Colin Powell – latest: Fox News under fire for coverage as tributes paid to first Black secretary of state
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Your support makes all the difference.Colin Powell, the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the first Black US Secretary of State has died following complications from Covid-19.
The 84-year-old served in numerous Republican administrations, helping to shape American foreign policy for decades.
“General Colin L Powell, former US Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, passed away this morning due to complications from Covid 19,” the Powell family wrote in a statement on Facebook.
“We have lost a remarkable and loving husband, father, grandfather and a great American,” they added.
The family said that Gen Powell was fully vaccinated.
He served in combat during the Vietnam War and later became the first Black national security adviser in the administration of President Ronald Reagan. When Mr Reagan’s Vice President George HW Bush took over, Gen Powell became the youngest and first African American chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Gen Powell would later say that pushing faulty intelligence at the United Nations to advocate for the Iraq War as George W Bush’s Secretary of State was a “blot” on his record.
George W Bush leads Colin Powell tributes after ex-secretary of state dies
Tributes to General Colin Powell, the first Black man to hold the posts of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State, flowed in from across the world as news broke of his death on Monday.
In a statement announcing his passing from complications due to Covid-19, his family wrote: “We have lost a remarkable and loving husband, father, grandfather and a great American”.
Former President George W Bush, who selected Gen Powell to be his Secretary of State after winning the 2000 presidential election, said in a statement that he and former First Lady Laura Bush were both “deeply saddened” by his passing.“
He was a great public servant starting with his time as a soldier during Vietnam.
Many presidents relied on General Powell’s counsel and expertise….he was such a favourite of presidents that he earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice,” Mr Bush wrote.
“He was highly respected at home and abroad, and — most important — Colin was a family man and a friend.”
Read more:
Bush leads Colin Powell tributes after ex-secretary of state dies
Tributes to General Colin Powell, the first Black man to hold the posts of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State, flowed in from across the world as news broke of his death on Monday.
Stacey Abrams: Powell ‘led with integrity, admitted fallibility and defended democracy'
The Democratic nominee for Georgia governor in 2018, Stacey Abrams, paid tribute to Secretary Powell following his death from Covid-19.
Colin Powell death: Fully vaccinated former secretary of state dies from Covid complications aged 84
Former Secretary of State Colin L Powell died of complications from Covid-19 despite being fully vaccinated, his family said in a statement on his Facebook.
Mr Powell, the son of Jamaican immigrants, was one of the most decorated military officials and served in multiple Republican administrations, including as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for President George H W Bush during the Persian Gulf War and Secretary of State for George W Bush.
“We have lost a remarkable and loving husband, father, grandfather and a great American,” his family said in a statement.
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