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October 31, 2018 News » Cover Story

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    Orrin You Glad I'm Leaving?
    Remembering Orrin Hatch's reign at the (merciful) end of his 41-year senatorial career.
    By Kelan Lyons

    In his first U.S. Senate campaign, Orrin Hatch castigated his incumbent opponent with a joke: "What do you call a senator who's served in office for 18 years? You call him home."

    Hatch won that race in 1976. More than four decades later, he's still serving.

    Hatch—a walking, breathing, living (?) argument for term limits—is calling himself home at the end of this year, ending the political career of the longest-serving Republican senator in U.S. history. It's difficult to conceptualize just how long 41 years is, so City Weekly is eulogizing Hatch's run with a list of fads, inventions and cultural touchstones that his politicking has outlived.

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    Thing: Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
    Year: 1977
    How long Hatch had been in office by that time: 4 months
    Notable event from that year: Elvis' death.

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    Thing: Sony Walkman
    Year: First released in 1979
    How long Hatch had been in office by that time: 2 years
    Notable event from that year: Iran Hostage Crisis.

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    Thing: Care Bears
    Year: First painted in 1981
    How long Hatch had been in office by that time: 4 years
    Notable event from that year: Sandra Day O'Connor becomes first female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.

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    Thing: Nintendo Entertainment System
    Year: Released in North America in 1985
    How long Hatch had been in office by that time: 8 years
    Notable event from that year: Route 66 is removed from the U.S. highway system.

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    Thing: Straight Outta Compton, NWA's first album
    Year: 1988
    How long Hatch had been in office by that time: 11 years (he probably hasn't listened to it)
    Notable event from that year: George H.W. Bush is elected president.

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    Thing: Friends TV show
    Year: Premiered in 1994
    How long Hatch had been in office by that time: 17 years
    Notable event from that year: Nelson Mandela becomes president of South Africa.

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    Thing: Pokémon cards
    Year: Released in the U.S. in 1999
    How long Hatch had been in office by that time: 22 years
    Notable event from that year: Senate acquits Bill Clinton.

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    Thing: Crocs foam clogs
    Year: First public appearance in 2002
    How long Hatch had been in office by that time: 25 years
    Notable event from that year: Salt Lake City hosts the Winter Olympics.

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    Thing: Straight Outta Compton, the movie
    Year: Released in 2015
    How Long Hatch had been in office by that time: 38 years
    Notable event from that year: Supreme Court legalizes same-sex marriage.

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    Thing: Pokémon Go
    Year: Released in 2016
    How long Hatch had been in office by that time: 39 years
    Notable event from that year: Donald Trump is the 45th man elected president of the United States.

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