RENEE MONTAGNE, host: The British Conservative Party leader who guided his country into the      European Community has died.  Former British Prime Minister Edward Heath      was 89.  The cause of his death is unknown.  From London, NPR's Anthony      Kuhn has this remembrance.</s>ANTHONY KUHN reporting: Edward Heath was the son of a carpenter.  He went on to lead the      Conservative Party at a time when it was still dominated by blue-bloods.      In 1950 Heath was elected to Parliament where he served for more than 50      years before stepping down in 2001.  His experience as an army officer in      World War II influenced his decision as prime minister in 1973 to bring      Britain into the European Community, now known as the European Union.</s>Prime Minister EDWARD HEATH: We are celebrating the occasion when our      hopes and our aspirations have been realized.  And for all of us British      here tonight, and I think for our European friends, this is a matter for      unashamed rejoicing.</s>KUHN: Heath's government faced many challenges, including sectarian      violence in Northern Ireland and massive strikes by trade unions.  He      called elections in 1974 in an effort to get a mandate to deal with the      increasingly militant unions, but he lost.  The Labor Party returned to      power and Heath was challenged for the leadership of his own party by a      little-known woman, Margaret Thatcher, who went on to serve three terms      as prime minister.  Heath never forgave Thatcher for unseating him and he      refused to serve in her government.</s>KUHN: When the Tories finally removed Thatcher, a BBC interviewer asked Heath      whether he had, in fact, said, `Rejoice, rejoice,' at hearing the news.</s>Prime Minister EDWARD HEATH: I said it three times I think, `Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice.'</s>KUHN: Sir Edward was also an accomplished musician and sailor and a      best-selling author.</s>KUHN: Anthony Kuhn, NPR News, London.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, host: This is NPR News.
Sir Edward Heath, the British prime minister who led England into what is now the European Union, died Sunday.