"I am saddened to report that my dear and lovely wife of nearly 57 years, ... passed away today ..." the senator said in a news release. She died at 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

"Maggie was recently hospitalized because an examination found small blood clots and some fluid in her right lung, and she had been undergoing a process of draining out the fluid and dissolving the blood clots," Inouye said in the release.

"This most recent medical challenge came after Maggie underwent surgery in November 2004 to remove a cancerous growth from her large intestine. Her surgeons had pronounced that operation a success.

"As she has done throughout her life, Maggie handled her difficult situation without complaint, and with dignity and grace. Although her chemotherapy treatments would leave her drained, she always had a smile for you and she retained her optimistic outlook."

Reaction today came from national leaders and the Hawai'i Congressional delegation.

"Anyone who spent any time with them knows how much they loved each other, cared for each other," said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, on the floor after hearing the news. "She'll now have peace and to a certain extent so will Sen. Inouye because he has suffered with her."

U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka, on the Senate floor today, said "Mr. President, on behalf of my wife, Millie, and my entire family, I rise to express our sincere sympathies, deepest condolences, and our warmest aloha to my dear friend, Senator Daniel K. Inouye, for the loss of his wife, Maggie, who passed away this afternoon.

"Over the past year, I have often asked Dan about Maggie. He's always said, 'She's a trooper, she's doing the best she can.' That really sums it up well -- Maggie was definitely a trooper.

"She was a wonderful lady who served our country as a Senate spouse for the past 40 plus years. Maggie was a classy woman who was well-respected everywhere she went. She had a heart of gold and will definitely be missed by the people of Hawai'i and in Washington, D.C."

U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawai'i, said "I was deeply saddened to learn of Mrs. Inouye's death. She was the First lady of the Hawai'i Congressional Delegation. She was unfailingly kind and always gracious. Above all, she was Sen. Inouye's rock foundation of support, encouragement and loyalty. He has our deepest sympathy."

U.S. Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawai'i, said "Audrey and I join all of our Hawai'i in mourning the passing of Margaret Inouye. She was a person of uncommon dignity and grace. She was an accomplished and distinguished individual in her own right when she met her future husband with whom she joined together in a partnership that was to the lasting benefit of all our state and nation."