Political Quotes

“Madam President, it has actually been a great pleasure to sit on the floor--and I see the Presiding Officer nodding in agreement--and hear these tributes to our friend, Senator Ted Stevens. It is, of course, with sorrow that I rise to offer these words on the tragic passing of Senator Stevens, but it is also with a sense of gratitude and fondness that I remember him and that I celebrate his dedicated service to our Nation, to his beloved State, and to the Senate. My thoughts and prayers remain with the Stevens family and with the families of the others who perished in that heartbreaking accident. In 1999, Senator Stevens was named ``Alaskan of the Century.'' It was a fitting tribute to a man who, though not Alaskan by birth, became one with every ounce of his spirit, energy, and determination. In 1953, with his heroic military service behind him and fresh out of law school, he drove from Washington, DC, to Fairbanks, AK, in the middle of the winter to begin his first job in his new profession. He soon was appointed U.S. Attorney and quickly established a reputation as a courageous and diligent prosecutor. Returning to Washington 3 years later to accept a position in the Department of the Interior, he took on the cause of Alaskan statehood as the cause of his life. In 1959, his relentless efforts were rewarded with success. He served with distinction in the brand-new Alaska State Legislature and joined the Senate 9 years later. In this city, he was known as ``Mr.…”