SALT LAKE CITY ( Associated Press) – A procession of family, friends and colleagues commemorates the late U.S. Sen. Orin G. Hatch, which is lying in state in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday.
Hatch died on April 23 in Salt Lake City From complications resulting from a stroke at the age of 88. A wide range of relatives, legal clients, campaign staff, constituents and a friend of the mission who served for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1954 paid their respects at an open-casket ceremony held in the marble rotunda Did. -Flored Utah Capital.
Hatch’s funeral is scheduled for Friday at the Latter-day Saints Chapel in Salt Lake City.
Born into poverty in Pennsylvania, Orrin Hatch rose to the ranks of one of the top echelon of politics, representing Utah in the Senate for more than four decades and at one time serving as the chamber’s president pro tempore, the president. Ranked third in the line of succession to the post.
Hatch ended his seven-term term as the Senate’s longest-serving Republican in 2019. South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond served for a long time, yet only part of his term was due to party-switching as a Republican.
Hatch was known as a staunch conservative to constituents and allies who opposed abortion, took a special interest in the Supreme Court, and supported tax and spending cuts. Throughout his career as a senator, he repeatedly negotiated policies with Democrats, including protections for people with disabilities, health insurance for children, and their nominees for the Supreme Court. According to his son, Brent Hatch, as one-time chairman and longtime member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he was part of the confirmation processes for more than half of federal judges in American history.
A staunch opponent of abortion, Hatch helped shape the current court structure, which consists of six judges nominated by Republican presidents and three judges nominated by Democratic presidents. He endorsed judges nominated by both Republican and Democratic presidents, including Justices Clarence Thomas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer.
“He understood how important the judiciary was,” said Brent Hatch.
In his last term in office before deciding not to run for re-election in 2018, Hatch became a close ally of President Donald Trump, helping Cowboy pass a major rewrite of the tax code and two in Utah. Worked on reducing national monuments, which had long been a top priority for state Republicans.
Hatch was also known for his side career as a singer and recording artist of music with themes from his religious faith, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He is survived by his wife Elaine and their six children.
Brent Hatch said the family chose to capture Hatch’s lie at the state ceremony in Utah—rather than Washington, D.C., like his recently deceased colleagues sans Harry Reid, D-Nevada, and Bob Dole, R-Kansas. – in recognition of their commitment to their constituents.
He said he heard a lot of stories over the past week and a half about people’s encounters with his father, both on a political and personal level, where he offered advice and encouragement to constituents beyond politics.
Mark and Chris Egan of Salt Lake City said Hatch’s friendship lasted for decades, including their friendship. Before the elected senator, then-attorney Hatch helped the couple adopt their son, Mark Egan said.
“He was sympathetic, sympathetic, concerned and did a good job,” Egan said.
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