Advisory Board: Governor Kenny Guinn, Chairman; U. S. Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign, Vice Chairmen; U. S. Representatives James Gibbons and Shelley Berkley, and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, Executive Directors.
U. S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao
Chairperson
Dr. Tony T. Lei
President
District Judges Mark Denton and Valorie Vega
Vice Presidents
Dr. William N. Thompson
Director of Public Administration Institution
Dr. E. Lee Bernick and Dr. G. Keong Leong
Deans of Graduate School of Business and Public Administration
Dr. Sue Fawn Chung
Director of Culture Institution
Justice of the Supreme Court William Maupin, Attorney General Brian Sandoval, and District Judge Stewart Bell, Honorary Chairmen of Clark County District Attorney and Police Civil Commission (CCDAPCC)
District Attorney David Roger and Clark County Sheriff Bill Young
Chairmen of CCDAPCC
(702) 255-9058
*It's our pleasure to pay a tribute to the above officials who dedicate to the civic and community service spects of our organization in an honorary or adjunct capacity.

-----------------------------------------------------
FATHER'S DAY: King of the Grill --- Whatever the reason, men are drawn to cooking outdoors
By John Przybys and PAI of WBTI*1

It's our pleasure to post this interesting feather article on this Father's Day for every family through the courtesy of Las Vegas Review-Journal:

Sunday, June 20, 2004
Copyright @ Las Vegas Review-Journal

FATHER'S DAY: King of the Grill

Is it primal Laziness (?) Whatever the reason, men are drawn to cooking outdoors

By JOHN PRZYBYS
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Click image for enlargement.
Illustration by Anton. (Please check it wit LVRJ.)

Today, as Americans celebrate both Father's Day and the official arrival of summer, the odds are good that the valley will be peppered with plumes of smoke rising from backyard barbecues.*2

It's safe to say, most of these burning pits o' charcoal or gas-spewing barbecue jets will be manned, as it were, by men.

Men and open fire. The link is probably as old as both fire and the Y chromosome.

What is it that makes a guy who's all thumbs in the kitchen a self-styled aficionado of slapping steaks around on an outdoor grill?

One school of thought says it's an atavistic instinct that dates back to man's history as hunter-gatherer.

Another says that, well, it's just about the taste of food that's cooked outdoors.

But the truth probably lies, as it often does, somewhere in-between.

First, though, make no mistake that Father's Day is a big one for America's barbecue-loving menfolk.

Father's Day is "a very, very big day for us," says Ed Fisher, manager of Barbeques Galore, 1124 W. Sunset Road, Henderson. "I'll be working my regular days off to help my guys."

Each year, in the days leading up to Father's Day, "you notice the wives buying barbecue grills for husbands and kids coming in to buy (barbecue) tools for dad," Fisher says.

According to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, about two-thirds of American men serve as their households' grillmeisters, even if the woman of the house is more likely to decide when dinner will be prepared outdoors and choose the menu.

"The wives love it," Fisher says. "It gets them out of the kitchen, and it keeps the kitchen clean."

Fisher figures he has been grilling since the age of 8 or 9.

"My dad was really into grilling," he explains. "As a child, I remember when he had his barbecue going, he had a little tailgate-type barbecue and I'd do some hot dogs on there, trying to imitate dad."

For Fisher, barbecuing takes men "back to the essentials."

The tending of an open fire. The choreography of flipping and turning. The primitive carnivorous instincts ignited by smelling a roasting piece of meat.

There is, Fisher says, a "mystique about barbecuing."

Jeff Special, owner of Bob Taylor's Ranch House, 6250 Rio Vista St., doesn't completely discount any of that. But he has a more simple explanation of why men find backyard grilling so appealing.

"For me, especially owning a steakhouse, it's just the flavor of a grilled steak," he says.

"I even grill shrimp and scallops on the grill. I don't know, grilling is just such a great way to cook and give great flavor."

