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Friday, March 29, 2024

Walter Mondale dead at 93

Former US vice-president Walter Mondale has died agedĀ 93.

The death of the former senator, ambassador and Minnesota attorney-general was announced in a statement by his family. No cause of death was cited.

US President Joe Biden has remembered Mr Mondale as one of the US’s “most dedicated patriots and public servants, a dear friend and mentor”.

In a statement the President said that when he arrived in the US Senate in 1973, Mr Mondale had been one of the first people to greet him.

“Through his work as a Senator, he showed me what was possible,” President Biden said.

“He may have been modest and unassuming in manner, but he was unwavering in his pursuit of progress; instrumental in passing laws like the Fair Housing Act to prevent racial discrimination in housing, Title IX to provide more opportunities for women, and laws to protect our environment. There have been few senators, before or since, who commanded such universal respect.

“When President Obama asked me to consider being his Vice President, Fritz was my first call and trusted guide. He not only took my call, he wrote me a memo. It was Walter Mondale who defined the vice presidency as a full partnership, and helped provide a model for my service.”

He said Mr Mondale had not only blazed a trail for himself, but had helped others to do the same.

“Walter Mondale was the first presidential nominee of either party to select a woman as his running mate, and I know how pleased he was to be able to see Kamala Harris become Vice President,” he said.

“In accepting the Democratic Partyā€™s nomination for President, he described the values he was taught to live by: ā€œto play by the rules; to tell the truth; to obey the law; to care for others; to love our country; to cherish our faith.ā€

“As a Senator, an Ambassador, a Vice President, and a candidate for President, he lived and spread those values.Ā 

“Our hearts go out to the Mondale family. And we take some comfort in the fact that he is with Joan and Eleanor now.”

Walter and Joan Mondale were married for nearly 60 years. The couple had three children – Ted, William and Eleanor.

Joan Mondale passed away in 2011 after a battle with cancer.

On Saturday, Mr Mondale sent a note to a group of former staffers which indicated that he knew the end was near.

“Well my time has come,” he wrote. “I am eager to rejoin Joan and Eleanor.”

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