Political Quotes

“I offer my condolences to Catherine Stevens and to the entire family of Senator Ted Stevens and to the families of those who also lost their lives in that tragic August 9 accident. I knew Ted for many years and will always remember his devotion to the U.S. Senate and, of course, to the State of Alaska. Ted tirelessly committed himself to help transform Alaska into a modern State. Even if he had not become the longest serving Republican Senator in history, with a career spanning over 38 years, 'Uncle Ted' would still have become an Alaskan legend. He was beloved throughout the State. And his love for his State was well known, from the largest cities to the smallest towns. Ted devoted his whole life to public service. Before he was elected to Congress, Ted went through pilot training in Douglas, AZ, and earned his Army Air Corps wings in May 1944. For his service in World War II, he received the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross. Incidentally, Ted often told me of his appreciation for the time he spent training in Arizona, my home State. He often spoke, too, of the town of Wickenburg, AZ, where his wife is from. During his time in the Senate, Ted became a master of Senate procedure. Republicans would often ask him to sit in the Presiding Officer's chair during an important vote because we knew he would handle all of the procedural details and intricacies perfectly. Not only was he a good legislator, he was a tough legislator.”