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Jay Rockefeller, a longtime U.S. senator and former governor of West Virginia, died Friday (November 6) at his home in Washington, D.C., at the age of 89. According to a Washington Post report, his family did not disclose a cause of death.
Rockefeller, an heir to the Rockefeller oil fortune, served five six-year terms in the U.S. Senate after two terms as governor, dedicating more than five decades to public service. As noted by NBC News, he became known for championing healthcare access for the poor, defending retired coal miners' benefits, and working to expand medical coverage for children.
During his time in Congress, Rockefeller was involved in shaping the 1997 program that helps states provide health insurance for millions of uninsured children and supported both President Bill Clinton’s and President Barack Obama’s efforts to overhaul healthcare. He also advocated for the regulation of emissions from coal-fired power plants and worked to bring major investment, such as Toyota, to West Virginia, creating thousands of jobs, according to WCHS-TV.
Rockefeller initially voted in favor of authorizing the Iraq War in 2002 but later expressed regret. As chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, he accused President George W. Bush’s administration of misleading the nation about the reasons for the war, stating, as reported by NBC News, that the administration took the nation to war on "false premises."
His legacy includes work on tax reform, social welfare, and national security, as well as leading several key Senate committees throughout his career. He is survived by his wife, Sharon Percy Rockefeller, their four children, and nine grandchildren.
West Virginia leaders, including Senator Shelley Moore Capito and Governor Patrick Morrisey, praised Rockefeller’s decades of service and lasting impact on the state, as mentioned by WCHS-TV.