Former U.S. Sen. Jim Sasser dies at 87

Former Democrat U.S. Senator from Tennessee and Ambassador Jim Sasser died Tuesday at age 87 at his current home in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, of an apparent heart attack, his family confirmed.

"As his friends and former staff will attest, Dad loved his family, the State of Tennessee, his years serving in the US Senate and old cars too, and loved them in that order," his children Gray and Elizabeth Sasser said in a statement. "He believed in the nobility of public service and the transformational power of government."

The children said they get asked on a weekly basis about their dad and that people often share stories about what he did to help constituents.

"We know Dad was always proudest of those quiet achievements on behalf of so many Tennesseans," they said.

Sasser was in the Senate from 1977 to 1995. He was then appointed ambassador to China by Bill Clinton and held that post until 2001.

Many current and former Tennessee lawmakers including former Vice President Al Gore shared their condolences upon hearing of his death.