Phil Jones, a correspondent for CBS News for over 30 years, has died. He was 87 years old.

Jones died at his home in Florida over the weekend. He leaves behind a son, Paul, and a daughter, Pam.

The tenacious reporter joined CBS News in 1969, at a time when Walter Cronkite anchored the CBS Evening News. Jones was considered one of “Cronkite’s children.” Soon after joining CBS, Jones won an Emmy for his coverage of the Vietnam War.

Jones was best known for his coverage of the political struggles in Washington, starting with Watergate and then serving as White House correspondent during the Ford administration. Jones also covered the impeachment of then-President Bill Clinton.

He was a dogged reporter who followed a story wherever it led. As a correspondent for “48 Hours,” Jones rode a mule through Burma to hunt down a drug lord.

Colleague Eric Engberg described Jones’ impact when he retired in 2001 after 32 years at CBS News.

“Every lying, scheming, thieving and whining politician in Washington will sleep better with you gone,” Engberg said at the time.