Former Senator Orrin Hatch, the longest-serving Republican Senator in U.S. history, died earlier today in Salt Lake City, Utah. His death was reported in a statement by the Hatch Foundation, which he launched after leaving the Senate in 2019. No cause of death was indicated.
Orrin Grant Hatch was born in Homestead, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. His parents were Jesse Hatch and Helen Frances Hatch(née Kamm). Although growing up in poverty, he became the first member of his family to go to college, attending Brigham Young University. He graduated in 1959 with a B.A. in history, and went on to earn a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1962. He worked as an attorney in Pittsburgh before moving to Utah in 1969.
In 1976, Hatch successfully ran for Senator, his first campaign for public office, defeating three-term Democratic incumbent Frank Moss. He eventually served seven terms, retiring in 2019. During his last four years in office, he was the President pro tempore of the Senate.
Hatch was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and served in several positions in the church. He was a founder of the Federalist Society and a member of the board of directors of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. He was also an accomplished musician and songwriter, having played the piano, organ and violin. He made several cameo appearances in movies and TV shows, including the crime drama Traffic, where he and fellow Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) portrayed themselves.
In 1957, Hatch married Elaine Hansen, by whom he is survived, along with their six children.
Read more at Politico, KSL(dot)com, USA Today, KJZZ 14 and The Hill.
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