US politician and activist Sargent Shriver dies aged 95

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Thursday, January 20, 2011

Sargent Shriver: 1915-2011

Sargent Shriver, the 21st US Ambassador to France, died Tuesday at the age of 95 in Maryland, of complications from Alzheimer's disease. He served as the ambassador to France under US Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard Nixon. Shriver was born Robert Sargent Shriver, Jr. on November 9, 1915 in Westminster, Maryland. He also served in the US Navy during World War II.

Shriver was a candidate for Vice President of the United States with former US Senator George McGovern in 1972 when McGovern's first pick, Thomas Eagleton resigned from the Democratic ticket. He and McGovern lost the election to Nixon and Agnew.

Shriver's wife, Eunice Kennedy Shriver died in August 2009 and two weeks later, brother-in-law Senator Ted Kennedy died on August 25, 2009.

Shriver is survived by his children, Robert III, Maria, Timothy, Mark, and Anthony.

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