Former US treasury secretary Paul O'Neill, who served under George W. Bush, died on Saturday (April 18) at the age of 84 after a battle with cancer, his alma mater Indiana University announced.
O'Neill, who died in Pittsburgh, was "known for his unflinching integrity, his data-driven approach to decision-making and his strong commitment to public service," IU said in a statement.
The straight-talking secretary lasted less than two years at the Treasury during Bush's first term in officehe was fired after a public spat with the administration in December 2002. He later became the subject and key source for Ron Suskind's book The Price Of Loyalty: George W. Bush, The White House, And The Education Of Paul O'Neill, which offered a damning look at the Bush administration.
"Through my book he spoke truth to the world about no WMD in Iraq, Cheney's seizure of power and Bush's fecklessness," Suskind wrote on Twitter. "He was a believer in truth that's what got him fired and a true American hero. Farewell old friend."
Current Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin tweeted that O'Neill had served America "with distinction during challenging times."
A Little About The Life Of Paul O'Neill (Biography)
O'Neill, who was born in St Louis, was an old political hand, having serving in high-ranking posts in the US government budget office under Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. He left politics when Jimmy Carter was elected for a life in the private sector, serving as president of International Paper and chief executive officer of industrial giant Alcoa.
In 2019, he donated US$30 million (S$40 million) to his alma mater, which renamed its school of public affairs in his honor.
O'Neill is survived by his wife, four children, 12 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.