George P. Shultz, Giant Of 20th Century American Politics, Dies At 100

Secretary of State George Shultz, center, walks with President Reagan and Vice President George Bush on his arrival at the White House in January 1985 after two days of arms talks with the Soviet Union in Geneva. Shultz died Saturday at the age of 100.

Barry Thumma / AP

Former Secretary of State George P. Shultz, who served in four different Cabinet-level posts and helped guide America out of the Cold War, died Saturday evening at his home in California. He was 100.

One of the key figures of 20th century American politics, Shultz served in Cabinet-level positions under two American presidents. For Richard Nixon, he was U.S. secretary of labor, director of the Office of Management and Budget, and secretary of the treasury.

But it’s his role as U.S. secretary of state for Ronald Reagan for which Shultz is most famous. As secretary of state, Shultz was integral in improving relations with the Soviet Union using the tools of diplomacy.