california senator dianne feinstein has passed away. of 90 and joining us now is journalist and feinstein biographer, mark sandelow. this morning, i see you shaking your head there in our nation's capital. you had to anticipate that she was nearing the end of her political career. but this news comes at a time when we're really starting to look at her legacy. >> it does. i started working at the "san francisco chronicle" in 1986. which she was already the powerful mayor of san francisco. and i shake my head in part because actuallyly her biographer was m editor at the time jerry roberts and i still remember him sending me out in one of my early assignments, they needed a comment from her. she was at the opera house. like oh no. and i had to go and you know, she came out and she was sort of doing her little pretend fighting thing. she was both wonderful to me and she was also brutal at times. because she didn't like a number of the things that were written about her. but this is somebody who, you know, you think about california politics

congress woman jane harman took this photo with dianne feinstein in dc last night showing a smiling dianne feinstein unaware that she would pass just a few hours later. she was a political giants and tonight her colleagues and constituents and friends say that her legacy is one of consistency, civility and devotion to public servant. we are live in san francisco city hall. i know people have been pouring by all day long to pay tributes to her. >> reporter: yes. every politician we talked with today said she was a friend and a mentor, and they also said she was never afraid of telling them exactly what she thought of the job they were doing. for people who grew up in san francisco and watched her progress through san francisco politics and then international politics, they say her tenacity was an inspiration. >> just hours after the world learned that dianne feinstein had died, san francisco mayor called cameras and reporters to city hall to explain the very personal and lasting impression the senator made on her as she grew up in the city. when -- became the second woman to become mayor, s

breed said it earlier today. >> you can't think of san francisco without thinking of senator dianne feinstein. and today all the flags here at city hall at half staff in memory of her, it's where feinstein once served as mayor during a time of triumph and tragedy. of course, today many are reflecting on her long political career. feinstein was a badass in san francisco. diana vanderveer from san francisco, speaking her mind about a woman she respected. >> she kicked doors open for my tax bracket, even though she was not in it. >> diana and others came to city hall to sign this public condolence book for dianne feinstein. tanya chacon wrote this message about meeting feinstein as a little girl and how it inspired her to be a strong woman in her community as a woman. >> and in that role of leadership, she paved the way for so many women. >> yeah, and i'm here at city hall now, and i remember that. i think about that that legacy. >> people have been leaving flowers at feinstein's statue inside city hall. >> you can't think about san francisco without thinking about dianne feinstein. >> mayor lon

senate majority leader chuck schumer, minority leader mitch mcconnell had this to say about dianne feinstein. >> dianne did not just push down doors that were closed for women, she held them open for generations of women after her to follow. she gave a voice, a platform, a model for women across the country who inspire two roles in leadership and public service , who want to leave their own mark on the world, who want to make this country a better place for others. today, there are 25 women serving in this chamber and every one of them will admit they stand on dianne 's shoulders. so, dianne 's impact extended far beyond the senate floor and far beyond politics itself. today, we grieve . we look at that desk and we know what we have lost. >> we all refer to each other as friends from whatever state it is. honestly, frequently, that is not true. elaine and i were actual friends of and dianne. elaine served on a corporate board with for a number of years. when they were in town together, we would frequently have dinner together . elaine and i got married shortly after the 1992 election. i reme

feinstein voted. she voted to make sure that our country would continue to move forward and not shut down. that was dianne. she did her job every day. >> senator feinstein had announced her retirement at the end of this term but now it will be up to california's governor to appoint a temporary replacement before the election next november. they will be big shoes to fill. the legendary fighter served in the senate longer than any woman in american history. >> she was a historic figure, a trailblazer for women and a great friend. >> over in the house -- >> let us pray that she rest in peace. >> lawmakers locked in a battle to avoid a government shutdown stopped for a moment of silence. >> her career was, by any standards, historic. >> feinstein died at her home here in washington where flags are at half staff in salute to a political pioneer. >> now, the attention shifts to california governor newsom who is expected to announce a temporary appointment for senator feinstein's seat. democrats hold a very slim majority in the senate. he has said he would consider appointing a woman of color. >> we will keep ou

congress woman jane harman took this photo with dianne feinstein in dc last night showing a smiling dianneeinstein unaware that she would pass just a few hours later. she was a political giants and tonight her colleagues and

>>> dianne feinstein made a splash in just about every stage of her career.in 1978, check this out, when she followed through on her promise to wear a bathing suit to cut the ribbon at pier 39, the project she helped secure turned 45 next month. can you imagine? showing up to a public event in nothing but a bathing suit. i give her credit. >> that is pretty brave. >> good for her. >>> we have some news in the sports world. once named the national league of the year, the giants made the move to fire gabe kapler. this after the team has gone 8-17, and some players started demanding changes. named the interim manager and place of kepler for the final three games of the season, the third inning, the giants down by two, and a high fly ball from wilmer flores with enough distance to get over the left field wall. driving in both of the giants runs, still a one run game in the sixth inning, until j.d. martinez at the plate, hitting a three run shot into the left field bleachers, the dodgers go up by four and put the game away, l.a. wins 6-2, and here's a reaction fro

