Former Washington D.C. mayor Marion Barry -- who became nationally famous after an epic cocaine bust that did not derail his career -- died Sunday morning at 78.

Barry served 4 terms as Mayor, but his defining moment for most people is what he did in a hotel room during his tenure ... smoking crack with a young woman as FBI barged in the room and he screamed, "She set me up!"

Barry -- who was a folk hero in D.C. -- became the butt of jokes and almost a staple on shows like "SNL."

But after serving time for drug possession, he became mayor once again. He served 4 times in all.

Barry became an paradigm of politicians would could do wrong yet still remain popular with the electorate.

Cause of death has not been disclosed.

Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2014/11/23/marion...#ixzz3JuRWnhea