The Office of George H.W. Bush confirmed Tuesday evening that Barbara Bush, a former FLOTUS to the 41st President and mother to the 43rd, had died at the age of 92.
“A former First Lady of the United States of America and relentless proponent of family literacy, Barbara Pierce Bush passed away Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at the age of 92,” a statement from Bush’s spokesman said. “She is survived by her husband of 73 years, President George H. W. Bush; five children and their spouses, 17 grandchildren, seven great grandchildren; and her brother Scott Pierce. She was preceded in death by her second child, Pauline “Robin” Bush, and her siblings Martha Rafferty and James R. Pierce.”
Statement by the Office of @GeorgeHWBush on the passing of Barbara Pierce Bush this evening at the age of 92. pic.twitter.com/c6JU0xy6Vc
— Jim McGrath (@jgm41) April 17, 2018
Following the announcement, former POTUS George W. Bush also released a statement on his mother’s passing. “My dear mother has passed on at age 92,” Bush said. “Laura, Barbara, Jenna, and I are sad, but our souls are settled because we know hers was. 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.”
Statement by President George W. Bush on the passing of Mrs. Barbara Bush: https://t.co/PwYs9SHwo3 pic.twitter.com/FZMcRwv0Ve
— George W. Bush Presidential Center (@TheBushCenter) April 18, 2018
Over the weekend, Bush’s family had announced that the former first lady’s health was deteriorating following multiple health issues and hospitalizations in recent years, and that she would no longer be seeking additional treatment, instead shifting her focus to “comfort care.” While the family did not specify what health issues she was being treated for, Bush had spent most of her life battling a thyroid condition and was hospitalized both for heart surgery in 2009 and pneumonia in 2013.
Known for her popularity with the American people during her time as FLOTUS, Bush was only the second woman in U.S. history (after Abigail Adams), to be both a first lady and mother to a president. She spent her time in the White House focusing on fighting illiteracy in the U.S by authoring two children’s books and creating the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.
She continued to be outspoken when it came to her views and beliefs after her husband’s term was up. As the New York Times notes (and as you may remember), she had some strong *thoughts* about then-candidate Donald Trump in 2016 after he lashed out at her son Jeb Bush on the campaign trail.
“He doesn’t give many answers to how he would solve problems,” Bush told CNN in 2018. “He sort of makes faces and says insulting things. He’s said terrible things about women, terrible things about the military. I don’t understand why people are for him.”
Bush is also believed to have differed from her husband on several policy issues including abortion and the 1972 Equal Rights Amendment. The couple had just celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary, making them the longest-married presidential couple in history.