Reid pays tribute to Reagan

Suzanne Struglinski

Wednesday, June 9, 2004 | 9:32 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- President Ronald Reagan helped preserve Lake Tahoe and was a "good neighbor to Nevada," Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said on the Senate floor Tuesday.

Reid, like most of his Senate colleagues, paid tribute to the late president Tuesday, a day before his remains would be moved to Washington.

Reid said although Reagan was born in the Midwest, "I always saw him as a fellow son of the West."

Reid described how as governor of California, Reagan and Nevada Gov. Paul Laxalt created the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency while Reid was a member of the state Assembly in 1969.

"That began the effort to save Lake Tahoe an effort that continues to this day," Reid said.

And President Reagan stopped the MX Missile project from bringing nuclear warheads on train to Nevada, Reid said.

He said after Reagan took office, "Sen. Laxalt was probably the best friend he had in town."

Laxalt, a Republican, was a close friend of Reagan's and led Reagan's presidential campaigns.

"Every time Ronald Reagan ran for President Paul Laxalt delivered a nominating speech for him," Reid said.

Reid also talked about Las Vegas political adviser Sig Rogich's contribution to Reagan's re-election campaign in 1984. Rogich came up with the theme "It's morning in America," Reid said.

"That became one of the most famous lines associated with President Reagan, because it perfectly captured his innate optimism," Reid said. "That optimism resonated with the American people because most of us are optimists at heart. And certainly, the story of the West is the story of optimists who believe that a fresh start is always possible, and opportunity is right over the horizon."

When Reid came to Washington as a member of the House in 1982, Reagan referred to Democrats at "our friends on the other side."

"He realized that in the world of politics, we all want to do what is best for America even though we might not always agree about what that is," Reid said. "He realized that all Americans love freedom and all Americans cherish opportunity."

Reid said he kept in touch with the president after he left office. He received a note from Reagan in 1989 after Reid announced he supported the repeal of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, which limits a president to two terms. Reagan said he was glad Reid wanted the repeal since it was "a violation of the people's right to vote for whomever they want."

"I have that handwritten note in a scrapbook, along with my other notes from President Reagan, and my pictures with him and Nancy," Reid said.

"As a young man growing up in Nevada, how could I not admire a man who was host of the TV program 'Death Valley Days'?" Reid said.

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., is planning to speak about Reagan on the Senate floor today or Friday, spokesman Jack Finn said.