About the Foundation
Civility and solutions—these are the twin pillars of the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation. They are the ideals that underpinned the Senator’s service and that guide our mission today. The Foundation stands apart from the din and divisiveness of contemporary politics by seeking to restore common ground.
Our purpose is threefold: to engender greater civic participation and understanding, to facilitate bipartisan dialogue, and to foster commonsense solutions to our nation’s most pressing problems.
Introducing the Hatch Center
Through the Hatch Center—the physical home of the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation—we aim to revitalize the political discourse by convening the greatest minds in American public life for high-level discussions on the public policy challenges of the day. The Center will also be the repository for the Senator’s legislative records, functioning at once as a research library and as a place of civic engagement for students and the broader community.
1. Public Policy and Civic Engagement
As the policy arm of the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation, the Hatch Center promotes serious discussion of political issues and public policies. As the author of some of the most significant laws of modern times, Senator Hatch’s name is synonymous with policy development and legislative leadership. The Center honors that legacy by drawing on Senator Hatch’s work and relationships to host prominent speakers, public debates, and expert panels—all with the aim of helping citizens and government leaders make informed and wise policy decisions. The Center also intends to provide scholarships, stipends, and civic-training opportunities for Hatch policy fellows and student interns in public service. This is part and parcel of our mission to promote greater civic knowledge, understanding, and participation.
2. The Hatch Papers Collection
The Hatch Center will serve as a repository for the Senator’s collected papers, legislative documents, and other materials—one of the most expansive collections in the modern Senate. Senator Hatch ranks among the longest-serving Senators in history, having served alongside seven Presidents and nine Senate Majority Leaders. He spent 32 of 42 years in Congress as either chairman or ranking member of a major committee. And he authored more legislation—and more significant legislation—than any officeholder alive today. During his Senate tenure, Senator Hatch employed a full-time archivist and carefully preserved more than 3,000 boxes of legislative records and other materials. It is a collection of great historical significance and is already the subject of scholarly interest. The Hatch Center will provide an organized and user-friendly database for use by both academic researchers and the general public.
3. Center for Bipartisanship and the Legislative Process
The Hatch Center will engage in both scholarly and practical study of the legislative process, seeking to promote constructive policy development and equip future generations of public servants and engaged citizens. As the most effective bipartisan lawmaker of his time, Senator Hatch authored over 750 bills that became law, placing him among the most prolific legislators in American history. In his last term in office, Hatch was even recognized by the Center for Effective Lawmaking, a nonpartisan research organization, as the most effective member of the Senate. The Center will draw on the Senator’s experience and contacts to facilitate study of the legislative process and identify opportunities for bipartisan lawmaking success.