Political Quotes

“Mr. President, it was just about two years ago that many of us came to the floor to say goodbye to one of our good friends. Ted Stevens was leaving the Senate and returning home to his beloved Alaska. He had earned his retirement many times over. At last there would be time to do the things that he always enjoyed-- fishing, spending more time with his family, and being with the people of Alaska who hold him in such high esteem and affection. He was known throughout the State as Uncle Ted. Now we are gathered again to reflect on Ted Stevens and his life, but this time we are here to say a final farewell as we mourn his loss. On reflection, nothing says more about the way he lived his life than to speak of his loss at the age of 86 with the feeling that he was taken from us all too soon. Ted's life was a great, grand and glorious adventure, and he filled every day of it to the brim as he pursued anything and everything that interested him or moved him to action. The strength of his character and his love of his country saw him through his military service. His determination to succeed and his commitment to getting a good education helped him through college and then through law school as he worked to obtain the skills and the knowledge he knew he would need to be successful in whatever he chose to do in life. For all who knew him, Ted's ultimate legacy can be summed up in one word--statehood.…”