Lawmakers and others are paying tribute to Orrin Hatch, a longtime former Republican Utah senator, after he died at the age of 88.
The Hatch Foundation announced Hatch passed away at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday in Salt Lake City, Utah, surrounded by family.
“Senator Orrin G. Hatch personified the American Dream,” Matt Sandgren, executive director of the Hatch Foundation, said.
Sandgren explained Hatch “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.”
A. Scott Anderson, chairman of the Hatch Foundation, called Hatch a “man of wisdom, kindness, character, and compassion.”
The foundation noted Hatch was the longest-serving Senator in the history of Utah. Additionally, he was the longest-serving Republican senator in the history of the United States, as CNN noted.
President Joe Biden paid tribute to Hatch on Twitter.
“During his historic tenure in the Senate, Orrin Hatch was a leader of deep faith who looked out for the people who often didn’t have a voice in our laws,” Biden wrote.
He added, “Jill and I are saddened to learn of his passing and we send our deepest sympathies to Elaine and the entire Hatch family.”
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) called Hatch a “kind and generous man who loved the people of Utah,” adding, “He truly lived a life of service. God bless the Hatch family and their loved ones.”
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) tweeted, “Sad to learn of the passing of my friend Orrin Hatch /I worked closely w Senator Hatch for 40yrs on the +20 yrs on Finance we had a very good friendship he has contributed so much to public policy and for the ppl of Utah Barbara and I send our sympathies to his family.”
Check out more tributes below:
He is survived by his wife, Elaine, and their six children.