>>> now at 11:00, dianne feinstein shattered glass ceilings. >> did you ever wish you weren't born? >> no. >> with grace and determination. >> both supervisor have been shot and killed. >> and unwavering devotion to duty. >> my greatest obligation is to the city. >> continued until the day she died. an outpouring of attributes, i am juliette goodrich from the nation's capitol. >>> tracking a chance of saturday showers in your first alert forecast. >>> a major shakeup at the top of the giants dugout. >>> from kpix, this is the late news with sara donchey on the cbs news bay area. >> hello, i am trying 12 and for sara donchey, it is hard to overstate the impact that dianne feinstein had on the bay area, the state of the nation. and tonight remembering the life and legacy of the 90-year-old senator, she defied the odds and the field primarily dominated by men. and opened the door for a record number of women to serve in public office of eight in declining health for most of the year but was so dedicated to public service, she cast her last vote, just hours before she died and her d.c.

on november 27th 1978, then president of the board dianne feinstein the shocking announcement of two assassinations at city hall. >> both mayor must tony and supervisor harvey milk have been shot and killed. >> that is when feinstein became the first woman to serve as mayor of san francisco. she went on to leave the city for 10 years and then ran for california governor and lost before winning a u.s. senate seat. former mayor willie brown says one of feinstein's enduring qualities was her ability to persevere. >> most of us would get defeated, cry. for a long time, diane never cried. she only looked for the next opportunity. >> as senator feinstein went to washington but always had differences go on her mind, she secured millions of americans -- dollars. in 1993 after a common used two handguns and a mass shooting, she offered the historic tenure assault weapons ban that became the law of the land. in recent years, health issues begin to cast a shadow over the sender's service with some colleagues on both sides of the aisle calling for her to resign, but she worked until the very end.

that was dianne feinstein. touching moment there today. >> and joining us now is abc seven news insider phil matier. >> yeah. and phil, a lot of questions surrounding who governor newsom will appoint to finish feinstein's term. what are your thoughts? >> well, it's a game of three dimensional chess here. what we're talking about now, first of all, you have governor of california who is trying to pick somebody in the best interest of california. second, you have a governor of california who is also making a national statement . and that question is an african-american woman in the senate and there's a great call to have one there. now, who is he listening to, california or the nation, especially if he has presidential aspirations? who are you out to make happy? who are you out to? could you irritate by making this choice now, he's committed to an african-american woman initially, but now it's in a caretaker status. it's not like if he if he gave it to somebody that they would be able to run with it. he's trying t

dianne feinstein. feinstein. >> it is a 32. we'll hav ya know, if you were cashbacking you could earn on everything with just one card. chase freedom unlimited. so, if you're off the racking... ...or crab cracking, you're cashbacking. cashback on flapjacks, baby backs, or tacos at the taco shack. nah, i'm working on my six pack. switch to a king suite, or book a silent retreat. silent retreat? hold up - yeeerp? i can't talk right now, i'm at a silent retreat. cashback on everything you buy with chase freedom unlimited with no annual fee. how do you cashback? chase. make more of what's yours. it's 35 right now and we want to get back to our reflections of the life and times of dianne feinstein, the oldest sitting u.s. senator who died at the age of 90. if you're just waking up this morning, she passed at her home in washington, elected the first female mayor, san francisco elected to the senate in 1992. held a lot of chair positions. first time a woman it held a chair position on a number of these committees. so a trailblazer in

right now the flags here at the white house have been lowered in tribute to the late senator dianne feinstein. >> thank you so much for that. here to share their insights and memories with senator feinstein is gloria borger, david chalian, and jeff zeleny. gloria, you spent a lot of time with senator feinstein. >> i did. she was one of a kind. i have to tell you, she was endlessly curious. she was interested in what other people were saying about what was going on in the senate, and for some reason, i became part of a group of women -- she used to have an aid call to ask us to have dinner about once every month or six weeks, and we'd go to this perfectly set up dinner at a cafe in washington at a conscious table with beautiful flowers. and off the record, but it was not only a discussion -- it wasn't really about what was going on in the intelligence committee, of which she was chairman, it was about sort of the events of the day, how are you, what's going on in your news organization, there was a little bit of gossip in there. but such a gracious hostess, you got this feeling she just wanted

