Obituaries

John Warner, Former Virginia Senator, Dies At Age 94

John Warner, the five-term U.S. senator from Virginia who was once married to actress Elizabeth Taylor, has died in Alexandria at 94.

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John Warner married actress Elizabeth Taylor in 1976, the year of the Bicentennial, a marriage that made headlines around the world. Taylor campaigned with Warner, a Republican, during his first campaign for Senate in 1978. They divorced in 1982.
John Warner married actress Elizabeth Taylor in 1976, the year of the Bicentennial, a marriage that made headlines around the world. Taylor campaigned with Warner, a Republican, during his first campaign for Senate in 1978. They divorced in 1982. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

ALEXANDRIA, VA — John Warner, the five-term U.S. senator from Virginia who was married to actress Elizabeth Taylor, has died in Alexandria at 94.

Warner, who was born and grew up in Washington, D.C., died of heart failure, according to reports.

A World War II and Korean War veteran, Warner was appointed under-secretary of the Navy in the Nixon administration. While in the Senate, he served as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee from 1999 to 2001 and again from 2003 to 2007.

“Virginia, and America, have lost a giant," Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said in a statement Wednesday. "As a sailor, a senator, a statesman, and a gentleman, former U.S. Senator John Warner spent his life in public service. A World War II veteran of the Navy, he served as Secretary of the Navy, led the Senate Armed Services Committee, and was a respected voice in Washington on military affairs."

In 2003, Warner married Jeanne Vander Myde. Warner had three children, Mary, Virginia and John.

"Our prayers for comfort go out to his wife Jeanne, his three children, grandchildren, scores of friends, and all those who loved him," Northam said.

In honor of Warner, Northam ordered that the Virginia state flag be flown at half-staff over the Virginia Capitol on the day of his funeral.

“John Warner was a consummate statesman and a public servant who always put Virginia before politics; who put the nation’s security before partisanship; who put the country’s needs above his own," U.S. Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia said in a statement Wednesday.

John Warner did not seek re-election in 2008 and was succeeded by Mark Warner, a Democrat who is no relation.

Warner married Taylor in 1976, the year of the Bicentennial, a marriage that made headlines around the word. Taylor was in the middle of her divorce to actor Richard Burton when she met Warner.

When Queen Elizabeth visited the White House, a blind date for the event was arranged for Warner to escort Taylor. Five months later, they were married in December 1976 at Warner's historic Virginia farm.

Taylor helped Warner campaign for his first run for the Senate in 1978. Although Warner lost the Republican Party's nomination to Richard Obenshain, he later became the candidate after Obenshain died in a plane crash. Through his movie-star looks and marriage to Taylor, Warner became known in Washington as the senator from central casting.

John Warner married Elizabeth Taylor in December 1976. Photographers snapped shots of them at a disco, with Warner holding a pipe, in New York City in 1978. (Central Press/Getty Images)

Taylor spent a lot of time at their farm in Virginia and became well known to the locals in Middleburg where she was often seen shopping and running errands. During her acting career, Taylor was often called "the most beautiful woman in the world."

The couple divorced in 1982. Taylor died in 2011 at the age of 79.

Prior to his marriage to Taylor, Warner was married to Catherine Mellon, a member of the super-wealthy and influential Mellon family. As part of their divorce in 1973, Warner received a $7 million settlement, including the 2,100-acre estate, Atoka Farm, in Fauquier County.

Mark Warner challenged John Warner for the Virginia Senate seat in 1996 and lost. "I’ve often said since that the right Warner won that race," Mark Warner said in his statement. "And one way that I know that is that even though we came from different political parties — even though we ran spirited, albeit respectful, campaigns that year — as soon as the election was called, it was over."

"And even though John Warner was already a towering institution in Virginia politics, and I was just some young upstart, he allowed me to become his friend," Mark Warner said. "I felt then, as I do today, incredibly privileged."

Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson said in a statement that Warner "was a towering statesman, committed to Virginia and our nation’s security."

"He dearly loved Alexandria and never missed a parade. Here he is finishing our Scottish Christmas Walk in 2019," Wilson tweeted.

Virginia's other senator, Tim Kaine (D), said Wednesday that he considers it a "deep honor" to serve on the Senate Armed Forces Committee as Warner did. Kaine often reached out to Warner for advice when he served as governor of Virginia and as a U.S. senator.

"Not having John Warner to go to leaves a big hole in my life," Kaine said. "But we can all celebrate a public servant who stood in principle, made us proud and exemplified the best of what politics can be."

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