Thatcher Dead at 87...

Thoughts on the passing of Margaret Thatcher

Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher passed away on April 8 at the age of 87

Speaker Boehner

WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement on the passing of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher:

“The greatest peacetime prime minister in British history is dead.  Margaret Thatcher, a grocer’s daughter, stared down elites, union bosses, and communists to win three consecutive elections, establish conservative principles in Western Europe, and bring down the Iron Curtain.  There was no secret to her values – hard work and personal responsibility – and no nonsense at all in her leadership.  She once said, ‘Defeat?  I do not recognize the meaning of the word.’  Now this lady who was never for turning goes to rest as grateful friends and allies around the world mourn her passing and pray for her loved ones.  Americans will always keep Lady Thatcher in our hearts for her loyalty to Ronald Reagan and their friendship that we all admired.  At this difficult hour, I send the condolences of the U.S. House of Representatives to Prime Minister Cameron and the British people.”

Chairman Bennett

COLUMBUS - Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Bennett released the following statement concerning Margaret Thatcher's passing.

"I was honored to serve my first years as chairman of the Ohio Republican Party while Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister. By working together with President Reagan and President Bush, it was her conservative ideals and strong individualism that helped bring down the Berlin wall. Her dedication to making the lives of all people better will be missed throughout the world. My sincere thoughts and prayers are with her family this morning."

Tom Brokaw

They were the Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy of world politics: stars in their own right, yet more powerful in partnership. When Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan were leading their countries in new directions during their respective terms in office, it was the strongest transatlantic partnership since the second world war – for, however much they differed in style, they shared the same vision.

United States

Barack Obama led tributes, describing Margaret Thatcher as "one of the great champions of freedom and liberty" and a true friend to the US. Former president George HW Bush and the Republican House speaker John Boehner also paid generous tributes.

Russia

It was Krasnaya Zvezda, the Red Army's newspaper, that dubbed Thatcher the "Iron Lady" in a 1977 article. The title stuck around, but the Soviet Union didn't and the USSR's last premier, Mikhail Gorbachev, 82, said her death was "a sad thing" and described her as "a great politician" who "will remain in our memory and in history". He recalled how his relations with Thatcher "were difficult at times, not always smooth, but, serious and responsible from both sides".

More from The Guardian

The New York Times Readers...

Thatcher's leadership successes in helping bring down Soviet communism, restarting a stalled economy and resurrecting English national pride are tempered by her having actively promoted institutionalized homophobia, greed and indifference to the plights of others. Future leaders will learn much from her examples, and hopefully improve on the final results.

More New York Times Readers

And more... Reuters