senator dianne feinstein. senator feinstein's career includes many firsts and ktvu is james torres is here with reaction coming in this morning . james sal, as you can imagine, reaction coming from not just all over the state but all over the country, too. but when we're talking about some of our state leaders here is some of the words. and of course, the statements we're seeing coming from people like governor gavin newsom, of course, the former speaker, nancy pelosi, also chiming in. hillary clinton even offering some thoughts and prayers as well. each of them using very similar language, of course, saying they are heartbroken to learn the passing of their friend, using words like mentor as well, calling her a trailblazer and saying that she created a really improved, made such a difference in the national security and personal safety of this country. of course, we also heard from president biden as well, who just spoke about 30 minutes ago on the late senator's legacy. she was a historic figure, trailblazer

dianne feinstein both a local and on

yes, we will continue to get reaction to the death of longtime us senator dianne feinstein. we'll turn now to ctv's allie rasmus. she's live in san francisco. of course, allie, this is the city where senator feinstein lived, where she started her political career on the board of supervisors. yes years ago. garcia we are waiting here. actually, we're in north beach and we are waiting in a little bit to speak with former san francisco mayor willie brown. of course, this is all because of former san francisco mayor dianne feinstein, whose passing announced earlier this morning. as you mentioned, garcia, she got her start in san francisco politics decades ago. she was just 35 years old back in 1969 when she was elected to the san francisco board of supervisors. and she served in that role for a number of years. she tried running for mayor and lost a couple of times. but then, as we know, back in 1979, following the assassination of george moscone, feinstein was the president of the board of supervisors back then, and she became mayor of san francisco following that crisis. it was

again, all in memory and honor of dianne feinstein. >> what a wonderful tribute. i cannot wait to see that. we have already reported but we will say it again, senator feinstein announced she would not run for re-election next year, so moving forward, that gives governor newsom the chance to pick an appointed caretaker to serve until the election time. so, there are a lot of people right now vying for candidate, and recent polls show adam schiff with a slight lead in the race over katie porter. barbara lee comes in third. so in the past, the governor has promised to appoint a black woman to serve out her term but, apparently it would not be barbara lee and most recently, newsom indicated he doesn't want to give any of the candidates an advantage in the race. the east bay congressman talked about why this is so important. and a spokesperson for the governor said today there's no information yet on exactly who the governor will appoint, when it will be, the timeframe is not there yet. obviously it is too soon to say. you can see the rest of our coverage on the life an

watch that was dianne feinstein. may she rest in and may her legacy continue to inspire us all. >> senator padilla, so moved today. governor gavin newsom will now name a replacement for senator feinstein. and there is pressure for him to do so quickly as the federal government shutdown looms. newsom released a statement this morning saying dianne feinstein was many things a powerful, trailblazing us senator, an early voice for gun control, a leader in times of tragedy and chaos. but to me, she was a dear friend, a lifelong mentor, and a role model. not only for me, but to my wife and daughters for what a powerful effect of leader looks like. she was a political giant whose tenacity was matched by her grace. she broke down barriers and glass ceilings, but never lost her belief in the spirit of political cooperation . and she was a fighter for the city, the state and the country she loved every race she won. she made history. but her story wasn't just about being the first woman in a particular political office. it was

that was dianne feinstein and that was that long ago. and so i am a great admirer. >> in the 1970s, while serving as the first female president of the board of supervisors, feinstein ran twice for mayor but lost. she had decided not to run again in when tragedy struck the city. >> it's been seven hours now since that 38 caliber pistol went off, nine times and took the lives of the two leaders. >> both mayor moscone and supervisor harvey milk have been shot and killed. >> the tragic assassination of san francisco mayor george moscone by supervisor dan white in 1978 put feinstein in the job . in 1979, feinstein won her first full term as mayor and began reshaping the city during the decade she served. she survived a recall attempt led mostly by detractors of her proposal to ban handguns in san francisco, oversaw the remaking of the city's skyline, which some decried as the manhattanization of san francisco, oversaw a raucous 1984 democratic national convention and saved the city's cable car system. >> the cable car is still running because

our nation will be forever thankful to dianne feinstein for the accomplishments she fought for. i too am personally indebted to dianne, not just as a colleague, which of course i am in so many ways as a colleague, but as a friend and a father of two daughters. dianne's work extended far beyond the united states senate floor as she gave a voice, a platform being a leader to women throughout the country for decades. she didn't just push down doors closed for women, she held them open for generations of women who followed her sheement gave a voice, a platform, a model for women across the country who aspire to roles in leadership, in public service who want to leave their own mark on the world, who want to make this country a better place for others. today there are 25 women serving in this chamber and every one of them would admit they stand on dianne's shoulders. so dianne's impact extended far beyond the senate floor and far beyond politics itself. so today we grieve. we look at that desk and we know what we have lost. but we also give thanks -- thanks to someone to brave, to gra

