Billionaire and former presidential candidate Ross Perot is dead at 89 - CNBC

This 1992 file photo shows presidential hopeful H. Ross Perot at a rally in Austin, Texas.

AP

Billionaire philanthropist and independent presidential candidate Ross Perot is dead at 89, CNBC has confirmed.

Perot, who ran for president twice in 1992 and 1996, died after a five-month battle with leukemia, said James Fuller, a representative for the Perot family.

"In business and in life, Ross was a man of integrity and action. A true American patriot and a man of rare vision, principle and deep compassion, he touched the lives of countless people through his unwavering support of the military and veterans and through his charitable endeavors," Fuller said in a statement.

Perot is survived by his wife, Margot, his five children and 16 grandchildren.

Perot was an early tech entrepreneur. He started his career in sales at IBM, where he excelled. In 1962, he founded his first company, Electronic Data Systems, with just $1,000 in savings. More than two decades later, he launched information technology services provider Perot Systems, which was acquired in 2009 by Dell for $3.9 billion.

1968: American businessman H. Ross Perot holding a business machine manufactured by his company, Electronic Data Systems, Dallas, Texas.

Shel Hershorn | Getty Images

As a disruptive third-party candidate for president, Perot ran on a platform of fiscal responsibility and protectionism. He won nearly 19% of the vote in the 1992 race — by far the biggest slice of the electorate for a third-party candidate since Theodore Roosevelt's Bull Moose Party in the 1912 election.

Perot stood out from the political crowd for his quirks as much as his business credentials and lack of experience in establishment politics.  "I don't have any experience in running up a $4 trillion debt. I don't have any experience in gridlock government, where nobody takes responsibility for anything and everybody blames everybody else," he said in a 1992 presidential debate.

Perot participated in all three presidential debates in that election, and took a non-traditional campaign route by booking lengthy time slots on network television to lay out his political views. 

Perot was a veteran, and followed his service with a lifetime commitment to supporting U.S. veterans, especially during the Vietnam War. He was honored in 2009 by then-Veteran Affairs Secretary James Peake for his advocacy efforts.

Presidential candidate Ross Perot speaks during the 1992 Presidential Debates.

Wally McNamee | Corbis Historical | Getty Images

Former President George W. Bush said in a statement to NBC News that  "Texas and America have lost a strong patriot" in Perot.

"Ross Perot epitomized the entrepreneurial spirit and the American creed. He gave selflessly of his time and resources to help others in our community, across our country, and around the world. He loved the U.S. military and supported our service members and veterans. Most importantly, he loved his dear wife, children, and grandchildren. Laura and I send our heartfelt condolences to the entire Perot family as they celebrate a full life," Bush said.

In his final interview with the Dallas News in 2016, Perot shrugged off a question about his legacy, saying "Aw, I don't worry about that."

His parting words in that interview, however, were well-considered:  "Texas born. Texas bred. When I die, I'll be Texas dead. Ha!"

This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.

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https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/09/billionaire-and-former-presidential-candidate-ross-perot-is-dead-at-89.html

2019-07-09 14:19:08Z
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