"And, for me, it's convenient," Special adds. "I'd rather throw a steak on the grill than cook stuff in the kitchen and have to clean up the kitchen."

Granted, laziness and an aversion to cleaning up can be considered male traits, too. But does Special give any credence to that whole primitive playing-with-fire thing?

"I don't see that," he says.

"For me, it's the food and the smell. And the end result is such a great product."

Some might even ascribe a more selfish basis to maledom's love of outdoor cookery. Calor, a liquid propane gas supplier in the United Kingdom, says two-thirds of women questioned in a survey earlier this year believe men take control of the family barbecue out of pure ego: They just like to be the center of attention.

The company's press release quotes a psychologist who opines that modern males' "obsession with controlling the barbecue could stem from a primeval obsession with fire as well as an attempt at regaining power in today's female empowered society."

To which the average American male might say: Huh?

Then, quickly regaining his wits, the average American male might counter that he has so, too, evolved.

Consider, he might say, the fact that newfangled gas-powered grills have become the standard among America's backyard chefs, replacing all that fire-tending business with the simple modern turn of a switch.

According to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, 69 percent of American grill owners have a propane or natural gas grill, while 47 percent own a charcoal grill.

Fisher happens to be one of the 18 percent of Americans who own both a charcoal and a gas grill. That, he says, is a popular option among barbecuers who value both the flavor of charcoal or wood grills and the convenience of gas.

Women also seem to value the convenience of gas grills, he adds, not to mention such features as side burners that allow the preparation of an entire meal outdoors.

However, says Special -- who also has both a gas and a charcoal grill -- "me, personally, I never used the side burner on those. I just bought a new (gas) grill and didn't even get a side burner."

In his charcoal grill, Special uses mesquite rather than charcoal.

"I'm so used to it in the restaurant," he says, even if, for convenience, "I'll use gas."

American men also have evolved in terms of what to put on the grill. While surveys say hamburgers, steak, hot dogs and chicken breasts remain the most frequently barbecued items, Fisher says his perfect Father's Day cookout menu would consist of "some type of seafood."

"Pretty much everybody can do a steak," he says. "Everybody's gotten to where they can put a chicken on the rotisserie.

"I love doing south of the border cooking on the grill. I love doing the fajitas on the grill, the quesadillas. Or Philly steak on the grill."

"You can do turkey, dressing, pie, pretty much anything you can do in the oven you can do in the grill now," Fisher notes.

Even noncarnivores are, figuratively speaking, embracing the backyard grill.

"I have noticed in the last few years we do have people come in who are hard-core vegans," Fisher says. "We do a lot of grilling of vegetables and different things outside that you can enjoy just as much as steaks."

But even as Southern Nevada's men head out to their grills today for their Father's Day feasts, they may listen for the light tapping of feminine footsteps behind them.

"I've got to say that in the last five years, women have really been coming into the market," Fisher says.

Manufacturers even are -- horrors! -- beginning to cater to the distaff market by creating barbecues with softer edges, Fisher says.

"I know, in some of the European markets and Australian markets, some barbecues actually come in pastel colors," he adds.

It's as if, Fisher jokes in mock indignation, the womenfolk are "taking clubs out of our hands."

So enjoy it while it lasts guys, and try to have a happy, if relatively evolved, Father's Day anyway.*3

-------------------------------------------------------
References

*1. Las Vegas Review-Journal is the largest newspaper in Nevada. It has its website at the address of: reviewjournal.com. This website is famous with its communitylink. WBTI's website is brought to you through the communitylink of Las Vegas Review-Journal at http://communitylink.reviewjournal.com/lvrj/wbti. PAI of WBTI is the initial of Public Administration Institution of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI). PAI did only a little of the editing on this article.
*2.Las Vegas Review-Journal.
"reviewjournal.com on Sunday, 06-20-2004," (June 20, 2004), Las Vegas, Nevada: LVRJ.
*3. Ibid.

Advisory Board: Governor Kenny Guinn, Chairman; U. S. Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign, Vice Chairmen; U. S. Representatives James Gibbons and Shelley Berkley, and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, Executive Directors.
U. S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao
Chairperson
Dr. Tony T. Lei
President
District Judges Mark Denton and Valorie Vega
Vice Presidents
Dr. William N. Thompson
Director of Public Administration Institution
Dr. E. Lee Bernick and Dr. G. Keong Leong
Deans of Graduate School of Business and Public Administration
Dr. Sue Fawn Chung
Director of Culture Institution
Justice of the Supreme Court William Maupin, Attorney General Brian Sandoval, and District Judge Stewart Bell, Honorary Chairmen of Clark County District Attorney and Police Civil Commission (CCDAPCC)
District Attorney David Roger and Clark County Sheriff Bill Young
Chairmen of CCDAPCC
(702) 255-9058
*It's our pleasure to pay a tribute to the above officials who dedicate to the civic and community service spects of our organization in an honorary or adjunct capacity.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
U. S. Senator Harry Reid for our people and country
By Office of the Assistant Democratic Leader of the U. S. Senate and PAI of WBTI*1

"Reid for Nevada"
NV Congressional Delegation Introduces Lincoln County Public Lands Act

***Working with the other members of the Nevada Congressional Delegation, Senator Reid this week introduced a bipartisan plan for management of public lands in Lincoln County.. The bill will promote economic prosperity, provide new recreation opportunities, and protect wilderness in Lincoln County and southern Nevada.

Reid Delivers for Fallon Families

***Senator Reid announced federal funding for an independent investigation into the cause of the Fallon leukemia cluster. $223,000 will go toward the study to be headed by Dr. Jill James, a well-respected researcher in the field.*2

Reid Urges Extension of Terrorism Insurance Act

***Senator Reid is urging the U.S. Treasury to extend a successful program that makes terrorism insurance affordable for American businesses. After the September 11th attacks, owners of skyscrapers and other landmarks, including Las Vegas Strip resorts, realized they needed to be insured against bombings and other large-scale acts of aggression. Reid is pushing to extend this program that protects Nevada businesses and jobs.

Working with Nevadans

*** Senator Reid met with Las Vegas students Lindsey Wallace, Thomas Miskey and Paul Ko while they were in Washington for the Congressional Youth Leadership Conference.

***Jacob Bierstalt from North Las Vegas met with Senator Reid while he was in D.C. for the Lead America Conference.

***Senator Reid met with Fernley High School students Amy Wagner, Holly Schlotzhauer, Vanessa Murphy, and Jessica Gates while they were visiting Washington for the National History Competition.

*** Mary Lee of the Nevada League of Women Voters visited with Senator Reid and thanked him for his continued support of LWV programs.

***While in D.C., Presidential Classroom students Rhandi Jones and Ashley Rousseau met with Senator Reid in his Capitol office.

*****Members of the Nevada delegation, Senator John Ensign (left), Rep. Jim Gibbons and Senator Reid, at a press conference to announce their bipartisan support for the Lincoln County public lands bill that was introduced this week in the House and Senate.

"Week in Review"

Senate Makes Progress on Defense Authorization - The Senate this week made progress on the Department of Defense budget authorization bill, debating and voting on several amendments. Senators overwhelmingly approved a bipartisan amendment to increase the Army's troop strength by 20,000. On a vote largely along party lines, the Senate defeated a measure that would have rolled back the tax cut for the wealthiest 1 percent of taxpayers to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. A final vote on the DoD authorization is expected next week.

Reid Fights for Disabled Veterans- Senator Reid continued his long battle to end the unfair tax on disabled veterans, which deducts their disability benefits from their earned military retirement pay. The Senate on Friday adopted Reid's amendment to speed up the concurrent receipt of disability benefits and retirement pay for veterans who are 100 percent disabled.

Senate Intel Panel OKs Report- The Senate Intelligence Committee Thursday night unanimously approved a 400-page report on the quality of U.S. intelligence prior to the war in Iraq. But Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kan) estimated that the CIA has blacked out about half of the panel's work.

AARP Endorses Drug Reimportation- The AARP this week began a lobbying effort to support a bipartisan bill that would allow the reimportation of prescription drugs from Canada. The Medicare bill that President Bush signed last year does not allow reimportation

"INSIDER'S CALENDAR"
The Senate will convene Monday, June 21, at 1:00 p.m., and resume consideration of the Department of Defense Authorization bill. The Senate will continue to process amendments to the bill. Any roll call votes ordered will begin at approximately 5:30 p.m.

When the Senate completes action on the DOD bill, the Senate is expected to begin consideration of the Class Action Reform bill.

"Reid's Words"
Newly released tape recordings prove that Enron was ripping off consumers in Nevada and other states during the Western power crisis. I'm afraid we have a similar situation today with soaring gas prices - big oil companies are reaping record profits, and consumers are getting gouged.*3

*****http://reid.senate.gov Fax: (202) 228-7362 Phone: (202) 224 - 2158

--------------------------------------------------
References

*1. Harry Reid is the Senator and Assistant Democratic Leader of the U. S. Senate. This flier was edited by Public Administration Institution (PAI) of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI).
*2. Office of the Assistant Democratic Leader. 'WHIP ROUND UP,' "An e-mail to Dr. Tony Lei from the Office of U. S. Senator Harry Reid," (June 18, 2004), Washington, D. C.: Office of the Assistant Democratic Leader Harry Reid.
*3. Ibid.

Advisory Board: Governor Kenny Guinn, Chairman; U. S. Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign, Vice Chairmen; U. S. Representatives James Gibbons and Shelley Berkley, and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, Executive Directors.
U. S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao
Chairperson
Dr. Tony T. Lei
President
District Judges Mark Denton and Valorie Vega
Vice Presidents
Dr. William N. Thompson
Director of Public Administration Institution
Dr. E. Lee Bernick and Dr. G. Keong Leong
Deans of Graduate School of Business and Public Administration
Dr. Sue Fawn Chung
Director of Culture Institution
Justice of the Supreme Court William Maupin, Attorney General Brian Sandoval, and District Judge Stewart Bell, Honorary Chairmen of Clark County District Attorney and Police Civil Commission (CCDAPCC)
District Attorney David Roger and Clark County Sheriff Bill Young
Chairmen of CCDAPCC
(702) 255-9058
*It's our pleasure to pay a tribute to the above officials who dedicate to the civic and community service spects of our organization in an honorary or adjunct capacity.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Governor Kenny Guinn of Nevada appoints Jeffress to Wildlife Commission
By Office of the Governor*1

CARSON CITY ˇV Gov. Kenny Guinn today announced the appointment of certified wildlife biologist James B. Jeffress to the Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners.*2

ˇ§Jimˇ¦s 31 years of service for the Nevada Department of Wildlife coupled with his extensive background in wildlife biology made him the clear choice for the position,ˇ¨ Gov. Guinn said. ˇ§He has a sincere appreciation for Nevadaˇ¦s wildlife resources and a strong desire to ensure that they may continue to be enjoyed by future generations. I am confident that he will make an exceptional addition to the Board of Wildlife Commissioners.ˇ¨

Jeffress, 55, was born in Reno and now resides in Lovelock. A wildlife biologist and avid sportsman, Jeffress served the Nevada Department of Wildlife for 31 years before retiring in March 2003.

"I'm very honored to have the opportunity be a part of the Wildlife Commission in working on a number of important projects for the State of Nevada,ˇ¨ Jeffress said. ˇ§It's exciting to help our state and its citizens utilize our resources in a judicious fashion. I'm very grateful to Gov. Guinn for appointing me to this commission."

Jeffress will replace former Nevada Wildlife Commissioner Brad Quillici, who resigned.

