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CBS 11 News got an up close and personal look into the life of Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens. You might be wondering: In this interview, will he respond or talk about the current FBI investigation surrounding him?
The answer--quite simply--is no. For months, Stevens has responded the same way when the topic has come up and has stated that he will not speak about that issue.
As a station, it was never our intention with this interview, to ask questions about the current FBI investigation involving Senator Stevens. We knew what that answer would be and were told what that answer would be, so we moved on. Instead, our goal is to show you a side of the senator we never get to see.
Who is this man who has served our state for so many decades? There is a lot of curiosity about the person behind the politician. CBS 11 News was inside his Girdwood home, asking questions about his life, his family and his mistakes.
"I build a fire, come in have a Coke. If it's not election period, have a glass of wine, once in a while smoke a cigar. Do my own thing," said Senator Stevens.
Senator Stevens eases into his Alaskan routine, like a small child grateful to be home. He's here roughly 25 nights a year. After watching him scan the refrigerator, we can't help but begin with one of the senator's favorite topics: food.
"I have a piece of chocolate every morning, every morning...dark chocolate," said Senator Stevens.
"I get fetishes. I don't eat white
--a nutritional terrorist who can throw a mean punch.
"They put a punching bag in the Senate gym for me...I think I'm the only one who hits it," said Stevens.
How do you stay in such great shape?
"I
To really understand where the longest-serving senator in the history of the Republican Party is coming from, you have to first realize, where he's been.
Born in 1923, he grew up in the heart of the Depression--raised by his grandmother, in a modest home in Indiana, with no income. After going to school in California and Massachusetts, Stevens moved to Fairbanks with his first wife, and quickly realized he'd found home. It would be his second wife, Catherine, who fell in love with Girdwood.
"Catherine liked it down here and we just decided this is it. This is a place to get away; it's a place that's like old Alaska," said Senator Stevens.
Throughout the journey, he's been guided by values instilled at an early age: the importance of a strong work ethic, the value of a dollar and the power of love and connection.
"For both of us, second marriage. So, we had a good marriage. The older I get, the more I realize how dependant I am on her. And I love her even more," said Senator Stevens.
His other loves include spy novels and flying. During World War II, he joined the Army Air Corps and flew support missions for the Flying Tigers of the 14th Air Force. Politics wasn't even on the radar.
"I wanted to be a pilot; the war came along; I was studying aeronautical engineering," said Senator Stevens.
"I would have paid them to let me fly. I just loved to fly, still like to fly. I got my floatplane license after all my children were grown and in college. Then I went back and got it when I was 75," said Stevens.
The man who loves to fly has never owned his own plane--not really a loss when you consider, the airport is his.
What is it like to fly into your own airport? You're flying into the Ted Stevens International Airport.
"I didn't expect that I didn't expect. It's an honor, but it's hard to swallow," said Stevens.
There have been countless honors in his more than six decades serving
"That bill affected Alaska more than anywhere. We now manage our fisheries scientifically. There's not one endangered species that's harvested for commercial purposes. We've protected the reproductive capability of our fish. We're the envy of the world really in the capabilities of our fishing industry," said Senator Stevens.
Speaking of envy, walking through the hallways of his Girdwood home is like walking through an intricate Alaskan museum, with a founding father as the guide. From handmade rawhide snowshoes, wildlife snapshots, ships, masks--and then my personal favorite, the Ted Stevens totem.
"She made that, when I was the majority leader of the state House. And that's my totem. That's me up that .(laugh)"
As we made our way upstairs in his home, private and personal memories were around every corner: moments that have shaped Stevens as a senator, but more importantly as a father.
Are you a good father?
"No really wasn't. I think I spent a lot of time trying to do the things I ought to do as a senator, and I didn't go to enough baseball games and football games with my boys, the soccer games with the girls. I tried," said Stevens.
"As they were growing up, I was just away too long," said Stevens.
Now a grandfather to 11, he's back in the game, doing what he can for his grandchildren. Ben Stevens' son, little Teddy, affectionately called "Airport," takes pride knowing his grandpa is finally home, watching.
"I really get disturbed that I don't spend enough time doing the things I ought to do for myself and my family. I get really upset about that. I do have 11 grandchildren. I see most of them once a year. I'm lucky if I see them once a year sometimes," said Stevens.
Stevens says he has the best job in the world--even if it comes at a price. Just last week, we watched as the 84-year-old filed for re-election, for the seventh time. He says he has no intention of slowing down.
"Research physician was saying that the human body was really meant to live at least 120 years. They really believed in the biblical concepts of 120 years is entirely possible. It's what you do to your body that you don't live 120 years. And I said I take pretty good care of mine. This one guy said, 'My God, you're not going to stay around that long are you?' (laughs)," said Senator Stevens.
There is no denying, the road ahead will be long, for many reasons. Alaskans are increasingly demanding more from the people they put into office. They are demands that take a toll across party lines. And yes, even on this face of Alaskan politics. Naturally, I had to ask:
When was the last time you cried?
"You're getting real personal now. But I cry when I see a sick baby, (long pause)...and when I see things I can not change," said Stevens.
In Part II of this CBS 11 News exclusive interview, Senator Stevens talks politics, from ANWR to the debate over listing the polar bear as endangered--why he says extreme environmentalists are killing this state. And yes, we'll touch upon those much talked about earmarks.
"McCain's wrong. Even the president's wrong on that. But it's the common thing right now to make people think, 'Look if we can take care of earmarks, eliminate earmarks, we won't have deficits.' Wrong--earmarks are just a current political fad, is my opinion," said Stevens.
You'll hear more on his surprising response to the earmark issue, his frustration over the current plan for a natural gas pipeline and his strong message to Alaskan voters who have lost their faith in politics in Part II of our exclusive interview with Senator Stevens.
Click Below For Part II:
To contact Raegan, call 907-273-3186.
