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John Glenn’s Life in Photos: From Astronaut to National Hero to Long-Time Senator

The Ohio Democrat died Dec. 8, according to the Columbus Dispatch, at 95

On Nov. 16, 2011, Glenn (center with red tie) is among a group of the first astronauts to win the Congressional Gold Medal. Astronaut Neil Armstrong receives a medal from then-Speaker of the House John A. Boehner of Ohio, then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada presents Glenn’s and then-Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky presents one to astronaut Buzz Aldrin, at a ceremony in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. (Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
On Nov. 16, 2011, Glenn (center with red tie) is among a group of the first astronauts to win the Congressional Gold Medal. Astronaut Neil Armstrong receives a medal from then-Speaker of the House John A. Boehner of Ohio, then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada presents Glenn’s and then-Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky presents one to astronaut Buzz Aldrin, at a ceremony in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. (Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth and national hero as a member of the Mercury 7, has died at 95, according to reports. While John Glenn’s life in the public eye began well before he headed to Washington in 1975 as a four-term senator from Ohio, that’s certainly when CQ Roll Call’s camera lens turned on the distinguished senator. 

Here’s a look into our photo archives of the astronaut, who served in the Senate from 1975-1999:

1967: Eagle Scout Meets American Hero. Mansfield, Ohio high school student Sherrod Brown — who later became a Democratic senator from the state in 2007, shakes the hand of astronaut and future senator himself, John Glenn, at a ceremony where the member of Troop 110 received his Eagle Scout Award. (CQ Roll Call File Photo)
1975: Vice President Nelson Rockefeller swears in John Glenn (right), with his wife Annie (center), to the Senate. (CQ Roll Call File Photo)
July 8, 1997: Ranking member John Glenn, D-Ohio, left, and Chairman Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., on the first day of Senate Governmental Affairs Committee hearings into allegations of illegal and improper fundraising practices during the last presidential election. (Scott J. Ferrell/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
Sept. 30, 1997: Sens. John Glenn, D-Ohio and Fred D. Thompson, R-Tenn., talk to former Vice President Walter F. Mondale before the start of campaign finance hearings. (Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
Jan. 16, 1998: Sen. John Glenn, D-Ohio, during a press conference at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C., announces his return to the space program. In the background is a 1962 photo of Glenn in his space-flight suit. He is slated to fly aboard the space shuttle in October. (Photo by Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
Jan. 16, 1998: Sen. John Glenn, D-Ohio, during a press conference at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C., announces his return to the space program. In the background is a 1962 photo of Glenn in his space-flight suit. He is slated to fly aboard the space shuttle in October. (Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
April 1998: Sen. John Glenn, D.-Ohio, is seated on the flight deck of the crew compartment trainer while being briefed by crew trainer Adam Flagler. Flagler is pointing toward the displays and controls at the commander's station, forward cabin. Glenn has begun training at the Johnson Space Center for the STS-95 space flight, scheduled for launch later in the year. (Photo courtesy of NASA)
April 1998: Sen. John Glenn, D-Ohio, is seated on the flight deck of the crew compartment trainer while being briefed by crew trainer Adam Flagler. Flagler is pointing toward the displays and controls at the commander’s station, forward cabin. Glenn had begun training at the Johnson Space Center for the STS-95 space flight. (Photo courtesy of NASA)
April 1998: Sen. John Glenn, D-Ohio, with assistance from Boeing suit technician Lloyd Armintor, applies final touches during suit donning at the flight equipment processing lab for the Johnson Space Center. This was Glenn's first interface with the partial pressure launch and entry suit since being named to fly aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on the STS-95 mission. (Photo Courtesy of NASA)
April 1998: Sen. John Glenn, D-Ohio, with assistance from Boeing suit technician Lloyd Armintor, applies final touches during suit donning at the flight equipment processing lab for the Johnson Space Center. This was Glenn’s first interface with the partial pressure launch and entry suit since being named to fly aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on the STS-95 mission. (Photo courtesy of NASA)
