American Notes Alaska

For each of the women, the trip to Alaska's Portage Glacier marked a beginning and an end. There on Memorial Day, Louisiana Democratic Congresswoman Lindy Boggs and Pegge Begich dedicated the $8 million Begich-Boggs Visitor Center, a memorial to their husbands, Louisiana Congressman Hale Boggs and Alaska Congressman Nick Begich, who together perished in a plane crash in the area while Boggs was campaigning for Begich in 1972. Lindy Boggs had come, on the anniversary of her husband's death, not only to open the center but help Begich campaign for the seat once held by her husband. Begich, who lost a close race for the seat two years ago, is attempting to follow in the footsteps of Boggs, who has filled her husband's former seat since the plane crash. Said Begich: "She adopted me once before; I suppose it is reasonable that she'll adopt me again."