As news of Robin Williams’ death reverberates across the country, elected officials are lending their voices to the national outpouring of sympathy and grief.
In a statement late Monday, President Barack Obama called Williams “one of-a-kind” and extended “condolences to Robin’s family, his friends, and everyone who found their voice and their verse thanks to Robin Williams.”
Secretary of State John Kerry described Williams both as a “huge creative genius” and a “caring, involved citizen.”
“I’ll always be grateful for his personal friendship,” Kerry said.
Minority leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif) also expressed her sadness at Williams’ passing with the following tweet:
The world has lost a great genius and San Francisco has lost a loyal friend. http://t.co/J2Bkr715Ne
— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) August 12, 2014
Pentagon Press Secretary Rear. Adm. John Kirby tweeted this advice from Williams:
I once asked Robin Williams to offer advice for my son, who would soon turn 18. “Follow your heart,” he said. “The head is sometimes wrong.”
— Rear Adm. John Kirby (@PentagonPresSec) August 12, 2014
Paying tribute to Williams’ extraterrestrial role in TV sitcom Mork and Mindy, Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo) dressed up as the alien Mork and visited Mork and Mindy’s house in Boulder, Colorado. The house is in Polis’s district.
Orson calling Mork, come in Mork…Come in Mork…Mork…
Thank u 4 making us laugh Robin Williams pic.twitter.com/Msp9Yv7gjE
— Jared Polis (@jaredpolis) August 12, 2014
Nanu nanu pic.twitter.com/8XA0gLlgiw
— Jared Polis (@jaredpolis) August 12, 2014
