Network TV Online
Network News Latest
Network News Video
Network Top Stories
Alaska News Videos
Alaska SuperViewer
ABC Alaska Obituaries
Email the ABC Alaska Newsroom
The CW in Alaska
ABC Alaska SuperWorks

Former Governor Wally Hickel Dies at 90

Tools

Steve Brawn
The Associated Press

Former Alaska Gov. Walter Hickel, who was Richard Nixon's interior secretary until he was fired after criticizing the handling of Vietnam protests, has died at age 90.

Longtime assistant Malcolm Roberts says Hickel died Friday night of what his son Jack Hickel described as natural causes. He died at Horizon House, an assisted living facility in Anchorage.

President Nixon fired Hickel in 1970 after he wrote a letter saying the administration was ignoring the concerns of "our young people." The letter helped stir the national debate about the growing generational rift over Vietnam.

The letter was written following the National Guard shootings during a protest at Ohio's Kent State University and the U.S. invasion of Cambodia.

Hickel was first elected Alaska governor in 1966. He resigned to take the Cabinet post. He served a second term as governor in the 1990s.

Hickel's funeral has been set for Monday, May 17th at Our Lady of Guadalope Church in Anchorage. It will start at 5:00pm and is open to the public.

Icon
Anchorage 51.0 °F
Icon
Fairbanks 42.0 °F
Icon
Juneau 49.0 °F
More Weather

weather2

MUROWSKI'S SENATE RUN

If Murkowski does not win the GOP senate seat, would you support her run as an independent?

  • Yes
  • No

Tonight on ABC

Flash Forward
7.00
flash forward
8.00
grey's anatomy
Private Practice
9.00
private practice
Vacation Rentals 411
Desperate Housewives
Ugly Betty
Brothers and Sisters