Jim Sasser, who served 18 years in the U.S. Senate and six years as ambassador to China, has died. Gray Sasser, his son, said his father died Tuesday evening at his home in Chapel Hill, N.C., of an apparent heart attack. Sasser, a Democrat, represented Tennessee in the Senate from 1977 to 1995. President Bill Clinton then appointed him ambassador to China, a post he held until 2001. After he retired as ambassador, Sasser became a consultant.

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Persons: Jim Sasser, Gray Sasser, Bill Clinton, Sasser, Republican Bill Brock, Republican Bill Frist, Elizabeth Sasser, “, Sen, Albert Gore Sr, Brock, Gore, Sasser’s, Dad, Mary Organizations: U.S . Senate, Democrat, Republican, Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt Law School, Democratic, Tennessee Democratic Party, Frist, Senate, Harvard University, State of Locations: U.S, China, Chapel Hill, N.C, Tennessee, Memphis, Tenn, Nashville, State, State of Tennessee