Not so, Donuel, no matter what the Stevens family is saying today. He was not appreciably involved in garnering statehood- he wasn't even a senator at the time statehood was granted. When Democratic Senator Bartlett died in 1968 - 9 years after statehood - Governor Wally Hickel, a Republican at the time, filled the position with Stevens.

In fact, when Bartlett went in for heart surgery on the day he died, he quipped to the surgeon: Be careful with that knife, doc. If I die, there'll be a Republican in the Senate, you know.

Alaska statehood was primarily due to the efforts of Bob Bartlett and Senator Ernest Gruening.

As to the development of Alaska, yes, Ted Stevens was in there pitching for 40 years. Not always wisely.