Art Buchwald dies

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Columnist and author Art Buchwald, who for more than four decades chronicled the life and times of Washington with an infectious wit and endeared himself to many with his never-say-die battle with failing kidneys, is dead at 81.

Buchwald's son, Joel, who was with his father, disclosed the satirist's death, saying he had passed away quietly at his home late Wednesday with his family.

Buchwald had refused dialysis treatments for his failing kidneys last year and was expected to die within weeks of moving to a hospice on Feb. 7. But he lived to return home and even write a book about his experiences.

''The last year he had the opportunity for a victory lap and I think he was really grateful for it,'' Joel Buchwald said. ''He had an opportunity to write his book about his experience and he went out the way he wanted to go, on his own terms.''

Neither Buchwald nor his doctors could explain how he survived in such grave condition, and he didn't seem to mind.