Haley Stevens: “I am glad to have been here when the Senator from Massachusetts was speaking. He is a friend. We have visited one…”

“I am glad to have been here when the Senator from Massachusetts was speaking. He is a friend. We have visited one another and have shared the privilege of having wives who are great friends. I say to my friend from Massachusetts, I hope if I ever stand on the floor of the Senate and make a pledge on behalf of the people of Alaska to do something for Massachusetts that my successors will honor that. I stood here and debated with the predecessor of the Senator from Massachusetts for a long period of time in 1977, 1978, and 1979. We finally ended up in Senator Jackson's hideaway for 3 days around the clock, and I mean around the clock. We reached a conclusion, and that conclusion was an offer from the Senator from Massachusetts to me. It was: We will set aside 1.5 million acres up there so you can go ahead with that oil and gas development, but let us create this system of withdrawals in this State. Almost 100 million acres in Alaska were set aside at that time. For 9 years in this Chamber we debated what was a national interest of Alaska's land. Nine years, Mr. President, and the Senator from Massachusetts, God rest his soul, Paul Tsongas, said in Senator Jackson's office: We can work this out. If you are willing to be reasonable, we will be reasonable. We will guarantee you that 1.5 million acres will be explored. Look at his record.…”