and i'm wearing dianne feinstein's famous ms. hassan: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from new hampshire is recognized. ms. hassan: thank you, mr. president. and i want to offer my condolences to dianne's family, to her colleagues from california, to the speaker emeritus, to my colleague, senator padilla, and to so many of our friends and colleagues who are watching today. i wanted to rise just because i'm one of the newer women in the united states senate, and i wanted to acknowledge the difference that dianne feinstein's example and work has made for me, for my constituents, for our daughters and our granddaughters. when i came to the senate, the bipartisan women's dinners were long established. i didn't have to think about how i would get to know my women colleagues and share experiences and learn the ropes from them because dianne feinstein and her other colleagues who were early pioneers in the senate had already done some of that work for tus. i didn't have to think about whether there was going to be a women's bathroom right off

we were at the fairmont hotel, waiting to see what would happen and dianne feinstein was a shoe in and i was certainly the underdog. >> reporter: the retired senator, barbara boxer would serve with feinstein until the end of her term. >> when the two of us made it, two jewish women from the bay area, it was history. >> reporter: they knew because of their gender they had to fight even harder. >> these guys thought women couldn't understand the gun issues, couldn't understand missile issues, couldn't understand defense issues. >> reporter: while her time in the senate has most recently defined her epic career -- >> what are your thoughts on what it means for a country to have women serve in meaningful numbers on the federal bench lester mark >> reporter: it was before her time in washington that was testified with violence and tragedy. in 1958 as the supervisor, she was there when the city's mayor and a trailblazing city supervisor were murdered by another supervisor. >> the mayor and supervisor have been shot and killed. >> reporter: she would guide and calm a shattered city. >> i beca

dianne feinstein placed up half for all women leading them in the halls of washington, d.c., being a woman. >> in our society even today is difficult. >> born in 1933, and raised in san francisco. feinstein says her love for politics began when she was just 16 at a time when a women's role was in the home. the stanford grad took her first job in public office in 1959. when she was appointed to the california women's board of parole. 10 years later find site ran for office for the first time winning a seat on the san francisco board of supervisors. she would go on to become the first woman to serve as board president. she would run for mayor twice losing both times. years later, she says those losses helped define her as a politician run but prepare yourself. you don't drop out. you take defeat after defeat after defeat. but you keep going in 1978 her life was marked by tragedy. her second husband died of colon cancer. then in november of that year, the unthinkable happened. a disgruntled board member assassinated san francisco mayor george kony and fellow board member harvey milk just

dianne feinstein was san francisco's first female mayor. we have team coverage of senator feinstein's a long life of service and her contributions to public policy both nationally and right here in the bay area. many leaders are looking back on feinstein's legacy here in san francisco, including former san francisco mayor willie brown. well for us,

first nbc's andrea mitchell looks back at dianne feinstein's life and legacy. >> reporter: dianne feinstein, a leading woman senator for generations whose political career in california was launched by tragedy. november 1978, san francisco mayor george musconi and board of supervisors member harvey milk were assassinated in city hall, then board of supervisors president dianne feinstein tried desperately to save milk's life. >> both mayor masconi and supervisor harvey milk have been shot and killed. the event cementing her passion for gun reform. she was elected mayor and became a national figure on democratic are nominee walter mondale's short list for running mate. >> i've had an opportunity now to be the first woman and the first mayor to be asked to go through an interview process, and i view that as a major opening of a door and something that's very important to do. >> reporter: it was the clarence thomas hearings in 1991 that got feinstein to the senate, as she recalled in 2018. >> and what did i see but an all male senate judiciary committee grilling anita hill, and it was not nice,

so i conclude with positive memories of dianne feinstein. senator, colleague, and hopefully for both of us, friend. and that's a lovely way to set the tone for political pop -- for political opposites going forward. if patience and kindness is what love is, then that is also what senator dianne feinstein is. senator dianne feinstein is love. i salute her service and i yield the floor mr. merkley: madam president, i'm standing here at the desk next to the desk of our fallen colleague, senator dianne feinstein. it seems enormously strange that instead of being able to sit here and have her next to me, her desk is covered with a black cloth and a bowl, a crystal bowl of white roses. we come from the west coast where our states sit side by side, so perhaps it was fitting that we sat side by side here on the floor of the u.s. senate. one thing in particular that senator feinstein liked to do was share with me pictures of her dog kirby, who she absolutely loved. and she had a lot of pictures on her phone to show kirby in different moments of delig

senator dianne feinstein has past. she is remembered as a trailblazer in american politics and an inspiration for women in the world of public service. many in the bay area today remembering feinstein's legacy, including former mayor willie brown. proffers charles clifford caught up with brown earlier today and he joins us live now from feinstein's home. charles, what should we know? >> well, as you mentioned, i am dianne feinstein's home here in san francisco is kind of a quiet corner of the city. not too many folks stopping by, but where there are some flowers appearing here a few by stop people stopping by to pay their respects earlier today over north beach, i caught up with former san francisco mayor willie brown and got his reaction to her passing. >> i obviously. instantly didn't believe friday morning. former san francisco mayor willie brown said he was shocked to hear of the passing of senator dianne feinstein, especially after she had voted in the senate on thursday. and so i was surprised. i built bill, of co

