This Saturday brings the third annual Ted Stevens Day for Alaska, in honor of Theodore "Ted" Fulton Stevens, the longest serving Republican senator in U.S. history, an Alaskan of significance to supporters and political oppenents alike. His influence still resonates to this day. He's remembered in Washington, D.C., for the power he wielded as ranking Republican on the appropriations committee so many years. In Alaska, he's recreated and he relaxed. Alaskans are encouraged to follow his lead -- to outside and do something Alaskan -- on Stevens' namesake day.
But what else might one do on Stevens Day? A list of alternatives that we offer for Saturday, in honor of the man we remember as "Uncle Ted."
1. Catch Some Tasty Waves, Dude! – Stevens was an avid surfer while attending Redondo Union High School, in California during the late 1930's. There are two bore tides near Anchorage on Saturday.
2. Log On! – Stevens, was famously ridiculed (and lionized) by tech nerds on the World Wide Web after he claimed, in a Senate Commerce Committee on June 28, 2006, that the internet is "not a big truck," it is instead "a series of tubes." The remark spawned jokes on cable television and dozens of musical mash-ups. Since then however, some have claimed Stevens was, in a manner of speaking, right.
3. Eat the Other White Meat – Over the course of his career, Stevens brought billions of dollars of federal money to his home state. He was frequently targeted by conservative fiscal groups for: bringing home the bacon. The effect of his work still flows through remote Alaska villages (money to build plumbing and eliminate the need for honey-buckets) and echos through the halls of a railroad terminal that sits unused 8 months each year. (But, hey, at least it's a great place to host a wedding reception.)
4. Hulk say, 'Read … Comic Book!' – Stevens was famous for wearing a tie emblazoned with the Marvel Comics hero, "The Incredible Hulk" on it while on the Senate floor - especially when he was gearing up for a legislative fight. Like the green, rage-filled Hulk, Stevens had a bit of a temper and used to joke, "I didn't lose my temper. I know right where it is." Marvel sent Stevens Hulk merchandise and even threw him a Hulk-themed.
5. Give Blood, or Raise a Glass – Stevens used to sell his blood to help pay for Harvard Law School classes. The enterprising young student also worked as a Boston bartender.
6. Eat a Cookie – Stevens was a notorious cookie-monster at press events and official federal functions. Often, upon arrival, he made a bee-line toward a waiting tray of cookies at events ranging from the Anchorage Fur Rondy festival, to federal Base Closure and Realignment hearings in Fairbanks.
7. Catch a War Flick – The late senator flew cargo airplanes in the China-Burma Theater during World War II, earning a Distinguished Flying Cross. He was a life-long supporter of the Armed Forces. At his funeral, it was noted that while on many overseas trips, he used to make fellow lawmakers and their staff watch movies like ,"Saving Private Ryan," and episodes of HBO's, "Band of Brothers."
8. Watch a Girls' Softball Game – Stevens was the main sponsor of the 1972 Title IX law that gave girls and women equal opportunity in education and sports. He also authored the 1978 Amateur Sports Act that led to the creation of the U.S. Olympic Committee.
9. Set A Date for an Uncomfortable Exam – Stevens was a prostate cancer survivor. He was nominated for the first-ever Golden Glove Award for Prostate Cancer and, throughout his career, steered hundreds of millions of dollars into cancer research.
10. Martial Arts – Stevens was a longtime practitioner of Taekwondo, too.
Of course, if you are inclined, there are official events planned throughout the state to celebrate Ted Stevens Day. For a complete list, go here.
Contact Sean Doogan at sean(at)alaskadispatch.com.