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Edward Brooke, First Popularly Elected African-American Senator, Dies

Former Senator Edward William Brooke (R-MA) speaks during a ceremony to honor him with the Congressional Gold Medal in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on October 28, 2009 in Washington, D.C. Brooke, a two-term Republican senator from 1967-1979, was the first African-American elected to the Senate by popular vote. (Jonathan Ernst/Getty Images)
Former Senator Edward William Brooke (R-MA) speaks during a ceremony to honor him with the Congressional Gold Medal in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on October 28, 2009 in Washington, D.C. Brooke, a two-term Republican senator from 1967-1979, was the first African-American elected to the Senate by popular vote. (Jonathan Ernst/Getty Images)

Former Massachusetts Senator Edward Brooke died Saturday at the age of 95, at his home in Coral Gables, Fla. Here & Now takes a look back at the life of the first popularly voted African-American U.S. senator.

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