Ted Stevens

Ted Stevens

Ted Stevens (November 8, 1923 - August 9, 2010) was a Republican U.S. Senator from Alaska. He served in the Senate for 40 years until he lost in 2008. He was at one time "President Pro Tempore of the Senate," meaning he was the longest-serving Senator of the party in power at the time and could lead the Senate if the Vice President was absent. He is known for bringing large amounts of money to Alaska in the form of "pork barrel" projects. This is because he was the chair of the Appropriations Committee, which gives money to states and projects. He is also known for the "series of tubes" analogy that he used to describe the Internet. The airport in Anchorage is named after him. Stevens was born in Indianapolis and lived in Chicago and Manhattan Beach, California before moving to Alaska. In 2010, Stevens died in a plane crash in Alaska at the age of 86.