The Nation - News from July 23, 1985

The Alaska Legislature opened a historic hearing into whether Gov. Bill Sheffield should be impeached over allegations that he steered a lucrative state lease to a political crony and lied to a grand jury. The governor said he was looking forward to telling his side of the story. Senate President Don Bennett, a Republican, voiced the hope that the hearings, which are being carried on radio and television to much of the state, would be “cathartic” for Alaska. “The major thing that is at stake for the people of our state is to have confidence in government and to have confidence in our system,” he said.