Harry Reid

Harry Mason Reid (born December 2 1939) is the senior United States Senator from Nevada and a member of the Democratic Party, for which he serves as Senate Minority Leader.

Early life and work

Reid is a Latter-day Saint convert and native of the small mining town of Searchlight, Nevada. His father was an alcoholic gold miner who committed suicide. Reid attended Basic High School in Henderson, where he had as a history teacher Mike O'Callaghan, who would play prominently in his future. Reid received his A.S. from Southern Utah State College in 1959 and in 1961 earned his B.S. from Utah State University. He moved to Washington, D.C. and worked as an officer for the U.S. Capitol Police while attending George Washington University for his J.D., Reid graduated in 1964 and returned to Nevada to work as a lawyer in the state before entering politics, serving from 1968 to 1970 in the Nevada State Assembly and then being elected lieutenant governor in 1970, the same year his mentor O'Callaghan was elected governor. He served in that office until 1974, when he ran for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Alan Bible. He lost by fewer than 600 votes to former Governor Paul Laxalt.

Related Topics:
Latter-day Saint - Searchlight, Nevada - Mike O'Callaghan - A.S. - Southern Utah State College - 1959 - 1961 - B.S. - Utah State University - Washington, D.C. - U.S. Capitol Police - George Washington University - J.D. - 1964 - Lawyer - 1968 - 1970 - Nevada State Assembly - Lieutenant governor - 1974 - Alan Bible - Paul Laxalt

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Reid then served as Nevada state gaming commissioner from 1977 to 1981, a post which subjected him to death threats. Reid's wife once found a bomb attached to one of their cars. A character in the film Casino played by Dick Smothers is based, in part, on Reid. An attempt was made by Jack Gordon (who would later manage and marry LaToya Jackson) to bribe Reid. Reid allowed the FBI to tape Gordon's attempt to bribe Reid with $12,000, at which point Reid attempted to strangle Gordon, saying "You son of a bitch, you tried to bribe me."

Related Topics:
Gaming commissioner - 1977 - 1981 - Casino - Dick Smothers - Jack Gordon - LaToya Jackson - FBI

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