The Wildlife Commission consists of nine members appointed by the Governor. Members are specified, by statute, as one member engaged in conservation of wildlife; one member actively engaged in farming; one member actively engaged in ranching; one member representing the general public; and five members who hold resident licenses to fish and/or hunt in Nevada.*3

Press Release: Governor appoints Jeffress to Wildlife Commission 6-16-04
Office of the Governor Grant Sawyer State Office Building
101 North Carson Street 555 East Washington, Suite 5100
Carson City, NV 89701 Las Vegas, NV 89101
Fax: 775-684-7198 Fax: 702-486-2505

----------------------------------------------------
References

*1. Office of Nevada Governor Kenny C. Guinn. Dr. Kenny Guinn is the Governor of Nevada, U. S. A..
*2. Office of the Governor. 'Press Release: Governor honors student with perfect ACT Score 6/15/04,' "An e-mail to Dr. Tony Lei from the Office of Governor Kenny C. Guinn," (June 15, 2004), Carson City, Nevada: Office of Governor Kenny Guinn.
*3. Ibid.

Advisory Board: Governor Kenny Guinn, Chairman; U. S. Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign, Vice Chairmen; U. S. Representatives James Gibbons and Shelley Berkley, and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, Executive Directors.
U. S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao
Chairperson
Dr. Tony T. Lei
President
District Judges Mark Denton and Valorie Vega
Vice Presidents
Dr. William N. Thompson
Director of Public Administration Institution
Dr. E. Lee Bernick and Dr. G. Keong Leong
Deans of Graduate School of Business and Public Administration
Dr. Sue Fawn Chung
Director of Culture Institution
Justice of the Supreme Court William Maupin, Attorney General Brian Sandoval, and District Judge Stewart Bell, Honorary Chairmen of Clark County District Attorney and Police Civil Commission (CCDAPCC)
District Attorney David Roger and Clark County Sheriff Bill Young
Chairmen of CCDAPCC
(702) 255-9058
*It's our pleasure to pay a tribute to the above officials who dedicate to the civic and community service spects of our organization in an honorary or adjunct capacity.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
NEVADA GOVERNOR KENNY GUINN HONORS LAS VEGAS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WHO ACHIEVED PERFECT ACT SCORE
By Office of the Governor*1

CARSON CITY - Gov. Kenny Guinn today honored Thomas Kaiser, a senior at Palo Verde High School in Las Vegas who was one of only 41 students in the nation who achieved a perfect score in the ACT Assessment college-entrance test, in a ceremony in Las Vegas.*2

"I would like to congratulate Thomas on this singular achievement," Gov. Guinn said. "Thomas' exceptional accomplishment places him in a remarkable group of young people in our country. Perfection is difficult to attain in academics, and I'm sure this is just the beginning of many more notable accomplishments in Thomasˇ¦ life. Our state is very proud of this fine young man."

Kaiser, son of Kathleen and James Kaiser, was the only college-bound student in Nevada to achieve a 36, the highest possible composite score, on the October 2003 national test administration. About 1,300 Nevada students and 425,000 from across the nation completed the ACT examination on Oct. 25, 2003.

The ACT consists of tests in English, mathematics, reading and science. Each test is scored on a scale of 1-36, and a student's composite score is the average of the four test scores. For purposes of comparison, the average composite score for the national high school graduating class of 2003 was 20.8.*3

Office of the Governor Grant Sawyer State Office Building
101 North Carson Street 555 East Washington, Suite 5100
Carson City, NV 89701 Las Vegas, NV 89101
Fax: 775-684-7198 Fax: 702-486-2505

----------------------------------------------------
References

*1. Office of Nevada Governor Kenny C. Guinn. Dr. Kenny Guinn is the Governor of Nevada, U. S. A..
*2. Office of the Governor. 'Press Release: Gov. Guinn Appoints Tim Cashman to Ethics Commission 6/15/04,' "An e-mail to Dr. Tony Lei from the Office of Governor Kenny C. Guinn," (June 15, 2004), Carson City, Nevada: Office of Governor Kenny Guinn.
*3. Ibid.

