Former UN Ambassador, Oklahoman, Kirkpatrick Dead At 80

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Former UN ambassador and Oklahoma native Jeane Kirkpatrick has died. <br/><br/>An aide says the 80-year-old Kirkpatrick died in her sleep at home in Bethesda, Maryland. The cause of death

Friday, December 8th 2006, 10:03 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Former UN ambassador and Oklahoma native Jeane Kirkpatrick has died.

An aide says the 80-year-old Kirkpatrick died in her sleep at home in Bethesda, Maryland. The cause of death isn't yet known but her health had apparently been in decline recently.

She was born in Duncan and was a Democrat before switching to the Republican party.

She was appointed by Ronald Reagan to the UN post.

Her passing was mourned at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative-oriented think tank where Kirkpatrick was a senior fellow.

A colleague called her ``always insightful'' and ``always interesting.''