Alexander Haig, the former Secretary of State died at the age of 85. He had been admitted to hospital recently due to an infection. He was a distinguished statesman who had served as a longtime adviser to U.S. presidents like Nixon, Ford, and Reagan. Haig was a four-star general who had served in Korea and Vietnam.  Despite his association with various scandals and delivering controversial sound bytes, he was a popular figure at the White House. He had made a bid for being the U.S. president in 1988. "I think of him as a patriot's patriot," said George P. Shultz, who succeeded Haig as the country's top diplomat in 1982."No matter how you sliced him it came out red, white and blue. He was always willing to serve." Shultz is quoted by AP. U.S. president Barack Obama praised Haig as a public servant who "exemplified our finest warrior-diplomat tradition of those who dedicate their lives to public service." Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Haig "served his country in many capacities for many years, earning honor on the battlefield, the confidence of presidents and prime ministers, and the thanks of a grateful nation."