Paul Laxalt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paul Laxalt
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| General Chair of the Republican National Committee |
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| In office January 28, 1983 – January 23, 1987 Serving with Frank Fahrenkopf
(National Chair) |
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| Preceded by | Richard Richards (Chair) |
| Succeeded by | Lee Atwater (Chair) |
| United States Senator from Nevada |
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| In office December 18, 1974 – January 3, 1987 |
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| Preceded by | Alan Bible |
| Succeeded by | Harry Reid |
| 22nd Governor of Nevada | |
| In office January 2, 1967 – January 4, 1971 |
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| Lieutenant | Edward Fike |
| Preceded by | Grant Sawyer |
| Succeeded by | Mike O'Callaghan |
| 23rd Lieutenant Governor of Nevada | |
| In office January 1, 1963 – January 2, 1967 |
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| Governor | Grant Sawyer |
| Preceded by | Maude Frazier |
| Succeeded by | Edward Fike |
| District Attorney of Ormsby County | |
| In office 1951–1955 |
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| Preceded by | Richard Waters |
| Succeeded by | Cameron McVicar Batjer |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Paul Dominique Laxalt
August 2, 1922 Reno, Nevada, U.S. |
| Died | August 6, 2018 (aged 96) McLean, Virginia, U.S. |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses |
Jackalyn Ross
(m. 1946; div. 1972)Carol Laxalt
(m. 1975) |
| Children | 6 |
| Relatives | Robert Laxalt (brother) Adam Laxalt (grandson) |
| Education | Santa Clara University (BA) University of Denver (LLB) |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1943–1946 |
| Battles/wars | World War II • Battle of Leyte |
Paul Dominique Laxalt (born August 2, 1922 – died August 6, 2018) was an American lawyer and politician. He served as the 22nd Governor of Nevada from 1967 to 1971. Later, he became a U.S. Senator for Nevada from 1974 to 1987.
A member of the Republican Party, Laxalt was a close friend of Ronald Reagan. When Reagan became President in 1980, many called Laxalt "the first friend." He was the older brother of writer Robert Laxalt. His grandson, Adam Laxalt, also served as the Nevada Attorney General.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Paul Laxalt was born on August 2, 1922, in Reno, Nevada. His parents, Therese and Dominique Laxalt, were from the Basque region in the French Pyrenees. They moved to the United States in the early 1900s. His father, Dominique, was a shepherd. His mother, Therese, was a trained chef who opened a restaurant called The French Hotel in Carson City, Nevada.
Paul had five siblings. His brother Robert became a famous author. The children helped their mother at the restaurant. Paul played on the state champion basketball team at Carson High School. After graduating, he went to Santa Clara University.
During World War II, Paul joined the U.S. Army. He served as a medic and saw action in the Battle of Leyte in the Philippines. After the war, he finished his law degree at the Sturm College of Law.
Early Career in Law
After law school, Paul Laxalt became a successful lawyer. He served as a District Attorney for Ormsby County, Nevada from 1950 to 1954. He represented important clients, including George Whittell and Harvey and Llewellyn Gross, who built Harvey's Wagon Wheel casino.
He also helped win a famous case called the "Golden Rooster case." The government tried to take a 15-pound solid gold rooster from his client, Dick Graves. Laxalt helped Graves keep the rooster.
Political Journey
Paul Laxalt first ran for statewide office in 1962. He ran for Lieutenant Governor of Nevada. He used new television ads to introduce himself to voters. He won the election and served as Lieutenant Governor from 1963 to 1967.
Running for U.S. Senate in 1964
In 1964, while still Lieutenant Governor, Laxalt ran for the United States Senate. He challenged the sitting Democratic Senator, Howard Cannon. Laxalt decided to run because no other strong Republican candidates stepped forward.
The election was tough for Republicans that year. The Republican presidential candidate, Barry Goldwater, was not very popular. Laxalt's team told him to avoid Goldwater. But Laxalt said Goldwater was his friend and he would rather lose than ignore him.
The race was very close. One TV network even announced that Laxalt had won. But the next morning, it was clear that Cannon had won by only 48 votes. This was one of the closest Senate races ever.
Serving as Governor
Laxalt then decided to run for Governor in 1966. He challenged the two-term Governor, Grant Sawyer. A big issue in the campaign was how the federal government looked at Nevada's gambling industry. Some federal agencies were concerned about the industry.
Laxalt believed Nevada should work with federal officials. This would help Nevada show that it could properly manage gambling. After he won, one of his first actions was to meet with FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. He wanted to build a good working relationship.
Laxalt served as Governor from January 1967 to January 1971. During his time, the billionaire Howard Hughes bought several hotels and casinos. Laxalt supported this, believing it would help the gambling industry look more legitimate. With Hughes's help, Laxalt also started Nevada's first community colleges and its first medical school.
He also worked with Governor Ronald Reagan to create the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. This agency helps protect the beautiful Lake Tahoe. Laxalt also expanded state parks and worked on improving prisons. He even visited the Nevada State Prison during a prisoner uprising. He listened to the prisoners' concerns and ordered improvements.
