Obama, Clinton praise Mario Cuomo

President Obama and former president Bill Clinton are paying tribute to former New York governor Mario Cuomo in the wake of his death Thursday.

"An Italian Catholic kid from Queens, born to immigrant parents, Mario paired his faith in God and faith in America to live a life of public service — and we are all better for it," Obama said in a written statement.

Obama described Cuomo as "a determined champion of progressive values, and an unflinching voice for tolerance, inclusiveness, fairness, dignity and opportunity. His own story taught him that as Americans, we are bound together as one people, and our country's success rests on the success of all of us, not just a fortunate few."

Obama also phoned condolences to Cuomo's son, current New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

In a joint statement, Bill Clinton and ex-secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton called Cuomo "the very embodiment of the American dream."

Bill Clinton's presidential candidacy in 1992 received a major boost when Cuomo decided not to run. Cuomo later gave a major speech on Clinton's behalf.

"When he placed my name in nomination at the 1992 Democratic Convention, he said government had 'the solemn obligation to create opportunity for all our people,'" said the Clinton statement. "In his three terms as Governor of New York, he honored that obligation. It was Mario Cuomo's great gift and our good fortune that he was both a sterling orator and a passionate public servant. His life was a blessing."