Ah, leading voice on the American political rights since the 19 eighties, has died at age 70.

Limbaugh had announced in February of last year that he had been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer.

Rush Limbaugh.

He was an ardent supporter of former President Donald Trump, who awarded Limbaugh the highest US civilian honor the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

One day after the radio star announced his diagnosis, I will now ask the first lady of the United States to present you with the honor.

Please.

Limbaugh espoused an unflinchingly populist brand of conservatism to his listeners, whom he called Dittoheads.

During a daily syndicated show broadcast on more than 600 radio stations nationwide.

He railed against left wing causes from global warming to health care reform as he helped shape the Republican Party's agenda in the media and mobilize its grassroots supporters.

Here's Trump on Limbaugh's show in October of last year, the two lamenting how a report looking into the origins of the Russia probe would not be ready by the November 2020 presidential election.

This is disappointing, I cannot tell you.

When was this announced Rush?

I think I've got the story here in the snack I thought it was.

I think it's terrible, fairly recently that I think it's terrible.

Limbaugh also ridiculed mainstream news outlets and relish the controversies often sparked by his on air commentary.

Detractors like liberal former Senator Al Franken, also a former comedian who wrote a book titled Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot, and other observations criticized him as a divisive figure who distorted fax.

Still, his success helped spawn a new class of right wing pundits such as Bill O'Reilly, Glenn Beck and Alex Jones.

Limbaugh had experienced a variety of medical problems over the years, including a loss of hearing reversed by a cock clear implant, as well as an addiction to prescription painkillers that landed him in rehab in 2003.