Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev) gives a thumbs up during a ceremony at UNLV Thursday, April 20, 2017. Reid was officially named as the first Distinguished Fellow in Law and Policy at UNLV’s Boyd School of Law.
Monday, May 1, 2017 | 2 a.m.
After bidding farewell to the U.S. Senate in December, Harry Reid has — perhaps surprisingly — had no trouble moving on from life in elected office.
Reid, whose 34-year legacy on Capitol Hill was highlighted by eight years as Senate majority leader from 2007 to 2015, was introduced this month as the first Distinguished Fellow in Law and Policy at UNLV’s Boyd School of Law during a star-studded, invite-only ceremony that included the likes of Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, U.S. Rep. Ruben Kihuen and Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson.
Reid also will head the university’s MGM Resorts Public Policy Institute with former Speaker of the House John Boehner, a rival in Congress whom Reid calls a friend. The think tank will aim to find bipartisan solutions to economic, social, political and workplace challenges.
During an exclusive interview with The Sunday last week, the retired senator spoke, candidly as ever, about his latest endeavors and lingering involvement in politics.
Being away from the job you held for so long, is it difficult? Do you miss it at all?
I thought it would be extremely difficult, but it really hasn’t been. I had a month before the Senate adjourned on Jan. 5. So during that month I was able to acclimate myself to not running the Senate. Sen. (Chuck) Schumer held his first caucus ... and I didn’t want to be second-guessing him or (have him) thinking I was looking over his shoulder, so I just checked out. I didn’t want to try to run the Senate from afar. I wanted to live in the future instead of the past.
We have some new faces in D.C. representing our state, with Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and Reps. Ruben Kihuen and Jacky Rosen. Are you involved at all?
If they call me, I answer the questions.
Do those calls happen frequently?
Often enough. They don’t bother me at all.
Are you impressed so far?
Well, I was with Catherine earlier today. And I marvel at her, because she knew what she wanted. She wanted to be a senator. She tried over the years to run for governor, lieutenant governor, all that kind of stuff. She didn’t want to. She always said to me, “I want to go to Washington.” So when I was injured and knew I couldn’t run again, I called her and just like that she was ready to go. That’s good. Ruben has worked with me since he was a teenager. I like him for a lot of reasons, not the least of which he was an outstanding soccer player in high school. He hurt his knee, so that ruined his career, but he has done extremely well. Jacky is such a fiend, for lack of a better description. When Jacky decided to run, everybody made fun of me. ‘How could you pick somebody like that; she has never done anything in her life. She can’t win.’ And that’s what the Republicans thought also. But she was a giant killer.
After years of going against each other in Congress, how are you and John Boehner coming together for this new project at UNLV?
John Boehner and I are friends. He had his caucus he had to deal with, I had mine. ... And some of the biggest problems we faced in Washington during our tenure, Speaker Boehner and Leader Reid were able to work things out. We didn’t deal with a lot of fanfare; we dealt with it behind the scenes.
So you guys collaborated quite a bit?
Yeah, but it wasn’t something we broadcast.
Looking at the executive branch today ...
I’m happy to talk to you about a lot of things, but I don’t want to talk to you about (President Donald) Trump. I’ve said all I’m going to say about Trump because I can’t say anything good.
Nothing good?
No.
What will your work with UNLV’s law school look like?
This is new for the law school; this is new for me, and we’re going to kind of play it by ear. I’ve got a lot of interesting people who I’ve helped along the way, who would be good to come and talk to the law students and the faculty.
Anything in particular that called you to volunteer your time?
Yeah, one thing in particular: They asked me to do it.
You mentioned being keen on looking forward, but have you reflected on your time in Washington ...
No, others can do that. ... I’ve written three books. People want me to write another one about — nah, I’m not going to do it.
No more books?
No. It’s hard to write a book, and I don’t want to take the time (laughs). Three is enough.
What about grandfather responsibilities? That will take up some time.
No, she (pointing to wife, Landra) knows all the birthdays. We have 19 of them, so she takes care of that. I of course am very mean to all of the grandchildren.
Most of your grandchildren are in town?
Landra Reid: Yeah, and he can’t really avoid them (laughs). They’re in every neighborhood.
Were the grandchildren part of why you moved from your hometown of Searchlight to Anthem in Henderson?
Yes, we loved our home. But Landra had her neck broken a couple of times in an accident. She had breast cancer. It was pretty difficult. For us to fly home and drive out there 60, 65 miles and have to come back for things here, as we did for a long time, it was just no good. And I got where, because of the security I had around, people wanting to do us harm — me especially — I couldn’t go out walking like I used to do. We always had security people with me, 24 hours a day, and so it wasn’t fun like it used to be. So we have no regret. ... We have lots of land in Searchlight. Would you like to buy some (laughs)?
