OBIT

Warren Christopher, Clinton’s Secretary of State, Dies

Clinton’s secretary of State negotiated ’81 hostage release.

Warren Christopher, the longtime political operative who served as secretary of State during Bill Clinton's first term, died Friday in Los Angeles from complications of bladder and kidney cancer. He was 85. Christopher was born in North Dakota and moved to his longtime home, Los Angeles, at a young age. In World War II, he served as ensign in the naval reserve on an oil tanker in the Pacific—although later in life as a diplomat, Christopher was often reluctant to use force. As deputy secretary of State, Christopher became the chief negotiator with Iran for the release of 52 American hostages. After a stint as secretary of State in Clinton’s first term, Christopher served as the overseer for the Florida election recount in 2000 before the Supreme Court stepped in and took over control.