Where I came from, south Anchorage in the early 80’s, Juneau Sen. Bill Ray was a bogeyman. The first time I saw him was on the street in Juneau, when I first arrived there. He noticed me looking at him, and didn’t like my attitude. When the Senate Minority nominated me to represent them on Judiciary, Bill, the Chairman, refused to allow me on his committee. I swallowed my pride, told Bill that it was all a misunderstanding, and he relented. I was a good committee member, and eventually we got along pretty good. He liked to tell me stories.
Especially about Mike Gravel, who he despised. Gravel got elected Speaker back in the 60’s by promising the Rules Chair to two different guys. Gov. Egan called everybody to his office to find out what the hell was going on. He asked Gravel what the hell he thought he was doing, and Gravel said he had to do it — it was for the good of the state.
So Speaker Gravel and Bill are in Sitka on state business, staying at a waterfront hotel. They’re checking out, and Gravel tells Bill to go back up to his room and get his bags. So Bill goes up, opens the window, and throws the bags into the bay.
Bill was a very practical politician. He told me he got a call from some Presidential campaign, asking for his help in Alaska. Bill’s answer was short and sweet.
“What’s in it for me?”
reaganproject.blog 