Reaction to the death of former Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens in a plane crash

Reactions to the death of Sen. Ted Stevens

Reaction to the death of former Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens:

“A decorated World War II veteran, Sen. Ted Stevens devoted his career to serving the people of Alaska and fighting for our men and women in uniform. Michelle and I extend our condolences to the entire Stevens family and to the families of those who perished alongside Sen. Stevens in this terrible accident.” — President Barack Obama.

“Barbara and I mourn the tragic loss of Sen. Ted Stevens, a respected friend of long-standing, and send our most sincere condolences to his family. Ted Stevens loved the Senate, he loved Alaska, and he loved his family — and he will be dearly missed.” — Former President George H.W. Bush.

“Last night, Alaska lost a hero and I lost a dear friend. The thought of losing Ted Stevens, a man who was known to business and community leaders, Native chiefs and everyday Alaskans as ‘Uncle Ted,’ is too difficult to fathom. His entire life was dedicated to public service, from his days as a pilot in World War II to his four decades of service in the United States Senate.” — Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska.

“Alaska has lost one of its greatest statesmen and a true pioneer of our state with the passing of Sen. Ted Sevens. Over his four decades of public service in the U.S. Senate, Sen. Stevens was a forceful advocate for Alaska who helped transform our state in the challenging years after Statehood.” — Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska.

“This is an absolute tragedy for Alaska and for its people. Ted was a very close, personal friend of me and my family. I used to baby-sit his kids, and he would baby-sit mine. He’s been my mentor, first in the state legislature, and then as our senior senator and I will miss him a great deal.” — Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska.

“In our land of towering mountains and larger than life characters, none were larger than the man who in 2000 was voted ‘Alaskan of the Century.’ This decorated World War II pilot was a warrior and a true champion of Alaska.” — Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

“Irene and I are deeply saddened by the tragic death of our dear friend, and my brother, Ted Stevens. … Our friendship was a very special one. When it came to policy, we disagreed more often than we agreed, but we were never disagreeable with one another.” — Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii.

“In the history of our country, no one man has done more for one state than Ted Stevens. His commitment to the people of Alaska and his nation spanned decades, and he left a lasting mark on both.” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

“Sen. Stevens was a passionate fighter for his state and for the Pacific Northwest. We certainly had our disagreements, but I was proud to join him to fight for our region’s fisheries, coasts and other priorities.” — Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.

“I’m very sad to hear of the passing of former Sen. Ted Stevens. Sen. Stevens was a decorated World War II veteran, and he was truly loved by the people of Alaska.” — Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

“Ted always said, ‘To hell with politics. Do what is best for Alaska.’ He never apologized for fighting for his state, and Alaska is better for it today.” — Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La.

“Today, America lost a legend, a patriot and a gentle warrior who never stopped fighting for his beloved state of Alaska or for what he believed in. … He will be greatly missed, but his legacy will always live on.” — Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.

“He brought strength and passion to the Senate for many decades. We worked together on issues facing our home states. He was a friend of Hawaii and he understood the United States’ responsibility to its indigenous people. He was a dear friend. We were ohana (family).” Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii.

“He was a dedicated, passionate and faithful public servant for the people of Alaska. But the role he cherished the most was that of husband, father and grandfather. His family, and the families of all those lost in this tragedy, are in Sandy’s and my prayers.” — Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas.

“We, his colleagues and his friends, were particularly blessed with the opportunity to have learned from Ted, who was always doggedly determined to serve the best interests of the people and state that he loved so much.” — Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn.

“Sen. Stevens had a long and active career serving the people of Alaska in the United States Senate and was revered for his unparalleled effectiveness at fighting for his home state interests. He was a colleague and friend to many in the Senate but he was a champion for the people of Alaska.” — Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele.