Harry sure tells one hell of a story

Politicians are fond of quoting past leaders or world icons, but it's telling that Harry Reid prefaces a chapter of his upcoming book with quotes from both Will Rogers and Edward Abbey.

For it is the Harry Reid of Searchlight, less than the national figure from Washington, D.C., who really shines in Reid's second book, "The Good Fight," aptly co-written with Esquire editor Mark Warren. It is a fine quick read, weaving past and present into a taut description of a Nevada icon so few here really know.

The book, whose title was culled from biblical verse (I Timothy 6:12), has enough national snippets to provide those inside the Beltway with a good buzz. Reid lets other senators use a few choice words to describe Barbara Bush and even Wayne Newton.

And Reid's classic deadpan dry humor, so hard for those in Washington to discern as they continue to struggle with him as majority leader. In a description of how he tries to work the moderates on the other side of the aisle comes this: "Arlen Specter is always with us when we don't need him."

And there is plenty about George W. Bush, the man Reid has called a liar twice.

There's no curt name-calling in this book. Reid lets Bush hang himself with an unbelievably candid description of a meeting in the White House on Sept. 11, 2007. Bush described why radical Islamists were using the war to recruit terrorists.

"Of course al-Qaida needs new recruits, because we're killin' 'em," Bush is quoted as saying. "We're killin' 'em."

Reid doesn't mince words about how this made him feel, on 9/11 no less.

"With Iraq flowing in blood, both ours and theirs, costing the American taxpayers $12 billion every month, and not getting any closer to resolution -- with Osama bin Laden still at large and seemingly off Bush's radar -- the president of the Untied States spoke of the situation from the White House as if it were some kind of sporting event or action movie."

I've known Reid since coming to the state 10 years ago and have interviewed him countless times. I like to think I have a good working knowledge of his background, his associates and political history.

But "The Good Fight," which goes on sale Friday, doesn't just name names and point fingers.

Warren helps uncork a new side of Reid, one that actually and convincingly shows us pain, regret, fear and love.

We learn how, and more importantly, why Reid took dance lessons. Yes, that Harry Reid -- dancing.

Here is a Harry Reid not knowing what to do with a jockstrap. Here's Reid in a fistfight with his future father-in-law and someone who tries to lighten the pain of his father's suicide by telling his brother that sobriety killed the man.

And there are interesting glimpses into the crackdown on the Mob. As Gaming Commission Chairman, Reid survived a bribery attempt, a mobster claiming he owned him as "Mr. Cleanface," and of course, the failed bombing of the family car.

Reid talks about Tony Spilotro and Lefty Rosenthal from his perspective and says he won't see the movie "Casino" because he's been told it glorifies Rosenthal.

Reid also recounts a story about Steve Wynn challenging director Martin Scorsese about making Rosenthal seem smart.

" 'Lefty Rosenthal was so dumb,' Wynn told Scorsese, 'that he couldn't spell it if you spotted him the t.' "

I've heard Reid talk many times about Searchlight. The nation heard it during what I like to call the "McFlurry Filibuster. "

He's even talked on the campaign trail about the Franklin Roosevelt quote hanging in his two-room wooden shack. But "The Good Fight" provides as exceptional glimpse of Reid's hardscrabble beginnings in the bust mining town -- a place without doctors or indoor plumbing or a high school, or eventually, even a grocery store.

Reid learns to swim at a brothel and gets his first $5 from a whoremonger whose ladies' services cost that much.

The book jumps back and forth in time with such easy transitions that the past truly becomes prologue for Reid's actions in Washington.

The book is dedicated to the late former Gov. Mike O'Callaghan. And the descriptions of Big Mike just bring him back to life instantly.

In one passage, Mike is training boxers in some road work from Henderson to Railroad Pass. "O'Callaghan said, 'Slow down too much and I'll run you over.' And we believed him."

We also see O'Callaghan blow a top when he gets a letter from Nevada Rep. Walter Baring, misspelling Reid's name and announcing he had no patronage job for the prospective law student.

O'Callaghan calls him immediately, chews him out and sends Reid on to law school and a job as a Capitol policeman.

For those interested in the current presidential race, the book basically keeps him neutral, although he credits Hillary Clinton as being brilliant and mentions her suggesting the Democratic caucus launch a "War Room" to respond to Republican attacks.

There are also small stories about Oscar Goodman and Jay Brown, about Reid's children. (Who knew Rory was a homebody?)

One of the most interesting political sections of the book deals with the pitched battle for then-Republican Sen. Jim Jeffords. Reid initially tried for John McCain.

The book, published by Putnam, will go on sale Friday for $25.95. Reid's book tour will also take him to Philadelphia, New York, Las Vegas and Reno.

He's even set to do "The Daily Show."

Give 'em hell, Harry, you've got a hell of a story.

Contact Erin Neff at eneff@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2906.