Former Rep. Jim Wright (D-Texas), the first Speaker to resign the post amid ethics allegations, has died at the age of 92, according to reports.
Wright’s cause of death has not been disclosed, although USA Today reports that he battled cancer twice, most recently in 2009.
He served more than 34 years in the House, including 10 as House majority leader and his final two and a half years as Speaker. Wright took over for Speaker Tip O’Neill (D-Mass.) after his retirement in 1987.
{mosads}Wright resigned in 1989 after a House Ethics Committee found reason to believe he broke a number of rules. The committee accused him of accepting improper gifts and circumventing limits on outside income, citing royalties from the sale of his memoir.
In office, he represented a Fort Worth-area district. He successfully lobbied for the Wright Amendment, which restricted flights out of Dallas Love Field up until 2014. That led to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport taking a lion’s share of flights in the metropolitan area. The law expired last year.
The former congressman also served in the Air Force during World War II, earning a Distinguished Flying Cross for his service in the South Pacific.
Tributes poured in for the former Speaker on Wednesday.
President Obama called Wright a “committed public leader” in a statement and also praised his military service.
“As a Representative from Texas and Speaker of the House, Jim was passionate about investing in infrastructure, and he worked tirelessly to promote peace in Central America,” he said.
“Today, our thoughts and prayers are with Jim’s family and friends, and the people he represented in Congress for so many years.”
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) mourned Wright’s death in a statement, calling him “one of America’s most distinguished and dedicated public servants.
“Speaker Wright’s strong, decisive leadership built an indelible legacy of progress, not only in his beloved state of Texas, but around the world,” she said.
“Jim Wright was a patriot who held the respect of friends and colleagues on both sides of the aisle. He never stopped serving our country, and his achievements will stand forever as a living monument to his determined vision and legendary ability.”
This story was updated at 4:30 p.m.