Former Defense Secretary Robert M. Gate fell at his lakefront home in Washington state on New Year's Day and fractured his first vertebrae, according to  a statement from his office cited in Politico.

Gates, 70, was hospitalized overnight and went home with a neck brace on Thursday, his office said.

Gates plans to go ahead with a book tour to promote the release of his memoir, "Duty," on Jan. 14, according to the statement.

Gates served as secretary of defense under both President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama. He retired in 2011.

"In a remarkable public career, the Kansas native served eight presidents, including holding the post of CIA director under President George H.W. Bush, and was president of Texas A&M University before heading the Pentagon," according to Politico.

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Georgia Sens. Jon Ossoff (left) and Raphael Warnock — along with the other 45 members in the Democratic caucus — opposed the reconciliation bill that passed the Senate on Tuesday. The wide-ranging package extends tax cuts and slashes federal spending on safety net programs. (Ben Hendren for the AJC 2024)

Credit: Ben Hendren for the AJC