The oldest member of the Senate and the last surviving World War II survivor in the Senate passed away due to complications of viral pneumonia in New York's Presbyterian Hospital at 4:02 am this Monday morning.

89-year-old Senator Frank R. Lautenberg, Democratic Senator from New Jersey, did not serve in politics before his election win to take a Senate seat for his state in 1982. During that election, he ran against 72-year-old moderate Republican Millicent Fenwick, who he portrayed as too old. He won that election with 51% of the vote.

During his years in the Senate, Lautenberg was a staunch anti-smoking, anti-alcohol advocate. In 1984, he pushed through legislation that raised the national drinking age to 21. That measure threatened to cut federal highway funds for states that did not comply. In later years, Lautenberg pushed through the national DUI blood alcohol level of .08.

In 1989, Lautenberg led the fight to ban smoking on all commercial flights. He would later work to ban smoking in all federal buildings.

In 1996, Lautenberg also pushed for and won the ban of firearm possession for anyone convicted of a domestic violence crime.

For his campaigns to retain his senate seat, Lautenberg contributed much of his own money to his campaigns. Lautenberg was a very successful businessman thanks to his development of Automatic Data Processing, a payroll services company, where he held the title of CEO before running for New Jersey’s senate seat.

In response to Lautenberg’s passing, Alaska’s senators released statements. Senator Murkowski said in a brief statement, “With my colleagues and Americans nationwide, I mourn the loss of Senator Frank Lautenberg. He truly was a humble self-made man who plunged himself into every effort he joined – whether through his lifelong commitment to the military he served in WWII, his tremendous success in the private sector, or his Senate career where he had a profound impact on veterans education, domestic violence, international human rights and chemical safety issues.

“I know he enjoyed his time in Alaska whenever he visited and I share my condolences on behalf of my state, as well as our veterans, and salute the loss of a member of the greatest generation.”

Alaska’s Senator Begich had this to say on Senator Lautenberg’s passing:

“Deborah and I were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Senator Frank Lautenberg this morning. The U.S. Senate has lost one of its most distinguished veterans and dedicated public servants.

Senator Lautenberg embodied the American dream: he served his country in World War II, received a college degree on the GI bill and then built a successful company from the ground up that now employs thousands of Americans.

Among many accomplishments, he leaves a legacy of fighting for hard-working American families and will be remembered as a champion for women’s rights. I am honored to have served alongside him in the fight to preserve a woman’s right to choose and to find a bipartisan solution on the Safe Chemicals Act.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time.”

Although Senator Lautenberg was a Democrat, the responsibility for filling his seat will fall to New Jersey’s Governor Chris Christy, a Republican. It is likely that Christy will appoint a Republican to serve out the remainder of Lautenberg’s term. This will give the Republicans 46 senate seats and drop the Democrat-controlled seats to 52.