BREAKING: Senator Orrin Hatch dies after serving 42 years

The Hatch Foundation announced on Saturday that former Republican Senator Orrin G. Hatch died on Saturday. He was former President Pro Tempore of the US Senate, and has the distinction of having been the longest serving senator in the history of Utah, the state he served from 1977 to 2019.

The Foundation stated that Hatch was surrounded by his loving family at the time of his death on Saturday afternoon, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is survived by his wife Elaine along with their six children. Hatch served during the terms of seven presidents.

"Senator Orrin G. Hatch personified the American Dream," said Matt Sandgren, Executive Director of the Hatch Foundation.

"Born the son of a carpenter and plaster lather, he overcame the poverty of his youth to become a United States Senator. With the hardships of his upbringing always fresh in his mind, he made it his life’s mission to expand freedom and opportunity for others—and the results speak for themselves. From tax and trade to religious liberty and healthcare, few legislators have had a greater impact on American life than Orrin Hatch. He was a profoundly positive influence in the lives of those he served, whether they were the constituents he helped over four decades of casework, the hundreds of interns he sponsored in both Utah and DC, or the robust network of Hatch staffers who carry on his legacy to this day. Senator Hatch touched the hearts of countless individuals, and I know I speak for all of them when I say he will be dearly missed."

"A man of wisdom, kindness, character, and compassion, Orrin G. Hatch was everything a United States Senator should be,” said A. Scott Anderson, Chairman of the Hatch Foundation.

"He exemplified a generation of lawmakers brought up on the principles of comity and compromise, and he embodied those principles better than anyone. In a nation divided, Orrin Hatch helped show us a better way by forging meaningful friendships on both sides of the aisle. Today, more than ever, we would do well to follow his example. May we honor Orrin’s memory by living as he lived—committed to our country, to our principles, and to each other."

The Hatch Foundation notes that among his honors, Hatch "received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from the President of the United States and numerous other awards and honors over the years, including 14 honorary degrees from institutions such as the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Maryland, Pepperdine University, the University of Utah, and Utah State University. In addition to honorary degrees, Senator Hatch received the National Intelligence Distinguished Public Service Medal from the Director of National Intelligence, Gold and Platinum Records from the Recording Industry Association of America for songs that he co-authored, the Canterbury Medal from The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty."