George W. Bush: “The ties between the people of America and the people of Italy run deep.”

On this day of prayer, Laura and I are holding up our fellow Texans who are hurting.

History will remember him as among the finest public servants of his generation – a patriot who brought integrity, high intelligence, and seriousness of purpose to every position.

Violence and vitriol must be purged from the public square. Members of other political parties are not our enemies; they are our fellow citizens.

We know our words cannot help, but we believe the prayers of so many Americans will.