Advisory Board: Governor Kenny Guinn, Chairman; U. S. Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign, Vice Chairmen; U. S. Representatives James Gibbons and Shelley Berkley, and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, Executive Directors.
U. S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao
Chairperson
Dr. Tony T. Lei
President
District Judges Mark Denton and Valorie Vega
Vice Presidents
Dr. William N. Thompson
Director of Public Administration Institution
Dr. E. Lee Bernick and Dr. G. Keong Leong
Deans of Graduate School of Business and Public Administration
Dr. Sue Fawn Chung
Director of Culture Institution
Justice of the Supreme Court William Maupin, Attorney General Brian Sandoval, and District Judge Stewart Bell, Honorary Chairmen of Clark County District Attorney and Police Civil Commission (CCDAPCC)
District Attorney David Roger and Clark County Sheriff Bill Young
Chairmen of CCDAPCC
(702) 255-9058
*It's our pleasure to pay a tribute to the above officials who dedicate to the civic and community service spects of our organization in an honorary or adjunct capacity.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A clear direction about positioning ourselves for a blessing
BY Paul Goulet*1

Dear Partners in Vision,

Greetings in the Lord.

The prayer of Jabez gives us clear direction about positioning ourselves for a blessing. When we read 1 Chronicles 4, we will discover that in a very long genealogical list, only one name stands out, and that is, of course, Jabez. Why would the author interrupt this list of names with a short biography? Why did the author of Chronicles take a special interest in Jabez? More importantly, why did the God of the universe take a special interest in Jabez?*2

The answer can be found in 1 Chronicles 4:9: ?śNow Jabez was more honorable than his brothers.?? That one sentence lights up the page so that all can see the secret of Jabez?™s life. He was more honorable than his brothers. When God surveyed the landscape of His creation, He saw one man who stood out. It was the character of Jabez that made him stand out. He was more honorable than his coworkers, his society, his leaders, and even his family. He was a man of integrity. He was worthy of honor because his life was clean.

To position ourselves for a miracle, we need to evaluate our words, actions and motives to see if they are honorable. Certainly, God, from whom we can hide nothing, knows if we are in the right position. The big question is whether He can trust us with a blessing. Will we be more honorable than the rest of our society?

In Acts 17:11, we are reminded that God recognizes honorable character: ?śNow the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.?? They were more noble because they listened, learned, researched and received the truth. What a great example for you and me.

Will you commit to being more honorable than others? Or will you use the sins of others as an excuse for yours? It is quite simple to rationalize away our dishonor. We easily fall into step with the pack, hoping to blend in and sneak by the watchful eye of God. Are you afraid to stand out in the crowd by being honorable?

I can guarantee you that, in our society, it is not popular to possess qualities like honor, holiness, forgiveness, integrity, humility, faith and obedience. However, if you do allow God to develop these qualities in your life, you will be able to pray the prayer of Jabez with great expectations.

God will bless you indeed, He will enlarge your territory, His hand will be with you, and He will keep you from evil so that you will not cause pain.*3

Denise and I love you and we pray blessings on you and your family.

In Christ,

Pastor Paul Goulet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
References

*1. Paul Goulet is the Senior Pastor of International Church of Las Vegas (ICLV). The address of the Church is: 8100 Westeliff Dr., Las Vegas, Nevada 89145.
*2. Goulet, Paul. 'Character Really Does Count!' "An e-mail to Dr. and Mrs. Tony Lei from Pastor Paul Goulet of ICLV," (June 11, 2004), Las Vegas, Nevada: International Church of Las Vegas (ICLV).
*3. Ibid.