america, america, america is a better place because of dianne fein feinstein. today, i gather with my colleagues in mourning dianne. >>> senator chuck schumer, the top democrat talking about his friend dianne feinstein and her desk is cloaked in black with white flowers on it today. we will continue to follow that and move to the other side of the capitol at the same time, because speaker kevin mccarthy is speaking to reporters as well. listen to this. >> thank you. moments ago, the flags at the capitol were lowered in memory of dianne feinstein. as a long-standing senator, she broke barriers and blazed trails for women. her career was historic. personally, i worked with the sen for for quite some time, and working together with many bills, but the one that stands out is the water legislation. it was historic, and the first time in california history that in more than 25 years we were able to pass water. it was the win act, and i remember the hours and the nights that we'd have to work to try to work through, and the challenges. we come from different parties an

feinstein would ultimately become the first woman to serve as the board's president. >> hi, tom. i'm diannce to know you. >> reporter: it would be one of many firsts for feinstein. in 1992 she made history, becoming the first woman to represent california in the u.s. senate. in that same year, she would help barbara boxer win the state's other senate seat in what became known as the year of the woman, setting up this iconic moment. >> i will never forget the night we made history. we were at the fairmont hotel, waiting to see what would happen. and diann was a shoo-in, and i was certainly absolutely the underdog. >> reporter: retired senator barbara boxer would serve with feinstein until the end of boxer's term in 2017. >> when the two of us made it, two women from the bay area, two jewish women from the bay area, it was such history. >> reporter: boxer says they knew because of their gender, they had to fight even harder. >> these guys thought women couldn't understand, you know, the gun issues, couldn't understand missile issues, couldn't understand defense issues. >> reporter: while fei

senator dianne feinstein. she was a towering figure and let it be clear she was a towering figure not just in modern california history but in the history of our state and our nation. yes she broke barriers throughout her career. you have heard about that from leadership or, how many firsts. her leadership of the city of san francisco's first female mayor in the aftermath of the tragic assassination of mayor georgia moscone and supervisor harvey milk, showcased her unique ability to lead with grace and strength in the face of adversity. and it wouldn't be her last time. throughout her election to the senate more than three decades ago diane's commitment to bipartisan collaboration made her a deeply respected figure on both sides of the aisle. my heart is full to hear the words of senator collins and and others. she understood the importance of working together to find common ground and to get things done for california, for the country and most importantly for the american people. her ability to bridge divide

senator dianne feinstein. >> she was the first woman in california elected to the senate and went on to hold that seat for more than 30 years. the longest serving senator from california, feinstein had planned to retire at the end of her current term in 2025 but had faced pressure to resign amid growing health concerns. senator dianne feinstein was 90 years old. governor newsom among the many issuing statements. "dianne feinstein was many things -- a powerful, trail blazing u.s. senator, an early voice for gun control, a leader in times of tragedy and chaos. but to me, she was a dear friend, a lifelong mentor, and a role model not only for me, but to my wife and daughters for what a powerful, effective leader looks like." we've been following this story since the moment the news broke. we sent a push alert to our app users. if you want the headlines first, be sure to download our nbc bay area app. >>> the weather forecast is on our web site, nbcbayarea.com. ♪♪ >>> happy friday, everyone, and welcome to "california live." where we unlock the gol

. >> as trailblazing senator dianne feinstein's death was announced this morning. bay area women tell me only one word comes to mind and that inspiration and her legacy. >> one woman said she remembers being a young girl and senator feinstein becoming acting mayor other states year 1992. when she became part of the senate that they remember feeling the most empowered like anything was possible. devastating. she is role model, too. bunch of young ladies amazing. but she had a great life passed away at 90. so spoke with one woman who says while she didn't always agree with senator feinstein's policies, she respected her work in the door. she opened for women everywhere. we actually were not on the same page. but of course, i'm very sad that >> and even younger women say she's played a major role of inspiration for them now, especially when a woman we've been in. >> politics and in government as long as she has. you know, and then everything that she that many here in this area say it's her legacy, her story and her impact that will remain forever. >> in san jose, mich

dianne feinstein has died at the age of 90. ue trailblazer. >> ginger conejero saab is joining us. ginger used to intern for senator feinstein. ginger, we've heard many people say that she always treated people with dignity and respect, regardless of their political differences. what was your experience? >> reporter: good morning, kris and laura. you know, just that last bite from senator feinstein kind of encompasses my experience in meeting her as an intern, this was back in 2003, as a junior, spring semester in college, and she welcomed us into her office. we had a install team of interns that semester, and it was a diverse group, it was geographically diverse, it was ethnically diverse. she was very warm, and at one point in the conversation there was a mention that i was from san francisco, and she was very quick to knowledge that and also share her pride of being from san francisco. and i remember being very proud to say that i was an intern for her during that time in washington, d.c., because people, as we've heard, rega

