Former Alaska senator Mike Gravel dies at age 91

Mike Gravel, a former US senator from Alaska who read the Pentagon Papers into the Congressional Record and confronted Barack Obama about nuclear weapons during a later presidential run, has died at age 91.

We are sad to announce that Senator Mike Gravel passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, at his home in Seaside, California. He was 91, and had lived the fullest live anyone could have ever wanted. We will miss him every day. pic.twitter.com/wLXLzMbgZT

— Gravel Institute (@GravelInstitute) June 27, 2021

Gravel represented Alaska as a Democrat in the Senate from 1969 to 1981.

He had been living in Seaside, California, and was in failing health.