"Uncle Ted" Delivers Senate Swansong

Fellow Senators Laud Ted Stevens' Final Address After Election Defeat, Felony Convictions

(AP)  "Uncle Ted" Stevens, an old-style Senate giant and the chamber's longest-serving Republican, delivered his swansong address and yielded the floor for the final time Thursday. He was saluted by his colleagues as a staunch friend and teacher.

Family members and aides wept openly in the gallery as Stevens, who turned 85 this week, spoke of having "no rearview mirror" and looking forward to a time when he might be vindicated. He lost his bid for a seventh term this week after his convictions in federal court on charges of lying about gifts on Senate financial disclosure forms.

"I only look forward and I still see the day when I can remove the cloud that currently surrounds me," Stevens said.

The speech was a poignant coda to a four-decade Senate career that began not 10 years after his home state, Alaska, achieved statehood. It came as the 110th Congress finished business with a sizable caucus of senators over age 80 whose regard for each other transcended their party affiliation.

Perhaps a quarter of the Senate filed into the chamber to hear the speech, with Republican Leader Mitch McConnell turning his chair all the way around to face Stevens. Those gathered in the galleries and on the Senate floor gave the outgoing senator a standing ovation, a violation of Senate custom. But no one objected.

"More than anyone else, you have taught me the meaning of representing my state," said another retiring senior senator, Pete Domenici, R-N.M., 76.

"That's right, Ted!" barked yet another long-timer, Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., who turned 91 on Thursday.

Stevens lost his re-election bid this week to Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, a Democrat, and is appealing his felony convictions. He has said he's not seeking a pardon from President Bush. (Click here to see complete Election results from Alaska.)

His farewell address came during the final proceedings of the 110th Congress, a sometimes surreal intersection of outgoing lawmakers and their successors preparing to take their seats next year.

Scattered around the Senate floor were some of those not returning. Among the farewells was one from another Republican departing under the cloud of scandal, Sen. Larry Craig of Idaho, who pleaded guilty in a men's airport sex scandal but has denied doing anything wrong.

"Uncle Ted, I'm going to miss you, Craig said. This Senate will miss you, your state will miss you and America will miss you."

Stevens was one of the Senate's most colorful characters, known for wearing a necktie bearing the Incredible Hulk during appropriations fights and - especially - over his efforts to allow gas and oil exploration in the Arctic.

Other senators rose to share stories of his gruff and tough style that belied a caring and patient friend beneath.

Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., said that as a House member he was put off years ago by Stevens' "obstreperous, if not outrageous behavior" during a Republican retreat. Roberts recalled thinking: "'That Ted Stevens fellow is one of the most unique people I've ever met and I'd just as soon not meet him again."'

It was not to be. Elected to the Senate years later, Roberts recalled encountering Stevens, who walked up and jabbed a finger in the new senator's chest.

"He said, 'I know who you are,"' Roberts recalled of Stevens' remark. "And I said, 'Well, I sure as hell know who you are."' And he said, "'You allegedly know something about agriculture, (former Sen.) Bob Dole told me about you, said you were a standup guy.' I said, 'Thank you."'

Underneath, Roberts said, Stevens is a teddy bear, even though he's also been labeled other things.

"Under this great gruff facade - i.e., the mad penguin - here is a passionate, caring, wise and, yes, a man with a very good sense of humor which I have enjoyed immensely," Roberts said.

[bjcone8559]

Stevens, who turned 85 this week, spoke of having "no rearview mirror"


YOU DON''T NEED ONE YOU OLD BAZTARD!! GO TO JAIL, GO STRAIGHT TO JAIL, DO NOT PASS GO, DO NOT COLLECT BRIBES!!!

[closethippy1]

Another Republican piece of trash out of the way.

[earache4]

At 85, his last days will be behind bars......

[dblbar]

Being a US Senator is a major undertaking even for a person in the prime of his/her life, but goodness sake, has anyone seen Robert Byrd lately? He looks and sounds like he belongs in a mental institution

I watched yesterday as Byrd was trying to read his prepared statement and praise of Ted Stevens. I simply could not believe, and was even embarassed for him. I am guessing someone''s/his need for power has to be so great that he will be kept in this position, even if he has to be wheeled into the Senate on his deathbed....sad message/picture to show the world, as he fumbled to turn the pages with 3" printed words that could be seen.....am sure he''s a brilliant man but at some point, one has to accept reality...

[earache4]

"Uncle Ted, I''m going to miss you," Larry Craig said.

So uncle Ted taught him everything he knows.....

[earache4]

Stevens, who turned 85 this week, spoke of having "no rearview mirror"

He drives like my grandpa....

[a_nother2002]

I didn''t know people in the U.S could run if they were convicted. Learnt something new today :)
The day you stop learning is the day you might as well die
(Using this idea Bush died in Kindergarten. That explains the bad smell in the White House these past 8 years lol)

[jps19651]

I agree with some of the comments on here and don''t agree with some others. But I have to raise the point about how old is too old to be a U.S. Senator. Should 85 year old men really be doing this sort of work. Robert Byrd, that insufferable blowhard, is 91. Ted Kennedy, Daniel Inouye, etc etc. We need to look long and hard at whether or not these old farts are really up to the job. Being a US Senator is a major undertaking even for a person in the prime of his/her life, but goodness sake, has anyone seen Robert Byrd lately? He looks and sounds like he belongs in a mental institution.

[formrusmcsgt]

Stevens epitomizes what''s wrong with American politics.

Convicted of 7 felonies and no shame whatsoever....

[adfolder]

Gee Uncle Ted, TELL US MORE!