Nevada's Paul Laxalt: A Memoir

by Paul Laxalt and Senator Paul Laxalt

The son of immigrants from the Basque region of France, Paul Laxalt was born in Reno, Nevada in 1922 and grew up in Nevada's small capital town of Carson City. After graduating from Carson High... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0930083091
• ISBN13: 9780930083090
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Jack Bacon & Company
• Length: 393 Pages
• Weight: 1.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.4" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

An uncommon book from an uncommon politician

Most political autobiographies seem to be written by the same professional writers--they all sound the same. Not so with this book. It is clear from the start that Senator Laxalt really wrote every page. First, he is willing to admit the mistakes he made over his life--truly rare for an American politician. Second, the writing style is informal and enthusiastic. You know what he likes and thinks. Senator Laxalt had an interesting life. Although one may have doubts in the beginning about how interesting political life in Nevada is, many fascinating stories come from the book--the Senator's complicated relationship with Howard Hughes, how he treated alleged Mafia figures, how he stopped the war between the State's leaders and the FBI, and, of course, his long friendship with Ronald Reagan, who served as the governor California at the same time as Laxalt served as governor of Nevada. For a man from a small State, Laxalt was in the middle of many interesting situations. My only complaint is that he left lots of stories out of the book. At nearly 400 pages, I am sure he felt that he needed to stop, but I would have been interested in learning more about his years in Washington as the best friend of the President. The book is very readable, and it ended all too soon. Hopefully the Senator will write a second book.

Good Biography & Good History

This memoir by Paul Laxalt is well-worth reading by those who value a book that is not only well-written, but also substantive. Written in a conversationalistic style, it reads like a good story. It is the story of the evolution of a fascinating life by Laxalt, including his early years growing up in Nevada, his military experiences at the end of World War II, his family (which is rich in Basque character), and the development of the career that Laxalt is most known for, which is politics. Laxalt - in the tradition of his Basque heritage, was a reluctant entrant and a reluctant political figure through much of his career. Prefering the value of a hand-shake and veracity, the behavior & semantics inherent to politics was something that he viewed with skepticsim, yet understood the importance of public service and of the need for change in the political arena. His career spanned a broad spectrum, from D.A. to Lt. Governor to Governor to the U.S. Senate. Setbacks occurred & lessons were learned, which made Laxalt a "seasoned" person in not only Nevada politics, but national politics as well. His governorship of Nevada coincided for 4 years with the neighboring Governor of California - Ronald Reagan. This political relationship turned into a valued personal friendship, resulting in Laxalt often being referred to as the "best friend" of Reagan during his Presidency, and one who Reagan could rely on for honest advice. As opposed to many others who worked close with Reagan, Laxalt remains true to his strong sense of Basque loyalty & writes about Reagan in an insightful manner, while respecting the privacy of a "true friend." This book is valued reading for people interested in varying subjects, including the history of Nevada and the West, contemmporary political history in Nevada and the West, and the rise of Ronald Reagan to the Presidency & his performance in office. As a final note, because of its adroit writing style done in a conversational and story-telling manner makes it a valued read to not only an audience interested in the aforementioned subjects, but also a good book for potential use in college political science classes. It is highly-recommended.

A great politician

I have admired Paul Laxalt from afar for many years -- now I know why. His engaging and easily read memoirs will be good going for anyone interested in Nevada, or the Reagan years, or recent American political life.Following Laxalt from his political roots in Carson City to his role at the pinnacle of American power is fascinating. To me, the author's straightforward humility explains his success and stands in contrast to most of our present leaders. Maybe poise, common sense and a limited self-interest are the ingredients that matter most in our politicians.

anecdotal western history from a real westerner

This lengthy memoir contains enough interesting contemporary history from a westerner who helped make history to keep even those not interested in politics reading. The Nevada chapters are wonderfully evocative of life and times in the Silver State before it became America's Adult Playground, and Laxalt's account of the fall of Ferdinand Marcos and its aftemath is gripping. Through it all, the author manages to remain self-effacing and affable: I found myself liking him even when I didn't like his conservative asides. Laxalt's rue-laced account of how two anti-big government Republican governors created the Tahoe Regional Planning Authority is not to be missed.

Reluctant politician

Paul Laxalt is a rare politician who, unlike many of his colleagues in the nation's capital, completely disdained pusillanimity and actually personally wrote a straight, honest book about recent American history, from Carson City, Nevada to the highest plateaus in Washington, D.C., in which his responsibilities were always carried out with perfect integrity. A fine book about the life of a fine man.