The impact of former President George H.W. Bush's passing is being felt here across the city.

The mayor has ordered flags flown at half-staff.

The Mayor tweeted "George H.W. Bush devoted his life to serving our nation. On behalf of New York City, I offer our deepest condolences to the Bush family and everyone who loved him."

 

Former Mayor Mike Blooomberg has also released a statement saying "President Bush was never afraid to say and do what he believed was right, and I’ll always admire him for standing up to ideologues in his own party and extremists in special interest groups – for which he endured a great deal of political heat."

President Trump released a statement on Twitter earlier and canceled the G20 press conference in light of Bush’s passing.

 

 

 

Former President Barack Obama also sent out a statement on Twitter:
 
 

Bill Clinton, who succeeded Bush, tweeted:

"I am grateful for every minute I spent with him and will always hold our friendship as one of my life’s greatest gifts."

 

 

 

Bush's connection to New York is expansive.

In 1945, George Bush while still in the Navy, he married Barbara Pierce in Rye, New York on January 6, 1945.  They had six children.

In 1971, Bush was appointed by President Nixon to be Ambassador to the United Nations.

And in 1988, with international policy with the Soviet Union at a critical juncture, then Vice President Bush and President Reagan met with Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev in New York.