July 28, 1998: Senators bow their heads during the benediction at a memorial service in the Rotunda for U.S. Capitol Police Detective John Gibson and Officer Jacob J. Chestnut. Gibson and Chestnut were slain Friday in a shooting at the Document Room entrance. William Frist, R-Tenn., left, John Glenn, middle, Joseph R. Biden Jr., D-Del., second from right. (Scott J. Ferrell/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
July 30, 1998: Sens. John Glenn of Ohio, Carl Levin of Michigan, Tom Daschle of South Dakota and Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts in the press gallery in the U.S. Capitol talking with reporters about health care legislation. (CQ Roll Call File Photo)
Dec. 5, 2001: Gathering to announce a $1 million donation by the Coca-Cola Foundation for the building of the Capitol Visitor Center are (from left), Tom Bank, president of the Fund for the Capitol Visitor Center, Rep. Charlie Norwood, R-Ga., John Glenn, former senator and Fund spokesman, Reps. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., Sanford Bishop, D-Ga., Jim Moran, D-Va., John Mica, R-Fla., Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., Jeffrey Dunn, President of Coca-Cola, former Rep. Vic Fazio, and Sen. Max Cleland, D-Ga. in foreground.
May 2, 2002: First female astronaut Sally Ride and former Sen. John Glenn, D-Ohio, share a word during Space Day at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. Space Day is the award-winning educational initiative designed to inspire young people's interest in science, math, and technology through the wonders space. (CQ Roll Call File Photo)
May 2, 2002: First female astronaut Sally Ride and former Sen. John Glenn, D-Ohio, share a word during Space Day at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. Space Day is the award-winning educational initiative designed to inspire young people’s interest in science, math and technology through the wonders space. (CQ Roll Call File Photo)
June 19, 2002: Former Sen. John Glenn, D-Ohio, testifying at Senate a committee hearing on the need for more support for the National Science Foundation. (CQ Roll Call File Photo)
June 19, 2002: Former Sen. John Glenn, D-Ohio, testifying at Senate a committee hearing on the need for more support for the National Science Foundation. (CQ Roll Call File Photo)
July 25, 2004: Sen. John Glenn, far left, U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, D-Ohio, background middle, Ohio Democratic Party Chair Dennis L. White, in red tie, and wife Mary White, announce their state's votes during the roll call at the Democratic National Convention. (Photo by Scott J. Ferrell/CQ Roll Call)
July 25, 2004: Sen. John Glenn, far left, Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, D-Ohio, background middle, Ohio Democratic Party Chair Dennis L. White, in red tie, and wife Mary White, announce their state’s votes during the roll call at the Democratic National Convention. (Scott J. Ferrell/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
May 6, 2008: Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and former Sen. John Glenn, D-Ohio, during a press conference with Discovery Communications Founder and Chairman John Hendricks' for the official presentation of over 100 hours of newly HD transferred NASA archives to NASA's Administrator Michael Griffin. (CQ Roll Call File Photo)
May 6, 2008: Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and former Sen. John Glenn, D-Ohio, during a press conference with Discovery Communications Founder and Chairman John Hendricks for the official presentation of over 100 hours of newly transferred NASA archives video to NASA’s Administrator Michael Griffin. (CQ Roll Call File Photo)
July 21, 2009: Rep. Brian Baird, D-Wash., left, watches as astronaut and former Sen. John Glenn, D-Ohio, signs two flags for Baird's twin sons during the tribute event to the Apollo 11 astronauts celebrating the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing on. (CQ Roll Call File Photo)
July 21, 2009: Rep. Brian Baird, D-Wash., left, watches as astronaut and former Sen. John Glenn, D-Ohio, signs two flags for Baird’s twin sons during the tribute event to the Apollo 11 astronauts. (CQ Roll Call File Photo)
May 29, 2012: Former astronaut and former Sen. John Glenn, D-Ohio, is presented with a Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama during an East Room at the White House. The Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, is presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
May 29, 2012: Former astronaut and former Sen. John Glenn, D-Ohio, is presented with a Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in the East Room of the White House. The Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, is presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. (Alex Wong/Getty Images File Photo)

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