Everett prepares for next chapter

WASHINGTON — Rep. Terry Everett is retiring from Congress and politics, but that doesn’t mean he plans on taking it easy.

Everett, 71, said Wednesday in his Washington office that he has no plans to run for political office again. And while he is leaving Congress, he’s not ready to give up working on the issues he’s been focused on, particularly national missile defense and military and civilian space programs.

“I don’t believe in retirement,” he said. “I can’t remember not having a job.”

Everett, a Republican from Rehobeth, has represented Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District since 1993. He unexpectedly announced his retirement in September 2007, citing advancing age and some health problems. Traveling from Alabama to Washington has also become tiresome, he said.

“Flying two times a week, to and fro, it’s really kind of tough,” he said.

His retirement set off a feverish battle to replace him with Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright, a Democrat, winning the seat.

As Everett prepares to turn over the keys to the district to Bright, he’s planning his next move.

In January, he will participate in a week-long training exercise with the Air Force Space Command and the U.S. Strategic Command where officials role-play what they would do if the country lost its assets in space. Everett will play the part of the president. He’ll be the first member of Congress to participate.

The one-time Air Force intelligence specialist said he regrets not being able to bring more attention to securing the country’s satellite technology that both the military and the economy are dependent on.

“There’s almost nothing in our daily lives that space doesn’t touch,” he said.

Everett, who’ll draw a congressional pension, is also considering serving as a senior advisor on space protection policy for a think-tank. The work would be pro-bono.

During his time in office, Everett has also focused on agriculture concerns, such as peanut farming, and protecting and steering funding toward Fort Rucker and Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base.

The issues he focused on and his low-key, matter-of-fact approach served his district well, said friends and colleagues.

“When he speaks, people listen,” said Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Mobile.

Everett also has a good grasp of what is truly important, said Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Anniston.

“He has a real ability to cut through the clutter,” he said.

Colleagues and friends say his work on national security matters — particularly as a senior member of the House Armed Services and Intelligence committees — meant Everett often did not receive attention for his hard work.

Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., who served on several committees with Everett, said his friend has never been a self-promoter. That may have cost him stature in Washington.

“His work behind closed doors was in a sense a sacrifice of political career,” he said.

But Everett said that doesn’t bother him and points to the men and women who work to keep America safe as more deserving of credit.

“We have people that you never hear about that die in defense of this country,” he said.

Charles Nailen, a Dothan businessman who’s worked with Everett on protecting Fort Rucker from cuts, said Everett appeared energized by his work on national security issues.

“It’s something in his later years that he really seemed to enjoy and was motivated by,” he said.

Everett said he’ll miss the friends he made on both sides of the aisle, but Washington has become much more partisan during his 16 years.

A newspaper publisher prior to running for Congress, Everett will close his Washington office Tuesday. His district offices will remain open until Dec. 19.

On Wednesday, much of the office had been packed up. Everett said he does not regret his decision to retire.

“It was a good decision,” he said. “No regrets whatsoever. It’s led to a whole lot of new opportunities.”

But Nailen said one thing will remain the same, no matter what Everett’s next step.

“You see folks that go to Congress and they change,” he said. “Terry’s the same guy he was 16 years ago.”

Contact Amy Dominello at 202-662-7671 or