dianne feinstein will be missed. >> absolutely. thank you for that story. >>> you know, even when the senator was here in washington she did not forget about her bay area ties. today, mayor said that the senator would call her and reach out to her and ask her questions about the conference or how things were going in the tender loin and she was a huge help during covid. >> i will always remember that during the most difficult times when things were challenging, i never had to pick up the phone and call her. she always immediately picked up the phone. she always had san francisco top of mind. >> reporter: she is only the second woman to serve as mayor after feinstein. we have more on how the late senator paved the way for countless other women. >> honoring late senator feinstein. one word reported, that is trail blazer. the senator's career spanned 50 years and oftentimes she was the first women. she broke thousands of glass ceilings and inspired many of the women that are in office today. >> reporter: from her early days in governm

our nation will be forever thankful to dianne feinstein for the accomplishments she fought for. o am personally indebted to dianne, not just as a colleague, which of course i am in so many ways as a colleague, but as a friend and a father of two daughters. dianne's work extended far beyond the united states senate floor as she gave a voice, a platform being a leader to women throughout the country for decades. she didn't just push down doors closed for women, she held them open for generations of women who followed her sheement gave a voice, a platform, a model for women across the country who aspire to roles in leadership, in public service who want to leave their own mark on the world, who want to make this country a better place for others. today there are 25 women serving in this chamber and every one of them would admit they stand on dianne's shoulders. so dianne's impact extended far beyond the senate floor and far beyond politics itself. so today we grieve. we look at that desk and we know what we have lost. but we also give thanks -- thanks to someone to brave, to gracefu

dianne feinstein never stopped being mayor. she was mayor in san francisco for about 10 years before she became our senator. i want to just talk about what she meant to san francisco as a mayor, leading us through tragedy during a dark time, focusing on the important things that matter to communities, that matter to our city, pushing policies and legislation and bringing excitement and joy. growing up in san francisco, she was always someone we looked up to. so much so, when she ran for senator, we helped in her campaign. i remember doing the envelopes and doing whatever it took. she was the first woman to really step out and to do this extraordinary work both as president of the board of supervisors, as mayor of san francisco, as the senator for the state of california and, just last night, she was on the senate floor, casting votes because she truly believed in doing her duty, being an extraordinary public servant. it is clear that she cared about making a difference in the lives of so many. >> we also heard from state senato

we were known as dianne feinstein's band. any time there was any event activity, city or what have you, we basically were chosen in as the band to perform for any occasion. and i remember begging my grandmother, begging her to get me some new pantyhose. i remember begging my grandmother for something new to look nice for the mayor. and she in fact bought the band sweaters that we wore that day, the band sweaters that we wore so proudly. and there was a level of pride to be in front of the mayor, to watch the mayor witness us play and to be. she was so proud of us. and she said so. and she took the time to talk to us. express how amazing we were and to remind us that we were her band, jack martin's was our conductor. he was our teacher. he was our friend. he loved her. so and in fact, when the 49 ers won the super bowl and she loved the san francisco 49 ers, they had a big celebration at the fairmont hotel. and, you know that the ben franklin middle school band was right there to play for her. she stopped by to say hi to us. s

senator dianne feinstein. the trailblazer for women in politics here in california and washington, d.c. died last night. she was 90 years old. flowers have been placed on her statue at san francisco city hall, where she served as mayor for nine years. but before being elected to the us senate. president biden is one of many political and cultural leaders to publicly mourn her passing. the flag atop the white house has been lowered to half staff. the president this morning called feinstein a, quote, pioneering american and a cherished friend. ctv's greg lee looks back on her storied political career. trail blazer icon, political giant. dianne feinstein dedicated her life to public service and broke many barriers along the way. she served 30 years in the us senate. the first woman to represent california in the upper chamber and the longest serving woman senator ever. most of my peers positive energy toward this job. but her political career began decades earlier in san francisco. the stanford alumni was elected

dianne feinstein never stop being mayor. she led with courage. >> she worked hard for this city. meantime, people left flowers at feinstein's home in san francisco. elizabeth sirkin lives nearby and says she met the senator while out for a walk. she was amazing. she broke down so many barriers. >> you know, for people of my generation and your generation. she was the one who showed us the way that we could do we could be a mayor. we could be a senator. we can be a president. >> and that book of condolences is located on the 4th floor of city hall. anyone wants to stop by to share messages of for the late senator. in the meantime, mayor london breed says she will share services for find signs funeral when it becomes public. reporting from san francisco, gayle ong kron. 4 news. >> she didn't to just sit behind the desk. she got out. she met with people. >> dianne fe'nstein left her mark on politics nationwide before becoming california's longest-serving senator. her career-making began in san francisco conference. ella sogomonian spoke with feinstein's friend and former colleague. >