Advisory Board: Governor Kenny Guinn, Chairman; U. S. Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign, Vice Chairmen; U. S. Representatives James Gibbons and Shelley Berkley, and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, Executive Directors.
U. S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao
Chairperson
Dr. Tony T. Lei
President
District Judges Mark Denton and Valorie Vega
Vice Presidents
Dr. William N. Thompson
Director of Public Administration Institution
Dr. E. Lee Bernick and Dr. G. Keong Leong
Deans of Graduate School of Business and Public Administration
Dr. Sue Fawn Chung
Director of Culture Institution
Justice of the Supreme Court William Maupin, Attorney General Brian Sandoval, and District Judge Stewart Bell, Honorary Chairmen of Clark County District Attorney and Police Civil Commission (CCDAPCC)
District Attorney David Roger and Clark County Sheriff Bill Young
Chairmen of CCDAPCC
(702) 255-9058
*It's our pleasure to pay a tribute to the above officials who dedicate to the civic and community service spects of our organization in an honorary or adjunct capacity.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nevada benefited from Laxalt's ties to Ronald Reagan
By Tony Batt*1

Friday, June 11, 2004
Copyright @ Las Vegas Review-Journal

Nevada benefited from Laxalt's ties to Ronald Reagan

Friendship began when two were governors of neighboring states, grew in Washington

By TONY BATT
STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU

WASHINGTON -- Before and during Ronald Reagan's presidency, Nevada profited from the close friendship between the Californian and Paul Laxalt, the governor and later senator from the Silver State, officials and analysts said.*2

"Ronald Reagan has been a really good neighbor to the state of Nevada," said Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., adding it was the relationship between Reagan and Laxalt that led to the preservation of Lake Tahoe and the president's decision in 1981 to keep the MX missile out of the state.

Reagan's friendship with Laxalt began shortly after both were elected governors of their respective states in 1966.

"They seemed to genuinely like each other as well as have common political ideologies," said Eric Herzik, a political science professor at the University of Nevada, Reno.

"There was a mutual respect, and that benefited Nevada," Herzik said.

Laxalt, 81, has been a consultant in Washington since retiring from the Senate in 1986. He declined to be interviewed this week.

Elected to the Senate in 1974, Laxalt's clout on Capitol Hill increased significantly after Reagan was elected president in 1980.

"It was not unusual to see Laxalt come to the floor and get something done on a gambling issue or a water issue in five minutes," said a lobbyist who worked as a Senate staffer during the Reagan administration.

Other senators, knowing how close Laxalt was to Reagan, often would approach the Nevadan for help.

But Laxalt was careful never to abuse his friendship with the president, observers said. In 1984, there were whispers that Laxalt should run for Senate majority leader because of his unique access to the Oval Office. Laxalt refused.

Donald Ritchie, an associate historian of the Senate, said Laxalt's relationship with Reagan made a formal leadership position unnecessary.

"The perception of a person in Laxalt's position who is close to the president is more powerful than any specific reality," Ritchie said. "When newspapers wrote about Laxalt, they called him the president's close friend. It was part of his title."

The upside for Nevada was substantial. For example, Ritchie said, Laxalt was regularly invited to White House meetings usually restricted to congressional leaders or Cabinet officers.

The friendship also gave Laxalt more leverage in his position as the fifth-ranking Republican on the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee. He was able to steer more money to Nevada water and road projects.

With Laxalt often serving as a sounding board, Reagan recruited other Nevadans to serve in important positions in his administration.

Las Vegas advertising executive Sig Rogich became a special assistant to Reagan and later a media adviser to President George H.W. Bush. The late Robert Broadbent directed the Bureau of Reclamation from 1981 to 1984 before becoming chief of McCarran International Airport. Frank Fahrenkopf, now the top lobbyist for Nevada casinos in the nation's capital, served as chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1983 to 1989.

Other Nevadans filled advisory boards and positions within the federal agencies.

"Ronald Reagan's number one guy in the Senate was Paul Laxalt," Reid said. "Period."*3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
References

*1. Tony Batt is the writer. This article is post here through the courtesy of Las Vegas Review-Journal.
*2. LVRJ. 'FROM THE FRONT of Las Vegas Review-Journal,' "Las Vegas Review Journal on June 11, 2004," Las Vegas, Nevada: Communitylink of the reviewjournal.com.
*3. Ibid.