Obama praises Reid’s Senate legacy at Tahoe Summit

STATELINE — From one retiring political leader to another, President Barack Obama had some kind, and at times humorous, words for U.S. Sen. Harry Reid at the Tahoe Summit on Wednesday.

Obama noted all of Reid’s conservation efforts during his 30 years in the Senate representing Nevada, including the creation of the Great Basin National Park and his work to protect Lake Tahoe.

“Two decades ago, the senator from Searchlight trained a national spotlight right here, on Lake Tahoe,” Obama said. “And as he prepares to ride off into the sunset — although I don’t want him getting on a horse — this 20th anniversary summit proves that the light Harry lit shines as bright as ever.”

Obama recalled his first dealings with Reid.

“We were talking backstage — anybody who’s ever gotten on the phone with Harry Reid, you’ll be making conversation, and once he’s kind of finished with the whole point of the conversation, you’ll still be talking and you realize he’s hung up,” Obama said. “And he does that to the president of the United States.

“And it takes you, like, three of four of these conversations to realize he’s not mad at you, but he doesn’t have much patience for small talk,” Obama said to laughter from the audience.

“But Harry is tough. I believe he is going to go down as one of the best leaders the Senate ever had,“ he said. “I could not have accomplished what I accomplished without him being at my side.”

Both Reid and Obama will leave office at the end of their current terms.

Contact Sean Whaley at swhaley@reviewjournal.com or 775-461-3820. Follow @seanw801 on Twitter.