Lautenberg’s death marks the end of an era on Capitol Hill. | John Shinkle/POLITICO Sen. Lautenberg dies at 89

Sen. Frank Lautenberg, a World War II veteran who served nearly three decades in the Senate, died early Monday morning in New York at 89.

The New Jersey Democrat — the oldest member of the Senate — had been ill and was a rarely seen presence in Washington in recent months. He died from complications of viral pneumonia, his office said in a statement.


With a bouquet of flowers placed on his desk, the Senate held a moment of silence in Lautenberg’s honor when it opened Monday afternoon after a week-long recess. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said the Senate would say goodbye to Lautenberg on Wednesday and praised the New Jersey senator’s long service as having contributed directly to saving untold American lives, as he worked to standardize drunk driving laws, ban smoking on airplanes and keep firearms from criminals.

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“Frank Lautenberg took care of my boy and millions of other people that would no longer have to suck in that smoke when they were on an airplane,” Reid said.

Reid also praised Lautenberg’s work ethic, specifically his trips to Washington earlier this year because he “agreed with 90 percent of the American people” on enacting stricter gun background checks. He said Lautenberg was a terrible retiree because “he couldn’t stay away from public service.”

The majority leader asaid he spoke to Lautenberg’s wife on Monday morning shortly after learning about the senator’s death and she told Reid that Lautenberg was sure he’d live to be 100-years-old.

“We owe an outstanding amount of debt for his service,” Reid said. “He loved being in the Senate. And the nation’s going to miss his strength and his progressive leadership.”

Lautenberg’s death marks the end of an era on Capitol Hill and in the Senate. Lautenberg was the last World War II veteran in the Senate, the final one of 115 senators to serve in that conflict, according to Senate records. Reps. Ralph Hall (R-Texas) and John Dingell (D-Mich.) are now the only remaining World War II veterans in Congress.

( PHOTOS: Frank Lautenberg’s career)

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) can appoint a replacement for Lautenberg, meaning Senate Democrats lose a reliable vote as they take on tough issues like immigration reform this summer.

However, there is some question over whether Christie’s appointment would face a special election in November — as Democrats claim — or would serve out the remainder of Lautenberg’s term. Democrats are expected to file a legal challenge on this issue in New Jersey.

President Barack Obama called Lautenberg “a proud New Jerseyan who lived America’s promise as a citizen, and fought to keep that promise alive as a senator.”

“First elected to the Senate in 1982, he improved the lives of countless Americans with his commitment to our nation’s health and safety, from improving our public transportation to protecting citizens from gun violence to ensuring that members of our military and their families get the care they deserve,” Obama said in a statement released by the White House.

( Also on POLITICO: Biden lauds Lautenberg)

Lautenberg served two separate stints in the Senate: from 1982 to 2000, and from 2003 until his death this week.

Lautenberg had many legislative accomplishments during his Senate tenure, including boosting transportation funding and championing a ban on smoking on airplanes. He authored the 1984 law that set the minimum drinking age at 21, and also pushed to lower the legal blood-alcohol limit to 0.08 percent.

He was also a key player in efforts to impose new gun control laws. One of his last appearances in the Senate was in April to vote in favor of a bill to expand background checks for gun sales. That measure failed to win Senate approval.

Before serving in Washington, Lautenberg was successful in the private sector. He was the chief executive officer at the payroll giant ADP, and he amassed a personal fortune worth tens of millions of dollars.

Lautenberg announced in February that he would not seek reelection in 2014. High-profile Newark Mayor Cory Booker is seeking the seat, although other Democrats also want to run.

Booker called Lautenberg “a true champion” and said his legacy “will endure for generations.”

“Senator Lautenberg was a model of leadership and service to me since before I even considered entering elected office,” Booker said. “He was a passionate advocate for New Jersey and a crucial and tireless partner who always delivered for the people of Newark.”

( PHOTOS: Retiring senators)

Lautenberg’s Senate career was marked — or in many ways, guided — by his vicious personal feud with former Democratic Sen. Robert Torricelli of New Jersey. To say the two men hated each other would be an understatement. Torricelli once threatened to remove Lautenberg’s testicles during a closed-door meeting of Senate Democrats, bringing condemnation from fellow Democrats.

Lautenberg initially retired from the Senate in 2000, but when Torricelli — facing serious ethics problems — withdrew from his reelection race in September 2002, Lautenberg stepped in to replace him, the ultimate victory in his feud with “The Torch.”

As news of Lautenberg’s death spread on Monday, tributes poured in from senators in both parties, as well as New Jersey politicians.

“This is a sad day for New Jersey. Our state has lost one of its most dedicated public servants and a dear friend to us all,” said New Jersey Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D). “It’s hard to imagine New Jersey without Frank Lautenberg advocating for the issues important to us all. His energy was relentless. His intellect was sharp. His work ethic was an example to us all.”

Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), who has long coveted a seat in the Senate, called Lautenberg “a moral guidepost on so many critical issues.” Conservative Republican Rep. Scott Garrett called him a “a man committed to public service.

“He gave his time, his energy and his all to the things he believed in,” Garrett said in a statement.

Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) said he and Lautenberg “often talked about his training experiences during World War II at Camp Crowder in Southwest Missouri.

“That was just the beginning of a life dedicated to serving the United States,” Blunt said in a statement. “I was always glad to work alongside him on his transportation efforts, and my thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family as they mourn this loss.”

Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), who served on the Appropriations Committee with Lautenberg, said the New Jersey Democrat “lived the American dream, and then spent over 30 years of his life fighting to ensure that those who came behind him could do so as well.”

“As the son of poor immigrants who fought for his country in World War II, Frank went on to found a successful business before coming to Congress to fight for those without a voice,” Murray said in a statement.

“Frank Lautenberg was the very best of the greatest generation,” added Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). “He grew up poor, served his nation bravely during World War II, led a company that created tens of thousands of jobs and spent the second half of his life giving back via public service. And, boy, did he give back a lot.”

Burgess Everett contributed to this report.