Michael Keith Deaver, Vice Chairman of Edelman PR, died today of pancreatic cancer at his home in Bethesda, Md. He was 69.

Deaver's family said in the statement that he fought his cancer "with the courage, grace and good spirit that he carried throughout his life."

Born in Bakersfield, California, April 11, 1938, Deaver was the son of a Shell Oil Co. distributor. He received his bachelor's degree in political science from San Jose State College. He worked for IBM, served in the Air Force and later was executive director of the Santa Clara County Republican Party. In 1966, he was part of the gubernatorial staff during Ronald Reagan's term as governor of California. In 1980 he was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff under President Reagan.

As Deputy White House Chief of Staff Deaver worked primarily on media management. Under investigation he resigned from the White House staff in May 1985. He was later convicted on three of five counts of perjury stemming from statements to a congressional subcommittee and a federal grand jury investigating his lobbying activities with administration officials. He subsequently formed Michael K. Deaver, Inc. and became an influential lobbyist. In 1995 he joined Edelman PR, the world's largest independent public relations firm.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn, and their two children, Amanda Deaver of Washington and Blair Deaver of Bend, Oregon.