What was Harry Reid’s net worth and salary?
Harry Reid, a Democratic politician and former US Senator representing Nevada, passed away at the age of 82 with a net worth of $10 million.
Reid had a long political career, serving as Lieutenant Governor of Nevada, chairman for the Nevada Gaming Commission, two terms in the House of Representatives, and as a U.S. Senate Majority Whip and Minority Whip. He was also the chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee and held the office of a minority leader and majority leader.
Despite his political successes, Reid faced criticism throughout his career, including accusations of using campaign contributions for personal use, using his political power to help a friend build a golf course, and taking donations during the Jack Abramoff Indian Lobbying Scandal.
Early Life and Education
Harry Reid was born on December 2, 1939 in Searchlight, Nevada. He was the third of four sons born to Harry and Inez Reid. His father worked as a rock miner while his mother served as a laundress for local brothels. Reid’s childhood home was essentially a shack with no indoor toilet or hot water.
Reid attended Basic High School in Henderson, about 40 miles away from his home in Searchlight. While in school, he played football and also became an amateur boxer. His boxing coach was future Nevada governor, Mike O’Callaghan. After high school, Reid attended Southern Utah University and then transferred to Utah State University. He graduated in 1961 with a double major degree in political science and history. He then enrolled at George Washington University Law School and earned his J.D. in 1964.
Harry Reid’s Political Career
After serving as Henderson city attorney, Reid was elected to the Nevada Assembly in 1968. He then served as lieutenant governor from 1971 to 1974 and ran for the U.S. Senate seat in 1974 but lost. In 1982, Reid won a seat in the House of Representatives and later won the Democratic nomination for a Nevada U.S. Senate seat, which he held onto in several challenging reelections. While in the Senate, Reid held numerous leadership positions, including Senate Minority Leader and Senate Majority Leader. He sponsored a bill to bar congressional members from accepting gifts from lobbyists and supported progressive views on issues such as same-sex marriage and abortion rights. He also initiated the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program to study UFOs.
Scandal and Controversy
During his time as chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission, Reid was involved in several scandalous news stories, including presiding over a hearing that refused to give Frank Rosenthal a gaming license due to his connections to organized crime, which Rosenthal alleged Reid was also under the control of. In 1981, Reid’s wife found a bomb attached to their family station wagon, which he believed was placed there by Rosenthal’s men.
Legacy and Achievements
Reid was known for his support of conservation efforts in Nevada and received a Lifetime Achievement honor from the League of Conservation Voters in 2015. He retired in 2017 as the longest-serving U.S. Senator from Nevada.
Harry Reid’s Personal Life and Passing
Reid met his future wife, Landra Gould, in high school, but her parents objected to their relationship because he was not Jewish. The couple eloped in 1959 and had five children. They converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while in college, and Reid often noted the alignment of Democratic values with Mormon beliefs.
In 2015, Reid broke several ribs and bones in his face while exercising at home. In 2018, he underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer and announced in 2019 that it was in remission. However, the cancer returned, and Reid passed away at his home in Nevada on December 28, 2021 at the age of 82.
Many political figures, including former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, paid tribute to Reid. His funeral was broadcast live on CNN.
