Reaction to the death of former Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska included:
State House Speaker Mike Chenault (R-Nikiski):
“Ted Stevens was a lion of a man who meant more to this state and how we got to where we are today than, I think, many of us will ever really know. I had tremendous respect for the senator, who served us passionately, and well, for four decades.”
U.S. Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev):
“I was saddened to learn about the death of former Senator Ted Stevens. I served with Ted for many years and I know how beloved he was by the people of Alaska. My thoughts are with Ted’s wife, Catherine, the entire Stevens family, and the loved ones of the other victims of this terrible accident.”
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar:
“My thoughts and prayers are with Senator Stevens’ family and the loved ones of all those killed and injured in the terrible tragedy near Dillingham. Senator Stevens was a friend and colleague. From his courage in World War II, his work for Alaska statehood and his time at the Department of the Interior to his years of leadership in the U.S. Senate, Senator Stevens left behind a lifetime of service. We have lost a dedicated public servant for our country, the United States Senate, and Alaska.”
State Senator Hollis French (D-Anchorage):
“You know there’s a somber mood, you can feel it here in Juneau; I think it’s throughout the state today. When a person of that magnitude passes under these circumstances especially, suddenly unexpectedly, you just feel the loss. Here’s a person who was fighting for AK before statehood. 50 years or longer of service to the state. You just have to say look at that career, look at the number of years he put that shoulder to the wheel to push AK forward. He was a one of a kind.”
State Representative Harry Crawford (D-Anchorage)
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Senator Stevens and his family and the other victims of this tragic accident. Ted Stevens was such a part of Alaskan life that he was like a force of nature. He was all encompassing, almost like the weather. He was one of the architects of present day Alaska and will go down in history as a great Alaskan and a great American. He will be missed.”
