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Washington/New York (dpa) - Jeane Kirkpatrick, a key figure of the Cold War during the Reagan administration who became the first woman to serve as US ambassador to the United Nations, has died. She was 80.
Kirkpatrick's death on Thursday night was announced at a meeting of the US mission at the United Nations Friday. She had been a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank in Washington for decades.
Ronald Reagan had noted her writings advocating tough policies on the Soviet Union and tapped her as his ambassador to the United Nations when he became president in 1981.
She served in the position until 1985 and also was on his National Security Council and a member of his cabinet.
US President George W Bush issued a statement crediting Kirkpatrick for her intellect and desire to defend freedom throughout the world.
"She influenced the thinking of generations of Americans on the importance of American leadership in advancing the cause of freedom and democracy around the globe," Bush said. "She defended the cause of freedom at a pivotal time in world history."
In addition to foreign policy, Kirkpatrick was also a scholar of women's role in politics. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expressed "deep sadness" over her death and credited Kirkpatrick for paving the way for women in the diplomatic ranks, US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.
Rice "looked up to her as a role model, somebody who, as a more senior policymaker and a senior academic, always had time for more junior people, people like Condoleezza Rice, who was then coming up through the ranks of academia," McCormack said.
John Bolton, the outgoing US ambassador to the United Nations, made an emotional appearance with reporters in New York, calling Kirkpatrick's death "very sad for America."
"She spoke clearly for liberty in the world," Bolton said.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said he was saddened to learn of Kirkpatrick's death.
"Always ardent and often provocative, her commitment to an effective UN was clear during her tenure as permanent representative (to the UN) and in her later career," Annan said in a statement.
The cause of Kirkpatrick's death was not disclosed.
Copyright 2006 dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
