washington pete domenici former minor league baseball pitcher become major league power player u.s. senate energy budget issue new mexico longest-serving senator die wednesday albuquerque age 85. domenici republican serve chairman budget committee energy natural resources committee 36 years senate decide seek re-election 2008 due degenerative brain disease brandi sanchez spokeswoman son law firm albuquerque confirm death former senator senate majority leader mitch mcconnell write twitter senate sadden learn pass friend senator pete domenici domenici son italian immigrants key player 1997 balance budget measure negotiate democratic president bill clinton prominent supporter nuclear energy also fight great health insurance coverage people mental illness daughter clare one eight children wife nancy diagnose schizophrenia domenici instrumental senate secure republican president ronald reagan 1981 tax cut republican president george h.w bush 1990 tax hike 1997 budget deal reach clinton republicans consider lead deficit hawk domenici pragmatic conservative republican able work senate democrats like edward kennedy massachusetts success senator come work together senate colleagues party know know say 2007. success come friends urge domenici go politics spare personal attack obviously listen say glad find politics harsh friends predict part opposite domenici good health final years senate october 2007 age 75 announce decision seek seventh six-year term senate follow year due progression incurable brain disorder call frontotemporal lobar degeneration february 2013 domenici age 80 acknowledge father child wedlock 1970s daughter paul laxalt time one colleagues senate domenici michelle laxalt 24 time make admission say fear information would make public try smear domenici reputation become influential washington lobbyist domenici bear 1932 albuquerque new mexico graduate university new mexico 1954 pitch albuquerque dukes minor league club brooklyn dodgers good curveball probably never would senate ari fleischer former white house spokesman domenici aide tell usa today 2007. baseball domenici become math teacher lawyer albuquerque city commissioner elect u.s. senate 1972 become new mexico first republican senator 38 years powerful advocate state congress help steer money u.s. energy department nuclear facilities los alamos national laboratory george h.w bush consider make domenici vice presidential run mate 1988 choose dan quayle less prominent senator near end political career senate ethics committee admonish domenici april 2008 create appearance impropriety reflect unfavorably upon senate telephone top federal prosecutor new mexico ask indictment politically sensitive corruption case would come november 2006 elections former u.s. senator pete domenici heavyweight budget energy issue die