reaction/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt5dd6f37e0a27785d/69892dec929fad6049bf04a8/barbara-bush-death-tributes.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: Former First Lady Barbara Bush Passes Away og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Presidents From Trump to Carter Honor Barbara Bush's Legacy twitter:description: Many highlighted her public service and commitment to her family twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt5dd6f37e0a27785d/69892dec929fad6049bf04a8/barbara-bush-death-tributes.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 'Grit & Grace, Brains & Beauty.' Here's What Every Living President Said About Barbara Bush by [Sophia Rosenbaum](https://time.com/author/sophia-rosenbaum/) ## Sophia Rosenbaum Apr 18, 2018 1:15 AM UTC  Former First Lady Barbara Bush is interviewed for 'The Presidents' Gatekeepers' project about the White House Chiefs of Staff at the Bush Library, Oct. 24, 2011 in College Station, Texas. Former First Lady Barbara Bush is interviewed for 'The Presidents' Gatekeepers' project about the White House Chiefs of Staff at the Bush Library, Oct. 24, 2011 in College Station, Texas.David Hume Kennerly—Getty Images by [Sophia Rosenbaum](https://time.com/author/sophia-rosenbaum/) ## Sophia Rosenbaum Apr 18, 2018 1:15 AM UTC Her commitment to her family, her literacy legacy, and of course, her vivacious attitude. Politics was put to the side Tuesday night as [tributes](http://time.com/5244192/barbara-bush-death-george-w-bush/) to the extraordinary life of Barbara Bush poured in. The 92-year-old matriarch of the Bush political dynasty [passed away](http://time.com/5242261/barbara-bush-dies/) Tuesday, just days after her family announced she was in “failing health” and was seeking comfort care. Politicians from both sides of the aisle honored Bush’s [legacy](http://time.com/4623752/barbara-bush-political-influence/) including all of the living former Presidents and First Ladies. “Barbara Bush was a remarkable woman. She had grit & grace, brains & beauty. She was fierce & feisty in support of her family & friends, her country & her causes. She showed us what an honest, vibrant, full life looks like. Hillary and I mourn her passing and bless her memory,” former President Bill Clinton tweeted. > [](https://twitter.com/BillClinton/status/986393014443659265) > [](https://twitter.com/CNBCnow/status/986400400310927361) President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama called Bush “the rock of a family dedicated to public service.” The Bush family has become synonymous with American politics, with many of her children and grandchildren — including former President George W. Bush and his brother, Jeb Bush — following in the footsteps of her husband, Former President George H.W. Bush. “We’ll always be grateful to Mrs. Bush for the generosity she showed to us throughout our time in the White House, but we’re even more grateful for the way she lived her life — as a testament to the fact that public service is an important and noble calling; as an example of the humility and decency that reflects the very best of the American spirit,” the Obama’s said in a joint statement. “She’ll be remembered for passing those American values on to her children, her grandchildren, her great-grandchildren — and to the countless citizens whom she and George inspired to become ‘points of light’ in service to others.” > [](https://twitter.com/CNBCnow/status/986401727510433803) President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump also highlighted her literacy activism as “an advocate for the American family.” > [](https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/986395361815166981) “Amongst her greatest achievements was recognizing the importance of literacy as a fundamental family value that requires nurturing and protection. She will be long remembered for her strong devotion to country and family, both of which she served unfailingly well,” the Trump’s said in a statement. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5244218/barbara-bush-death-reaction/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5244218/barbara-bush-death-reaction/"},"headline":"'Grit & Grace, Brains & Beauty.' 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