Laxalt managed Nevada's money carefully. He had to raise taxes at first, but he left office with a budget surplus. He decided not to run for a second term, saying he was "tired of politics."
United States Senate
After being governor, Laxalt and his family opened a hotel/casino in Carson City, Nevada. In 1974, he decided to return to politics. He ran for an open U.S. Senate seat. He faced Harry Reid, who was then the Lieutenant Governor.
The Watergate scandal made it hard for Republicans to win elections in 1974. When President Gerald Ford pardoned former President Richard Nixon, Laxalt's chances seemed to get worse. He said it felt like having "a hundred pound weight around my neck." Still, he won by fewer than one thousand votes.
To help Laxalt gain more seniority, Senator Alan Bible resigned early. Governor Mike O'Callaghan then appointed Laxalt to finish Bible's term. In 1980, Laxalt was re-elected to the Senate with 59% of the vote.
Senate Work
In the Senate, Laxalt was involved in many important debates. In 1977, he led the effort against President Jimmy Carter's plan to give the Panama Canal to Panama. Even though his side lost, Laxalt earned respect for how he led the opposition.
He was well-liked by other senators, even those from different parties. He was good friends with both conservative Senator Jesse Helms and liberal Senator Ted Kennedy.
Laxalt served on several important committees. These included the Labor and Public Welfare Committee, the Appropriations Committee, and the Judiciary Committee. When Republicans gained control of the Senate in 1981, Laxalt became chairman of key subcommittees. In 1986, he helped get William Rehnquist approved as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
Friendship with Ronald Reagan
Paul Laxalt and Ronald Reagan became close friends when they were both governors. They worked together on issues like protecting Lake Tahoe. During Reagan's presidency, Laxalt was often called "The First Friend."
Laxalt was the national chairman for three of Reagan's presidential campaigns. He officially nominated Reagan at the Republican conventions in 1976, 1980, and 1984. In 1980, some thought Laxalt might become Reagan's Vice President, but George H. W. Bush was chosen instead. At Reagan's request, Laxalt also served as the General Chairman of the Republican Party from 1983 to 1987.
Many Nevadans came to work in Washington, D.C., because of Laxalt's connection to Reagan. His aide, Barbara Vucanovich, became the first woman elected to a federal position from Nevada. His friend, Frank Fahrenkopf, became Chairman of the Republican National Committee.
In 1976, Reagan ran for president against the sitting president, Gerald Ford. Reagan asked Laxalt to be his national campaign chairman. Laxalt agreed, even though it risked his relationship with the Ford White House. Laxalt traveled all over the country to support Reagan. This helped Laxalt become more well-known across the nation.
Sacramento Bee Lawsuit
In 1983, a newspaper called the Sacramento Bee published articles about Laxalt's family hotel-casino, the Ormsby House. The articles mentioned that some federal agents had suspected that profits were being secretly taken from the casino. Laxalt sued the Bee for libel, saying the claims were false and harmful to his reputation. He denied knowing about any wrongdoing.
The lawsuit was settled in 1987. The Bee stated that their investigations had not found proof of wrongdoing at the Ormsby House. Laxalt said the case proved the newspaper's claims were baseless. A panel of judges later awarded Laxalt money to cover his legal fees.
1988 Presidential Election
Laxalt left the Senate in 1987. Harry Reid, the man he had beaten in 1974, replaced him. Reid later became the Senate Majority Leader.
Laxalt briefly ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 1988. His campaign lasted only four months because he couldn't raise enough money. He then became a co-chairman for George H. W. Bush's successful presidential campaign. He also helped Bob Dole's presidential campaign in 1996.
After Politics
After leaving the Senate, Paul Laxalt worked at law firms and later started his own consulting firm. President George H. W. Bush appointed him to a special panel to reduce the national debt.
Laxalt was honored in many ways. The Paul Laxalt Mineral Engineering Center, an $11 million building, was completed in 1983 at the University of Nevada-Reno. The Paul Laxalt State Building in Carson City is a historic federal building.
One program Laxalt was very proud of was his "Intern" program. It brought college students to Washington, D.C., to work in his Senate office. Many of these interns went on to successful careers, including Brian Sandoval, who later became Governor of Nevada.
On August 2, 2012, Governor Sandoval declared Paul Laxalt's 90th birthday as "Paul Laxalt Day" in Nevada.
Personal Life
Paul Laxalt married Jackalyn Ross in 1946. They had five daughters and one son. They divorced in 1972. Laxalt then married his second wife, Carol, in 1975. They remained married until his death. He had twelve grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
His grandson, Adam Laxalt, served as Attorney General of Nevada from 2015 to 2019.
Death
Paul Laxalt passed away on August 6, 2018, four days after his 96th birthday.
Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Laxalt was a "gentleman" who treated everyone with "utmost respect and friendship." Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval called him "a statesman, a gentleman and a class act."
A funeral service was held for Senator Laxalt in Washington, D.C. He was later buried at Arlington National Cemetery with military honors, recognizing his service in World War II.
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Paul Laxalt