dianne feinstein was san francisco's first female mayor. we have team coverage of senator feinstein's a long life of service and her contributions to public policy both nationally and right here in the bay area. many leaders are looking back on feinstein's legacy here in san francisco, including former san francisco mayor willie brown. well for us, charles clifford caught up with brown earlier today and joins us live now from feinstein's home. charles. >> you know, diane feinstein, willie brown, they knew each other for a very long time dating back to the 60's, possibly even longer. today i caught up with former mayor brown in north beach where he was reacting to the news of her passing. i am obviously. instantly didn't believe friday morning. former san francisco mayor willie brown said he was shocked to hear of the passing of senator dianne feinstein, especially after she had voted in the senate on thursday. and so i surprised. >> i built bill, of course, of the night when she was function, them yesterday. the former mayor in the senator h

feinstein would ultimately become the first woman to serve as the board's president. >> hi, tom. i'm diannece to know you. >> reporter: it would be one of many firsts for feinstein. in 1992 she made history, becoming the first woman to represent california in the u.s. senate. in that same year, she would help barbara boxer win the state's other senate seat in what became known as the year of the woman, setting up this iconic moment. >> i will never forget the night we made history. we were at the fairmont hotel, waiting to see what would happen. and dianne was a shoo-in, and i was certainly absolutely the underdog. >> reporter: retired senator barbara boxer would serve with feinstein until the end of boxer's term in 2017. >> when the two of us made it, two women from the bay area, two jewish women from the bay area, it was such history. >> reporter: boxer says they knew because of their gender, they had to fight even harder. >> these guys thought women couldn't understand, you know, the gun issues, couldn't understand missile issues, couldn't understand defense issues. >> reporter: while fe

and yes, we're continuing to remember the extraordinary life and legacy of senator dianne feinstein. she died yesterday 90. she is the longest serving female senator in our nation's history. feinstein force in the political world. she was elected to the san francisco board of supervisors in 1969. and became its first female board president in 1978 that same year she would become the city's first female mayor after mayor george moscone ii was gunned down alongside supervisor harvey milk at city hall. and a lot of first, she was one of california's first 2 female senators, first woman to head the senate intelligence committee. the first woman to serve as the judiciary committee's top democrat. now the senator's health has been declining some time, particularly in the last few months. a bout of shingles sidelined her for more than 2 months earlier this year, absence. the drew frustration from a lot of people. but feinstein return to the senate said that she planned to finish out this last term and kron four's gayle ong joins us live galas at san francisco city hall where feinstein did ma

we remember dianne feinstein. 90-year-old veteran california senator, the longest serving woman in the senate, died overnight after voting just yesterday morning to advance a senate resolution to try to keep the government open. feinstein, a trailblazer in u.s. politics, is being remembered today by the president, by her colleagues from both sides of the aisle. >> she was an historic figure, trailblazer for women and a great friend. she made her mark in everything from national security to the environment, gun safety, to protecting civil liberties. the country is going to miss her dearly, and so will jill and i. >> maybe the trait that stood out most of all was her amazing integrity. her integrity was a diamond. her integrity shown like a beacon across the senate and across the country for all to see and hopefully emulate. >> dianne was a trailblazer in her beloved state of california and our entire nation are better for her dogged advocacy and diligent service. >> she was absolutely fearless but also very open. >>

i can honestly say dianne feinstein is one of the very best. again, this is a statement from president biden in february of this year when we learned about her retirement when she served the entirety of her term, but this, again, is going to be personal for the president who worked alongside her. we are expecting to get a statement at some point today. we have reached out. it hasn't come down just yet. i should also note that the senator had attended an event here at the white house in december for the same-sex marriage act. so she has been here supporting the president and his policies over the course of the president's administration. >> priscilla, thank you so much. we're going to be -- she's going to be standing by and bringing us a statement when we hear from president biden which i'm sure will be coming very soon. phil mattingly here with us as well. we've stood side-by-side for years covering di fi together. she in her advanced age she was frail for quite some time and she was missing for months, but still the impact of dianne feinstein,

and it was dianne feinstein who did endorse me. and it was, you know, something that i was forever grateful for as as a result. so, again, another example of her going with what she believed was appropriate, regardless of what the downturn may be or blowback she might receive, you know, it was interesting and that was also made her unique because in many ways, she was a party of one. >> i think that we would all agree with that. yes there were all these times that that she showed this courage and stand up. but i think everybody who's known or worked with her has also many times where you go, i can't believe she did that or she said that or whatever. okay. she would just go like what she had no problem the last time she ran for the senate, the democratic party wasn't even behind her. you know, they were endorsing her opponent was. what does that say about how politics has changed over time? i mean, she really was a party of one. she was very big for bipartisan support on things at the beginning. that was seen as a plus. now in the l

