Theodore Fulton Stevens Sr., more commonly known as Ted Stevens served as a great politician throughout his life. Stevens also served in the military in the Army Air Forces during World War II. His first government job was serving as the United States Attorney in Alaska from March 30, 1954 until June 1956.
Early Life
Stevens was born on November 18, 1923 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Stevens parents divorced when he was six and went to live with his paternal grandparents. His mother moved to California and his siblings eventually followed when his mom could afford to move them out. Stevens stayed behind to help take care of his father who became blind and cared for his mentally disabled cousin. They moved to Manhattan Beach, California in 1938 after the passing of his father and grandparents to live with his mother. Stevens graduated high school in 1942 and enrolled at Oregon State University to study engineering. However, he only attended for one semester.
Military Service
Stevens tried joining the Navy and serve in naval aviation but he failed the vision exam. After correcting his vision with a course of prescribed eye exercises, he was accepted into the Army Air Force Air Cadet program at Montana State College in 1943. He was transferred to preflight training in Santa Ana, California where he received his wings in 1944. Stevens received the Distinguished Flying Cross for flying behind enemy lines and the Air Medal. He was discharged in March 1946.
Early Legal Career
After the war, Stevens attended the University of California, Los Angeles where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 1947. He applied to Harvard Law School where he ended up attending. Stevens graduated in 1950. Post graduating, he went to work in Washington, D.C. at the law offices of Northcutt Ely. Stevens handled the legal affairs of a client named Emil Usibelli, founder of the Usibelli Coal Mine in Healy, Alaska who was trying to sell coal to the military.
Early Alaska Career
Stevens received a job in Fairbanks, Alaska by Charles Clasby to work at his firm. Stevens and his wife packed up their 1947 Buick and traveled with a $600 loan from Clasby. They drove up the Alaska Highway in the dead of winter and arrived to Fairbanks in February 1953. Stevens only worked for Clasby for six months before he was asked to serve as the U.S. Attorney. Robert McNealy was the U.S. Attorney at the time, but since he was resigning, someone needed to fill his position. Even though Stevens had only lived in Alaska for a short while and had a lack of trial and criminal law experience, he still accepted the position. This was Stevens first government job.
Stevens soon gained the reputation as an active prosecutor who was “tough on crime.” He sometimes accompanied the U.S. Marshals on raids. Stevens also became known for his temper, which was particularly focused on a criminal defense lawyer named Warren Taylor. He would get red in the face, blow up in the courtroom and then walk out. Stevens’ wife, Ann would make him read self-help books to try to calm him down but this did not work. Overall, Stevens enjoyed serving as a U.S. attorney and looked forward to his next government job as a Solicitor of the United State Department of the Interior. Learn more about Stevens government positions here.
The Merdes Law Firm has been helping injured Alaskans for more than 30 years. It’s who we are. And while we hope you never need us … We’re here if you do. ~ Ward Merdes
Source: Wikipedia
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