Senator Lamar Alexander today made the following statement about the passing of former first lady Nancy Reagan:
"Nancy Reagan stayed overnight with us at the governor's residence—Honey and I saw her often during the Reagan presidency. She was always thoughtful and elegant and devoted to her husband and to our country."
Senator Todd Gardenhire offered his reflections on the former first lady after working as a member of her advance team.
Senator Gardenhire first met President and Mrs. Reagan in 1976 while campaigning for them. He worked on the presidential advance team in 1983. In 1984, he went to work for the first lady’s advance team for one week each month until President Reagan’s term of office expired in 1989.
“First lady is a very accurate term to describe Nancy Reagan,” Senator Gardenhire said. “She was first in Ronald Reagan’s life and she put him first. And, she was also a lady at all times. The first lady you saw on television is exactly who Nancy Reagan was when the doors were shut and the media were out of the room. She was a genuinely wonderful woman who was gracious, kind and thoughtful.
“She was also a woman of tremendous strength. This strength is not just reflected during the assassination attempt on her husband and through his long-term battle with Alzheimer’s, but the encouragement she have him every day to be the greatest leader of our time. I was blessed to have known her.”
Senator David Perdue said, “Bonnie and I join the nation in mourning the loss of First Lady Nancy Reagan and lifting the Reagan family up in prayer. Like her husband, Nancy Reagan saw the good in people and worked tirelessly to strengthen our communities and advance the American dream.
"She championed our veterans, especially our heroes returning home from Vietnam. Together, the Reagans changed our country and their legacy will forever inspire our nation.”
Ryan Haynes, chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party, said, "Many gifted women have served our nation as First Lady but Nancy Reagan set a new standard during her time at the White House. She brought grace and charm to the role and used her position to make our nation a better place. Mrs. Reagan was, in many ways, the driving force behind President Reagan and many of his achievements. Her loss isn't just one for the Republican Party. It is a loss that will be felt by all of America."
Nancy Reagan was 94.