we are remembering the legacy left behind by senator dianne feinstein. >> good afternoon. welcome to nbc bay area news at 4:30. stayed into the office until the very end. she passed away at her home in washington, d.c. at 90 years old. she died of natural causes with her daughter at her side. she was the longest-serving senator from our state and leaves behind a powerful legacy even failing calls to step down didn't stop her desire to finish her term. she cast her final ballot yesterday. today her colleagues in congress have a moment in her honor. backup but today at this time just hours since her passing, rather than talk about her, let us just pray that she rest in peace. >> at san francisco city hall, visitors signed well wishes. many are remembering her reputation as a dealmaker racking up a giant legacy of accomplishments. >> she sets the highest standard that most of us will never be able to match in every category. she was better prepared. she was more focused on issues that affected the lives of people that may not have had any political benefit to them and hers wa

as people wake up to the news of the passing of senator dianne feinstein here on the screen. you see congresswoman barbara lee tweeting not too long ago. quote, this is a sad day for california and the nation. senator feinstein was a champion for our state and served as the voice of a political revolution for women. my profound condolences go out to her family and loved ones to talk more about her of political careering accomplishments. >> we have michael yaki, our political analyst who is on the line right now to take a look at our legacy. good morning, michael. so along like yeah, i mean, where to start first at i i would go to gun control because that was the resounding from the moment she took office until until now. really. so let's talk about that half and where she was with that where she brought that. >> well, i well, i mean, when you really talk about incentive to talk first about fact that she is someone who served as a role model for thousands of women in this country can get all to stay in politics to persevere. in politics someone who started off losing several ti

>>> and tributes for a trailblazer, lawmakers' emotional remembrances of california senator dianne feinstein passed away at the age of 90. >> very sad. may she rest in peace. voting the last day. >> we will take a look back at the life and legacy of the democrat who served longer than any other woman in senate history, and with big shoes left to fill, what happens now to feinstein's seat? a complicated calculation over who could be her successor. >>> but we begin with the 2024 campaign, already scrambled by one candidate who's facing 91 indictments and an incumbent president threatened with impeachment, well, it now has another challenge, an almost certain government shutdown. nbc news reports joe biden's campaign strategy will take a hit by grinding his travels to a halt, and donald trump will have to own his risky move with supporting a shutdown, siding with that far right group of republicans who biden again targeted just yesterday. >> there's an extremist movement that does not share the basic beliefs in our democracy. the maga movement. not every republican, not even a majority of repub

california democratic senator dianne feinstein, the longest-serving woman in u.s. te history has passed away at the age of 90. first elected in 1992, feinstein broke new grounds for women in politics. she was a passionate advocate for gun reform and a driving force on the judicial and intelligence committees she had been declining in health in recent months causing her to miss significant time in the senate. at both the white house and the capitol today, flags have been lowered to half-staff in her honor, this all coming as tributes pour in from the most powerful people in our country. >> may she rest in peace. she left voting the last day. >> earlier this morning, we lost a giant in the senate. senator dianne feinstein was one of the most amazing people who ever graced the senate, whoever graced the country. >> she was an historic figure, a trailblazer for women, and a great friends. >> it is our honor to have nbc news chief washington correspondent andrea mitchell with us this hour, live. andrea, it's good to see you this friday. i know you covered feinstein throu

we are dedicating the majority of tonight's newscast to dianne feinstein, remembering the impact she almost immeasurable in many respects. all day today, people have come by feinstein's san francisco home to leave flowers and share memories of the impact she had on their lives. you can see the growing memorial in this live picture in washington, d.c. on the senate floor finds stein was her seat was draped in black cloth on it, a vase holding a bouquet of white roses on her desk there in the chamber. let's begin. our team coverage with abc7 news reporter cornell bernard. >> yeah, he is live at san francisco city hall. cornell yeah, almond dan mayor london breed sending her condolences. >> she says you can't think of san francisco without thinking of senator dianne feinstein. and that's why flags here at city hall are at half staff today in memory of the late senator. it's where she once served as mayor during a

that was dianne feinstein then, and that was that long ago. t admirer. >> in the 1970s, while serving as the first female president of the board of supervisors, feinstein ran twice for mayor but lost. she had decided not to run again when tragedy struck the city. >> it's been seven hours now since that 38 caliber pistol went off, nine times and took the lives of the two leaders. >> both mayor moscone and supervisor harvey milk have been shot and killed. >> the tragic assassination of san francisco mayor george moscone by supervisor dan white in 1978 put feinstein in the job . in 1979, feinstein won her first full term as mayor and began reshaping the city during the decade she served. she survived a recall attempt, led mostly by detractors of her proposal to ban handguns in san francisco, oversaw the remaking of the city's skyline, which some decried as the manhattanization of san francisco oversaw a raucous 1984 democratic national convention and saved the city's cable car system. >> the cable cars still running because of dianne feinstein ros