Orrin Hatch was a Republican U.S. senator from Utah, the longest-serving Republican in U.S. Senate history and the longest-serving senator from Utah in Senate history.
- Died: April 23, 2022 (Who else died on April 23?)
- Details of death: Died in Salt Lake City at the age of 88.
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42-year career
Hatch’s seven terms in the Senate began in 1977 and continued until his retirement in 2019. He served as Senate President pro tempore from 2015 to 2019 and chaired the Senate Finance, Judicial, and Labor committees over his years in office. Many of the bills authored by Hatch became law, including the 2017 GOP tax reform bill. Hatch was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2018.
Hatch’s positions and accomplishments
Hatch, who had been working as a lawyer, won election to the Senate on his first attempt. Campaigning against a three-term Democratic incumbent, he championed the idea of term limits, a policy he reversed on over the course of his seven terms in office. Among his key goals was a balanced budget amendment, which he sponsored 17 times in an attempt to ensure that governmental spending not exceed receipts. More successful was the legislation he co-sponsored that led to the Children’s Health Insurance Program and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Hatch was a fierce defender of intellectual property rights and a champion of conservative federal judges.
Notable quote
“When we hearken to our better angels – when we listen to the voices of civility and reason to our better nature – we can transcend the tribalism of our time. That we may do so is my humble prayer.” –from Hatch’s farewell address to the Senate
Tributes to Orrin Hatch
Full obituary: The Salt Lake Tribune
