Former CIA director, US Cabinet member Schlesinger dies at 85

James Schlesinger, who served three US presidents – Republican and Democrat alike – in the top posts at the CIA, Pentagon and Energy Department, died on Thursday at age 85.

A serious thinker on national security and an executive determined to get things done, Schlesinger headed the Defense Department under Republicans at a time of major change and then, as its first secretary, established the Energy Department from scratch under Democrat Jimmy Carter. (Reuters)