Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

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Sen. Harry Reid

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev. gestures while meeting with reporters to discuss Iraq, Tuesday, July 10, 2007 on Capitol Hill in Washington

Photo by AP/ AP

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev. gestures while meeting with reporters to discuss Iraq, Tuesday, July 10, 2007 on Capitol Hill in Washington

Moving into the seat of Senate Majority Leader in 2007 after many years as minority leader was "the difference between playing first base for the Yankees and playing for Basic High School," Harry Reid told the Sun in a year-end interview.

Although Reid invested a lot of effort in his first year to unsuccessfully change Iraq war policy, he said "it's been a tremendously fascinating, interesting year for me."

The senator has spent a lifetime representing Nevada's interests. He got his start in government as Henderson's city attorney, then went to elective politics to Nevada's State Assembly in 1968.

In 1970, at age 30, he became Nevada's youngest-ever lieutenant governor. In 1977, he became chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission.

Reid was elected in 1982 to the first of two terms he served in the U.S. House of Representatives. And in 1986, he ran for the Senate, where he has been re-elected four times.

Reid was born in Searchlight, Nev., a small rural mining town, and grew up in a cabin, the son of a hard-rock miner. Because there was no high school in the tow, he moved to Henderson to attend Basic High School, where he met his wife, Laura.

The Reids have four grown children and 16 grandchildren.

All stories

TSA unveils self-screening system for passengers at Harry Reid International

Fri, Mar 8, 2024

The Transportation Security Administration unveiled a self-service screening system at Harry Reid this week that will allow passengers to go through the motions of security at their own pace, following ...

Over 4 million pass through Las Vegas airport in Feb. for first time

Tue, Mar 28, 2023

Harry Reid International Airport saw more than 4 million travelers last month, breaking its passenger record for February, according to a Monday report from ...

With Reid gone, Democrats turn to union to turn election

Wed, Oct 26, 2022

The Democratic political machine the late Sen. Harry Reid built in Nevada during his decades in office may well be on its heels. That is, unless, a key constituency group ...

Voting aside, Lombardo confident ‘this primary is over’

Sun, May 29, 2022

At the end of a debate of the five leading GOP candidates in the Nevada gubernatorial race, Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo closed with a proclamation that the race was ...

Former U.S. Sen. Harry Reid banned from Russia, even after his death

Mon, May 23, 2022

Former Nevada U.S. Sen. Harry Reid isn’t welcome in Russia. Same for former Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Orrin Hatch of Utah. All three are deceased, but they were ...

‘We lost a giant’: Harry Reid’s memorial draws tributes from family, friends

Sat, Jan 8, 2022

Harry Reid would have not liked sitting through his own memorial service Saturday in downtown Las Vegas. He would have felt a little awkward.

Family, friends pay tribute to Nevada icon Harry Reid

Sat, Jan 8, 2022

Former U.S. Sen. Harry Reid’s memorial service today in Las Vegas will be fitting for one of the state’s icons and nation’s most notable leaders.

Harry Reid memorial to feature political heavyweights, famous musicians

Wed, Jan 5, 2022

The memorial service for former U.S. Sen. Harry Reid on Saturday in Las Vegas will feature remarks from President Joe Biden, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and ...

In tweets, a different side of Nevada’s Harry Reid emerges

Wed, Dec 29, 2021

Nearly two decades after Natalie Ravitz suffered a personal tragedy, she still recalls how then-U.S. Sen. Harry Reid comforted her with some heartfelt words over a cup of coffee. She ...

Sisolak orders flags lowered in honor of late U.S. Sen. Harry Reid

Wed, Dec 29, 2021

Flags on Nevada state buildings will be lowered in honor of the late Sen. Harry Reid, a native who went from humbling begins in Searchlight to ...

Reactions to former U.S. Sen Harry Reid’s death from friends, colleagues, presidents

Tue, Dec 28, 2021

After former U.S. Sen. Harry Reid’s wife, Landra, announced his death today, messages of sympathy, respect and thanks from his many friends and colleagues started pouring in. President Joe Biden ...

A timeline of Harry Reid’s storied political career

Tue, Dec 28, 2021

A storied life and political career came to an end today with the death of former U.S. Sen. Harry Reid at the age of 82. From humble beginnings in tiny ...

Las Vegas airport renamed for former U.S. Sen. Harry Reid

Tue, Dec 14, 2021

It’s official: Visitors to Las Vegas are now landing at Harry Reid International Airport. Dignitaries, including Gov. Steve Sisolak, gathered today at Terminal 3 of the former McCarran International Airport ...

Las Vegas airport could become Harry Reid International in September

Wed, Jul 28, 2021

McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas could become Harry Reid International as soon as September, a Clark County official said today. The county could conduct a ceremony and ...

Beyond Sci-Fi: Studies of UFOs gain mainstream acceptance years after Harry Reid first pushed for them

Sun, May 9, 2021

Former Sen. Harry Reid is a somewhat unlikely advocate of the mysterious. He’s never personally seen a UFO, nor does he have any desire to see one. And yet, he ...

Videos

Obama speaks at Caesars, part 1
Obama speaks at Caesars, part 1
President Barack Obama spoke at a fundraiser for Senate majority leader Harry Reid at Caesars ...
Obama speaks at Caesars, part 2
Obama speaks at Caesars, part 2
President Barack Obama spoke at a fundraiser for Senate majority leader Harry Reid at Caesars ...
Obama speaks at Caesars, part 3
Obama speaks at Caesars, part 3
President Barack Obama spoke at a fundraiser for Senate majority leader Harry Reid at Caesars ...
Obama speaks at Caesars, part 4
Obama speaks at Caesars, part 4
President Barack Obama spoke at a fundraiser for Senate majority leader Harry Reid at Caesars ...
Knockout Punch, seg. 1
Knockout Punch, seg. 1
Polls show U.S. Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nevada-D) is vulnerable in the 2010 election. ...
Brower in 2010? seg. 1
Brower in 2010? seg. 1
Nevada's U.S. Attorney says he'll be out the door by the fall. Does Greg Brower ...
Newseum Makes Headlines
Newseum Makes Headlines
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., and comedian Steven Colbert each ...
Face to Face: Harry Reid Interview
Face to Face: Harry Reid Interview
President Bush is getting kudos for that economic stimulus package. Are tax rebates to millions ...
Harry Reid's Caucus
Harry Reid's Caucus
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., returned Jan. 19, 2008, to his rural hometown ...

Slideshows

Obama, Reid at Caesars (5-26-2009)
Reid protest
Reid Commissions Wind Turbine
Reid at the Boys & Girls Club
Sen. Harry Reid spoke Thursday at the grand opening of the John C. Kish Boys ...
Reid visits Three Square
Sen. Harry Reid makes an appearance at Three Square Food Bank to discuss Southern Nevada's ...