During his four decades in the Senate, one-time boxer Sen. Orrin Hatch landed powerful punches in almost every big congressional fight over health care, labor, child welfare, the judiciary and tax reform.
His support was often key to passing or torpedoing proposals in those areas, especially as he served either as chairman or ranking minority member of the Finance, Judiciary, Health, Labor and Joint Taxation committees during his career.
In his early career, Hatch first gained national notice for his fights over labor — including blocking efforts for forced unionization — with Sen. Ted Kennedy, whom he later befriended.