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 converted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is a native of the small mining town of Searchlight, Nevada, where his nickname since childhood was "Pinky."Mark Leibovich Land of Hard Knocks, Washington Post July 17 2005 Reid attended Basic High School in Henderson, where he had as a history teacher Mike O'Callaghan, who would play a prominent role 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 law degree. Reid graduated in 1964 and returned to Nevada to work as a lawyer before entering politics. He served in the Nevada State Assembly from 1968 to 1970 and was 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.

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. Jack Gordon, the manager and future husband of singer LaToya Jackson, once tried to bribe Reid. Reid allowed the FBI to tape Gordon's attempt to bribe him with $12000, at which point Reid attempted (unsuccessfully) to strangle Gordon, saying "You son of a bitch, you tried to bribe me!"Walsh, Elsa "How a pro-gun, anti-abortion Nevadan leads the Senate’s Democrats". The New Yorker, August 8 2005

More on [ Harry Reid ]

washingtonpost.com: Recent votes in Congress

Congress 110, House vote: Vote 683: H R 6867
Fri, 03 Oct 2008 04:00:00 -0000
Question: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, As Amended. Bill: H R 6867 Vote description: Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008 Result: Passed, 368-28, with 38 not voting.
Congress 110, House vote: Vote 682: S 3197
Fri, 03 Oct 2008 04:00:00 -0000
Question: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass. Bill: S 3197 Vote description: National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Act Result: Passed, 411-0, with 22 not voting.
Congress 110, House vote: Vote 681: H R 1424
Fri, 03 Oct 2008 04:00:00 -0000
Question: On Motion to Concur in Senate Amendments. Bill: H R 1424 Vote description: Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 Result: Passed, 263-171.
Congress 110, House vote: Vote 680: H RES 1525
Fri, 03 Oct 2008 04:00:00 -0000
Question: On Agreeing to the Resolution. Bill: H RES 1525 Vote description: Providing for Consideration of the Senate Amendments to H.R. 1424, Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. Result: Passed, 223-205, with 5 not voting.
Congress 110, House vote: Vote 679: H RES 1525
Fri, 03 Oct 2008 04:00:00 -0000
Question: On Ordering the Previous Question. Bill: H RES 1525 Vote description: Providing for Consideration of the Senate Amendments to H.R. 1424, Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. Result: Passed, 235-190, with 8 not voting.
Congress 110, House vote: Vote 678: H R 7221
Thu, 02 Oct 2008 04:00:00 -0000
Question: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, As Amended. Bill: H R 7221 Vote description: Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act Result: Passed, 355-61, with 17 not voting.

Subscribe to Legislative_Branch RSS feed